Taekwondo is one of the most systematic and scientific of Korean traditional martial arts. It teaches more than mere physical fighting skills. It is a discipline that shows ways of enhancing ones spirit and life through training ones body and mind. It is also a modern sport that has gained an international reputation and stands among the official games in the Olympic Games. The word taekwondo is composed of three parts, although it is only one word. Tae means foot, leg, or to step on. Kwon means fist or fight. Do means the way or discipline. These three parts together form the two important concepts behind taekwondo, the right way of using Tae and Kwon ('fists and feet'), or all the parts of the body represented by fists and feet. Second, taekwondo is a way to control or calm down fights and keep the peace. This concept comes from the meaning of Tae Kwon to put fists under control (literally 'to step on fists'). Thus the comprehensive meaning would be the right way of using all parts of the body to stop fights and help to build a better and more peaceful world.

With this peace-keeping spirit, taekwondo has been developing with the 5000-year long history of Korea, being called by several different names during its course. In Korea, it began as a defensive martial art called Subak or Takkyeon, and developed as a way of training the body and mind in the ancient kingdom of Koguryo, under the name of Sunbae. During the Shilla period, it had become the backbone of Hwarangdo, which aimed to produce leaders for the country.

Chungdokwan History

The Chungdokwan Academy started in 1944 and its first leader was Lee Won Keuk. He was followed by Song Duk Sung and in 1957 by Grand Master Uhm Woon Kyu who is still President to this day.

In 1961 the Korean Taekwondo Association was formed and Grand Master Uhm was appointed the first Secretary General. He has since been appointed to the post of vice President of the World Taekwondo Federation. Grand Master Uhm was the first Military Academy Instructor and also the first Military Dan Grading Examiner in Korea.

Grand Master Uhm and the Chungdokwan allocated the Military section of the Chungdokwan to General Choi Hong Hi and Special Forces Major Nam Tae Hi, and Han Cha Kyo. It was further developed into the style that we now know, as that which is practiced by the International Taekwondo Federation.

Grand Master Uhm is the President of the Seoul City Taekwondo Association. He is the source of modern day Taekwondo and is responsible for the formulation of the rules of Taekwondo sports fighting. He is also regarded by the thousands of students he has trained as the leader of Taekwondo in Korea and throughout the world. Grand Master Uhm Woon Kyu has spent nearly his entire life in the development of Taekwondo.

KYKTKD was established in Escondido California in 1986, by Benjamin A. Kelso, a San Diego police sergeant and former Inservice-Training Defensive Tactics Instructor at the San Diego Regional Law Enforcement Training Center (police academy) at Miramar College. In 1992, it was re-located to San Diego. Master Kelso is the Vice President of the California Taekwondo Association - CTA and a US National Referee. He has been involved in the martial arts as a teacher and a student for over 20 years and currently holds the rank of Taekwondo fifth degree black belt. He also holds certification from the Korea Tae Kwon Do Chung Do Kwan Association and the World Taekwondo Headquarters, Kukkiwon.

Master Kelso is an award winning DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) instructor and specializes in training youth of all ages and reaching students labeled as "at risk."

KYKTKD continues to earn accolades & awards from the community of San Diego including the Channel 10 Leadership Award, Friend of City Heights, and Best of Normal Heights Award. Children ages 7 & up, Adults, and families are welcome to attend KYK-TKD.
All participants in KYKTKD must agree to adhere to maintaining academic standards and observing the program policies, rules, and regulations. Code of Conduct.