Grand Master Tran was born on March 26, 1952, in Vietnam. He began his study of taekwondo when he was twelve years old. Grand Master Tran attained black belt status by the age of 17, and was teaching taekwondo under his instructor, Kim Bong Sik. He emigrated to Canada in 1970, studying mechanical engineering at Laval University and establishing the first taekwondo schools in eastern Canada.
Apart from his extensive taekwondo activities, Grand Master Tran operated Norbati Consultants Tran & Associates, a consulting firm specializing in building standards and project management for the construction sector.
Grand Master Tran was in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on business (ironically, working on improving building standards to withstand earthquakes and hurricanes), and was staying in the Hotel Montana when it collapsed in a 7 magnitude earthquake on January 12, 2010.
Today we remember a great President of the ITF and Grand Master who worked tirelessly to develop the ITF into a professional organisation as we still feel the effects of the works he initiated till this day.
Rest in peace dear Grand Master.
Taekwon
Master El-Sheikh
Chairman
Communication & Development
