Choi was born around 1941 in Korea, during the period of Japanese occupation. He began training in the martial arts in 1956, studying taekwondo and karate under instructors Hong and Kim in the South Korean army, and subsequently trained under Jong Lim Woo, Director of Taekwondo for the Korean 1st Army. By 1960, Choi had attained the rank of 2nd dan in taekwondo. In 1961, he helped Hong Hi Choi to create many of the present day Chang Hon patterns, Ge-Baek hyung.