More than physical fitness, Taekwondo offers much more. This martial art has been established for more than 2000 years and the techniques are still being practiced today. Taekwondo not only teaches you self-defense but also to respect, have a sense of pride, and build your confidence.
You might have an interest in Taekwondo and have been wondering which of the schools across the globe offer the best Taekwondo lessons. This is why I am here to guide you on our list of the 10 best Taekwondo academies in the world today.
As you might have already known, Taekwondo originated in South Korea, and up until today, the country still serves as its base. However, this special martial art has spread across the globe, even to the United States, Singapore, Antioch, and most parts of the world, and that only shows you how amazing people have embraced it. Taekwondo is more than a sports competition, even though it could also serve that purpose, but it is much more a respected martial art and should be treated so.
What makes a good Taekwondo School?
You are interested in learning Taekwondo; perhaps, you want to register your kids, which means you must find a top-notch Taekwondo class for them. Why am I trying to tell you this? There are a lot of Taekwondo schools out there that are not real. For you not to fall victim to those that will scam you for your money and not get the value of what you have registered for, I need to quickly run you through those things you need to check out to find out if a Taekwondo academy is the best one for you.
Naturally, a Taekwondo school is called “Dojang,” or at times, Kwan, a Korean word that means a place of learning the way of martial arts and you must take caution at schools who call it a different name. Another thing you will want to watch out for in a Taekwondo school is the curriculum which should include fitness, leadership skills, stretching, breaking, sparring, self-defense, forms, basics, meditation, and philosophy. Anything away from these things is a minus.
Also, the uniform used in Taekwondo is the white uniform that is called a dobok which symbolizes perfection and purity of character. Any Taekwondo gym that uses colorful uniforms is not good enough for you. Furthermore, in a Taekwondo academy, sparring is an essential practice, any school that does not pay attention to sparring or that use non-contact sparring or no competition method should be avoided because competition, not isolation is used to breed excellence.
10 best Taekwondo Academies in the World
Having already found out the things you should watch out for when you want to register for a Taekwondo, let us go straight to the best 10 Taekwondo schools in the world. Some of the good things you will realize from the best Taekwondo schools is that they offer a first few weeks before you eventually decide whether or not you want to register with them.
This avail you the opportunities to observe how their instructor interacts with their students and how the students react to it. You will also get the chance to have some conversations with the older students and other parents. Check our list below:
1. Hee IL Cho’s Tae Kwon Do Center
This academy is located in Honolulu, Hawaii, and it was established by Grandmaster Cho’s Tae Kwon Do who based the foundation on the intellectual, physical, and spiritual aspects. The school has a place for all genders and ages and does not discriminate about race.
2. The American Dragon Martial Arts Academy
The school has its location in Winter Garden, Florida, and some other places like Sunrise, Orlando, Clermont, Florida, Cheonan, South Korea, and Bogota, Cali, Colombia. The good thing about the school is that Grand Master Richard Hackworth, a 16-time World Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inductee, established it. If you get your kid to study in this school, you are sure to get the best out of your kid because history has it that the Grand Master has influenced tens of thousands of students across the globe.
3. Universal School of Martial Arts
The academy is located in Atlanta, Georgia, and teaches both Taekwondo and Hapkido. Grand Master Gregory Glover owns it and is well-known as part of the US National Taekwondo coaching team. Allowing your kid to learn under such a man will be a great advantage. They also offer a free trial class when you get started.
4. TangSooDo MooDukKwan Taekwondo Schools of Orlando
The school is located in Orlando, Florida, and it was founded by Grand Master Fred Parks, whose passion is to teach women and children Taekwondo. This is undoubtedly one of the best places for you.
5. Body Martial Arts Academy Chattanooga, Tennessee
The school is situated in Tennessee, and it was established by Master Chris Edwards, who is a world record holder in Breaking. The school offer classes in Jujitsu, Hapkido, Kung Fu, and Taekwondo, and this makes it so special.
6. Kang’s Taekwondo Academy
Established by Grand Master Johnny Kang, it is located in Brentwood/Antioch. It emphasizes helping develop people in all ramifications as they believe that martial art is much more than self-defense. If you are a resident of where this school is located, this may be the best for you.
7. JH Kim Taekwondo Institute
The school is located in Boston, and it was founded by Grand Master Kim Jae Hun when he was in Boston, USA, in 1974. The founder attended MIT, where he started to teach Taekwondo. Imagine being taught by someone who taught at MIT; this is the best place for you. The school has branches in China, Ireland, Korea, Singapore, and the US.
8. World Taekwondo Academy
Grandmaster Byung Yul Lee founded the school in 1969, and he has produced thousands of students who became champions in sport and life. Even though the founder has passed away, those he trained are still available. They have their Taekwondo academy located in Minnesota and offer a two-week trial course, including a uniform to start with.
9. KyungHee Taekwondo School
The school is in San Diego and was founded by Grand Master Kim, who studied Taekwondo in South Korea in 1974 at Kyung Hee University. This great man has 43 years of experience, and I am sure you will not want your kid to miss out on this opportunity.
10. World Class Tae Kwon Do
The school is located in California and was founded by Grandmaster Sun Ki Chong, a three-time Korean National Champion, and former US Team Coach. The school has five locations, including Buffalo and NY area.
Adult Classes and International Collaboration
A notable aspect of many top-tier Taekwondo schools is their commitment to offering adult classes, allowing individuals of all ages to experience the benefits of Taekwondo training. For instance, JH Kim Taekwondo Institute, which has branches in multiple countries, including the United States, Korea, Singapore, and Ireland, provides adult classes that cater to different skill levels. This commitment to inclusivity is echoed by the World Taekwondo Federation, which actively supports adult classes and international collaboration.
The World Taekwondo Federation has also significantly fostered partnerships between national teams, such as the French Taekwondo Team. By working with the World Taekwondo Federation, the French Taekwondo Team has accessed top-notch training programs and events. In promoting adult classes and international cooperation, the Taekwondo community continues to grow and evolve, ensuring the martial art remains relevant and accessible to individuals of all ages and backgrounds.
In conclusion, finding the right Taekwondo school is the best you can give to yourself or your kids, and with our list above, you should try and enroll in one of those schools to see for yourself.
Taekwondo schools can often hold internal competitions. For the winners, the school or teacher can give them challenge coins as prizes, to commemorate their excellent performance and encourage them to continue to improve. The challenge coin is a symbol of honor. Taekwondo students must have the spirit of challenge to participate in various competitions, hone their skills in the competition, learn the opponent’s tricks, and constantly improve their own level.