General Hong Hi Choi began teaching TaeKwon-Do at a Korean military base called Kwang Ju. Americans were first introduced to TaeKwon-Do when Choi instructed Korean Army troops and some American soldiers stationed with the 2nd Infantry Regiment. Later in 1949 Hong Hi Choi attended Ground General School at Ft. Riely near Topeka, Kansas in the United States. While in the U.S., Choi gave public TaeKwon-Do demonstrations for the troops. This was the first display of TaeKwon-Do in America.

The greatest turning point for Korean martial arts started in 1952. During the height of the Korean War, President Syngman Rhee watched a 30 minute performance by Korean TaeKwon-Do masters. He was especially impressed when Tae Hi Nam broke 13 roof tiles with a single punch. After the demonstration Rhee talked with Hong Hi Choi about the martial arts, he then ordered his military chiefs of staff to require all Korean soldiers to receive training in the military Taekwon-Do. This caused a tremendous surge in TaeKwonDo schools and students.

During this same time period in Korea, special commando groups of martial arts-trained soldiers were formed to fight against the communist forces of North Korea. One of the most famous special forces was known as the Black Tigers. The Korean war ended in 1953. In 1954, General Hong Hi Choi organized the 29th Infantry on Che Ju Island, off the Korean Coast, as a spearhead and center for Taekwondo training in the military. ATC Traditional TaeKwonDo follows the principles of General Choi's military training and his student Grandmaster S.J Kim's the president of TaeKwonDo International.

ATC Traditional TaeKwonDo - Street and Combat Self Defense was developed by Grandmaster Spillmann and is a proven commando martial art that has been used in many countries by many military units.