The United States Chung Do Kwan Association (USCDKA) is the oldest Taekwondo association, founded in 1967 by Senior Grandmaster Edward B. Sell. Grandmaster Sell, who passed away in Feburary of 2014, was the highest ranked non-Korean taekwondo practicioner in the world, and is currently the only non-Korean who is recognized as a legend and pioneer of Taekwondo in the Tae Kwon Park in Seoul, Korea. More information for Senior Grandmaster Edward B. Sell can be found on Wikipedia. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_B._Sell ).
Currently, the USCDKA operates under the authority of Senior Grandmaster Brenda J. Sell. She is the highest ranked non-Korean female in the world, and is actually the 2nd highest ranked female in the world. The highest rank for living Taekwondo practicioners is 9th degree. There are approximately 500 registered international 9th degree black belts in the world, and only 2 of those 500 are female. More information on Senior Grandmaster Brenda J. Sell can be found on Wikipedia. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brenda_Sell )
The USCDKA has direct ties to the origins of Taekwondo, as the very first Taekwondo system is the Chung Do Kwan system, founded in Seoul, Korea in 1944 by Great Grandmaster Won Kuk Lee. The USCDKA is the oldest Taekwondo association in America, taking cues from the very first Taekwondo school in the world! Great Grandmaster Lee passed his legacy down to his senior student, Great Grandmaster Uhm Woon Kyu, who was the president of the Kukkiwon and the World Chung Do Kwan Federation. Both Grandmaster Sells had the opportunity to work directly under Grandmaster Uhm, and it was Grandmaster Uhm who dubbed the USCDKA the “Best of the best.” Grandmaster Uhm has since passed away, and now Grandmaster Hae Man Park runs the Chung Do Kwan Federation. Grandmaster Park was Grandmaster E. Sell's direct instructor, and now serves as Grandmaster B. Sell's instructor.
The USCDKA was the first to write out a Taekwondo training manual in the English language, and many schools even outside of the USCDKA use this incredible resource, The Forces of Taekwondo, to improve their own schools. The USCDKA is home to many tournaments, training seminars, conferences, and leadership growth opportunities.
What does all of this mean to the students of Legacy Taekwondo Academy? It means that your senior instructor, Katie Noland answers to the 2nd highest-ranked female in the world, and is 6th generation from the founding of Taekwondo! The USCDKA gives Legacy a unique opportunity to train with the living legend of Grandmaster Brenda J. Sell, and have influence and access to materials that were created by legendary pioneers of the art and science of Taekwondo. It means that legitimate schools the world over recognize the exceptional quality of each certified instructor. It means that you are getting the very best in professional Taekwondo instruction.
If you would like more information on the United States Chung Do Kwan Association, please visit http://www.uscdka.com.
Head Master Christopher G. Courington
6th degree Black Belt, United States Chung Do Kwan Association
3rd degree Black Belt, Kukkiwon