Simon Rhee
Simon Rhee is a 7th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and a 4th Degree Black Belt in Hap Ki Do. He is a World-Class Martial Artist known for his beautiful kicks and incredible forms, and is a many-time Grand Champion of the tournament circuit. Karate Illustrated noted that, "Simon Rhee has the prettiest kicks, most flashiest and picturesque Martial Arts techniques in the nation". He is world-renowned for his kicking abilities and for his incredible forms. His pictures have graced the covers of many Martial Arts magazines, and he has been involved in the movie industry as a Martial Artist, Stunt Coordinator, Fight Choreographer, and Instructor to many celebrities. However, it is Master Rhee's charming personality and skill for teaching which has made him loved and respected by all.
Simon Rhee was born in San Jose, California in 1957, but spent much of his childhood in Seoul, Korea, where he began his Martial Arts training. After becoming ill and contracting meningitis as a young child, his parents enrolled him in Tae Kwon Do classes to help strengthen his body. Thus began his lifelong love for the Martial Arts. His intensive training continued in Korea, San Francisco, and then Los Angeles, and he has earned his 7th degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, through Kukkiwon in South Korea and a 4th degree Black Belt in Hap Ki Do, along with extensive training in Wing Chung Kung Fu, Weapons and other Martial Arts. Simon Rhee is well known throughout the martial arts community for his countless victories as Grand Champion in the tournament circuit, in both sparring and in forms.He has been sought out by many major motion picture studios and celebrities because of his talent for instruction, Stunt Coordination and Fight Choreography. Some of his students have included stunt people, fight choreographers and stunt coordinators, professional football players/athletes (Marcus Allen, AC Cowlings, etc.), iconic actors (Faye Dunaway, Heather Locklear, Lorenzo Lamas, Beau Bridges, Eric Roberts, etc.), and comedian Jay Leno. He has doubled Jackie Chan and has worked with some of the best Hollywood actors, musicians and directors including Clint Eastwood, Leonardo DiCaprio, Anthony Hopkins, Jackie Chan, Madonna, Ben Stiller, Ang Lee, Christopher Nolan, John Woo, Brett Ratner, and Tom Cruise.
Simon Rhee has a keen eye for creating the most dynamic fight and action sequences specifically for the motion picture camera, and has available to him an extensive network of the best trained stunt people and equipment to use for specific stunt scenes.
Master Rhee is a member of the International Stunt Association (2012 President), a 2 time winner of the Taurus World Stunt Awards ("Best Fight Scene", 2002; "Best Fire Work", 2007), and numerous Screen Actor's Guild awards and nominations, having been involved in the film and television industry for over 30 years as an actor, stunt person, fight choreographer, 2nd unit director and stunt coordinator. He has an extensive body work including motion pictures (The Dark Knight Rises, Inception, Terminator Genysis, Straight Outta Compton, Captain America, The Great Wall, The Lone Ranger, Gangster Squad, Red Dawn, The Muppets, Get Smart, Rush Hour 3, Best of the Best, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Last Samurai, etc.), TV shows (Mistresses, Chuck, Face Off, Fear the Walking Dead, The Last Ship, Jessica Jones, Rush Hour, Heroes, Alias, Supergirl, Grimm, Bones, Sons of Anarchy, etc.), and commercials.
When he is not filming, he continues to enjoy teaching and training at his Woodland Hills TKD Training Center with his panel of Black Belts. Master Rhee has taught thousands of men, women and children the art of Tae Kwon Do for over 30 years. Simon Rhee is a teacher's teacher when it comes to Tae Kwon Do instruction and he has given many dynamic seminars to Martial Artists, Stunt people and, Black Belt Instructors worldwide.