Pioneer Rhee Ki Ha, First Grand Master is recognised as the highest living authority in the world on Taekwon-Do and the Father of British and European Taekwon-Do. He was born in Seoul, South Korea, on 20th March 1938. He began his dedicated study of Taekwon-Do during his military national service in the 35th Infantry Division in 1956, under General Choi.

In 1964, Rhee Ki Ha became the first Taekwon-Do instructor to leave Korea with "Taekwon-Do Instructor" stated on his passport. He instructed numerous students, including British Royal Air Force personnel at RAF Changi in Malaysia and Singapore from 1964-1967. He was also a founding member of the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) when it was officially formed on March 22nd, 1966. Following invitations from his former students, he arrived in Great Britain on 2nd July 1967, to teach Taekwon-Do. That same year, he established the United Kingdom Taekwon-Do Association (UKTA).

Pioneer Rhee Ki Ha was promoted to VII Dan in 1974, becoming the first resident Taekwon-Do Master in Britain. He was also instrumental in forming the All Europe Taekwon-Do Federation (AETF) in June 1979. In 1981, he was promoted to VIII Dan. General Choi Hong Hi himself described him as the "best ever student of Taekwon-Do". On 2nd July 1997, at the ITF Congress in St Petersburg, Russia, General Choi promoted him to IX Degree Grand Master, making him the first person to achieve this rank directly from the founder.

We are extremely fortunate to have Pioneer Rhee Ki Ha, First Grand Master as the Patron of A.C.E. Taekwon-Do – no other organisation has the same level of access to his wisdom and experience as our Grand Masters. Both Mr Dryden and Miss Booth have had the privilege of training and grading with Pioneer Rhee Ki Ha on several occasions.