About

a long history and tradition

Choi's Taekwondo

In 1968 Grand Master Dan Choi, along with several other instructors, came to California from Korea to introduce the then-unknown martial art of Taekwondo to the United States, and was one of the first people to teach Taekwondo in the Bay Area. Over the years, Choi's Taekwondo has produced many excellent Black Belts, some of whom have become national and World Cup Champions. Instructors at many Taekwondo or martial arts schools in the Bay Area got their start under Grand Master Dan Choi or Grand Master Hyun Choi (Grand Master Dan Choi's younger brother). For example, Ernie Reyes (Senior) and Tony Thompson, who were among Grand Master Dan Choi's first black belts, went on to found West Coast Karate.

Many of Grand Master Choi's students have gone on to open their own Choi's affiliated schools under Grand Master Choi's guidance. In 1998 Grand Master Hyun Choi founded the United Taekwondo Association to unify all the Choi's affiliated studios. Currently, the UTA has twelve schools throughout the United States and one affiliate school in Seoul, Korea. The UTA also has over 250 World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) accredited black belts. The current United Taekwondo Association's membership includes National and International Tournament Champions, 22 USTU certified Referees, and 8 International Referees (qualified to referee in International Tournaments such as the Olympics).

Leejon Taekwondo

Grand Master Leonard Ortez, Director, and founder of LEEJON Taekwondo in Blossom Valley, is one of the many highest-ranking black belts under Grand Master Hyun K. Choi. Grand Master Leonard Ortez is 9th Degree black belt with 40 years of teaching experience. Over the past three decades, Grand Master Leonard Ortez has received much recognition nationally and internationally for his efforts in promoting and developing Taekwondo as a world sport, and for his dedication to preserving the traditional teachings of Taekwondo.