Sung Young Ji: A Champion of Peace Through TaeKwonDo In the realm of TaeKwonDo, few individuals embody the spirit of harmony and goodwill as profoundly as Sung Young Ji. Hailing from South Korea, Ji’s journey to the United States was not just a personal pursuit of martial arts excellence but also a quest for global understanding and reconciliation. His dedication to TaeKwonDo transcended mere physical practice, evolving into a profound mission for peace. In 2007, history was made as Ji played an instrumental role in organizing the groundbreaking Goodwill Tour, which saw the North Korea (DPRK ..read more

In 1987, young Myoung Choi boarded a plane bound for the United States. His heart was aflame with a dream to promote Taekwondo worldwide and nurture Taekwondo talent across America. Myoung Choi graduated from Hanyang University's Department of Physical Education after initially training in Taekwondo at Dong-Seong High School. Choi faced challenges due to the absence of a dedicated Taekwondo program at his university. At the time, Hanyang University lacked a standalone Taekwondo department, requiring Choi to overcome inadequate school support. To do so, athletes and coaches had to engage in ex ..read more

“With mission, courage and action” Texas Grand Master Kangil Lee Lee Kang-il, president of the Texas Taekwondo Association, has been involved in taekwondo for more than half a century. Grandmaster Lee Kang-il Day (every August 1st) was established in Killeen, Texas, and as the chairman of the Taekwondo Special Promotion Committee of the 2.7 million Korean American Associations, he was awarded a national cultural development award by the President of the Republic of Korea. He received personal recognition as a coach of the U.S. Taekwondo national team, an advisory committee member for the Democ ..read more

The post Exploring Past Your Comfort Zone by: Colin Wee Schenectady, NY Seminar 2024 appeared first on TaeKwonDo Times ..read more

Brightstar received a plaque for doing something not seen in over sixty years of Grandmaster Jung teaching Taekwondo. He selflessly postponed testing for orange belt so that his younger brother, Jackson Brightstar, could catch up to him so that they could continue on to orange belt together. Grandmaster Jung was so impressed by Edward’s caring act that he had a special plaque made up to commemorate the event, and had an article run in the Taekwondo Times magazine. Grandmaster Jung has repeated on many occasions how rare and special such a quality is in this generation–this desire to succeed ..read more

“Author Colin Wee drops Master Will Just at American Karate and Taekwondo Organization’s Annual Seminar Event 2023. In the background is GM Mike Swope (RIP) General Secretary of World Chun Kuhn Taekwondo Federation and Publisher of Breaking Through: The Secrets of Bassai Dai Kata.” Emptying Your Cup Doesn’t Mean Losing Your Style by Colin Wee Master Will Just is a fit, talented, and committed Taekwondo practitioner. Knowing Will online for several years, I invited him in 2023 to meet for the first time at a seminar I was leading in Dallas. Without thinking too hard about it, I also invited h ..read more

With heavy hearts, we mourn the passing of a true pioneer and master of Taekwondo, Yun Hak-deok, whose indelible mark on the art and its community will forever be cherished. Yun Hak-deok, known in the Washington State Taekwondo and sports community as a venerable figure, breathed his last on the 16th of last month at the age of 84. His journey to the heavenly abode commenced after a valiant battle with illness, following his collapse due to influenza earlier this year. Despite relentless efforts, the revered master could not overcome the ailment, and he peacefully departed at 10 p.m. on that f ..read more

In the dynamic world of taekwondo, where skill, discipline, and dedication converge, CJ Nickolas has emerged as a rising star. Hailing from Brentwood, California, the 22-year-old athlete has etched his name in history by becoming the first American man to win a World Taekwondo Championships medal since 2009. The breakthrough moment occurred in Baku, Azerbaijan, where Nickolas secured a silver medal in the fiercely competitive 80kg division. His journey to the podium included a remarkable victory over Olympic bronze medalist Seif Eissa of Egypt in the semifinals, showcasing Nickolas’s prowess a ..read more

Unlocking the Dojang: Marketing Strategies for Your New Taekwondo Location Opening a new branch for a Taekwondo school can be an exciting but challenging endeavor. In a Reddit thread discussing the best ways to attract new students, various users shared their experiences and insights on effective marketing strategies for promoting a martial arts school. Whether you’re part of a well-established Taekwondo school or are venturing into the world of martial arts education, these ideas can provide valuable guidance to help you attract students to your new location. 1. Word of Mouth: One of the most ..read more

Some young people are naturally good at jumping and kicking. From the time they are white belts in TaeKwonDo, their ability to jump up and down might resemble that of a kangaroo! However, such trainees have a greater tendency to become arrogant. When serving as a judge, I sometimes assess the board breaking event. For those who are very athletic, the board can be purposely held at an angle to make it more difficult to break. The arrogant trainee will soon learn that board breaking is harder than he had previously thought. He will also realize that physical strength is not everything in martial ..read more