Tae kwon do founder's son comes to Flaxmere to teach special needs martial arts students

HONOURED. Taekwon-do instructor Ben Evans with Hawke's Bay special needs Taekwon-do students. PHOTO / FILE

The man charged with continuing the legacy of one of the world's most popular martial arts has chosen the opening of a special needs training facility in Hastings as the site of his first visit to New Zealand.

The President of the International Tae kwon do federation Grand Master Choi Jung Hwa, will be joined by three ninth degree black belts to open the new facility on Wednesday morning, before taking a training session with local practitioners at Irongate School in Flaxmere.

Hawke's Bay International Tae kwon Do Federation regional director Ben Evans said the visit was a great honour and a first for New Zealand.

"It's quite a significant thing to be hosting the president - he hasn't even been to New Zealand before.

"Grand Master Choi Jung Hwa is the son of General Choi Hong Hi, the creator of Tae kwon do. He died in 2002 and his son is continuing the legacy."

Grand Master Choi Jung Hwa, will be joined by three ninth degree black belts in Grand Master Trevor Nicholls from the UK, Grand Master JC Kim a founding member of the ITF and Master Muleta from Australia.

"Hawke's bay has never had such a high-ranking and high-profile people here before - and they will be in Flaxmere teaching (existing HB) students for free."

Mr Evans said president Choi Jung Hwa is visiting Hastings and Flaxmere to open the new King St training facility for special needs students, after being impressed with the students' ability at an international demonstration in 2015.

"The opening of this new facility is quite amazing. IDEA Services approved a free dedicated room and that's opened up a lot of doors. They want to get behind this and also opened the door to mainstream students.

"We have over 200 members in Hawkes bay across all areas.

"It is the highest level of honour to have such high profiled Tae kwon do Grand Masters all together here in support of what we do here. It means so much to me personally as it was always my goal for the President of the ITF to come here and see the Special Needs Tae kwon do."