Grand Master Hyun K. Choi

United Tae Kwon Do Association Founder
2nd Gup International Referee
Kukkiwon (World TKD Headquarters) and
Moo Duk Kwan 9th Dan Black Belt
Kukkiwon (World TKD Headquarters) Member
WTF Member

Grand Master Dan K. Choi

Choi’s Institute of Tae Kwon Do Founder
1st Gup International Referee
Kukkiwon (World TKD Headquarters) and
Moo Duk Kwan 9th Dan Black Belt
Kukkiwon (World TKD Headquarters) Member
WTF Member

At Choi’s Institute of Tae Kwon Do, our goal is to achieve a balance between respect, self-discipline, physical ability, and the mental aspects of the martial arts. This combination of factors is key to a successful martial artist, and a well-rounded individual.

Choi’s Institute of Tae Kwon Do has a long history and tradition. In 1968 Grand Master Dan K. Choi, along with several other instructors, came to California from Korea to introduce the then- unknown martial art of Tae Kwon Do to the United States. Grand Master Dan K. Choi became one of the first people to teach Tae Kwon Do in the Bay Area. In 1971 Grand Master Dan K. Choi opened Santa Clara Valley’s first Tae Kwon Do studio, Choi’s Institute of Tae Kwon Do. Over the years, Choi’s Institute of Tae Kwon Do has produced many excellent black belts, some of whom have become national and World Cup champions. Instructors at many Tae Kwon Do or martial arts schools in the Bay Area got their start under Grand Master Dan K. Choi or Grand Master Hyun K. Choi. For example, Ernie Reyes, who was one of  Grand Master Dan K. 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 K. Choi founded the United Tae Kwon Do Association to unify all of the Choi’s affiliated studios. Currently, the UTA has twelve schools throughout the United States and one affiliate school in Seoul, Korea. The UTA has over 250 World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) accredited black belts. The current United Tae Kwon Do Association’s membership includes national and international tournament champions, 35 USTU certified referees, and 8 international referees (qualified to referee in international tournaments such as the Olympics).

Grand Master Hyun K. Choi is both renowned and respected in the world of Tae Kwon Do. With over fifty years of experience, his work has earned him numerous honors, including the highest certification of 9th Dan from Kukkiwon and the Moo Duk Kwan Association in Korea. He is also certified as an international referee for the World Tae Kwon Do Federation.  Grand Master Choi began teaching Tae Kwon Do at high schools in Korea and refined his techniques as an instructor for the R.O.K. army. In 1974, he came to the United States.  Since coming to the United States, Grand Master Choi has taught thousands of students the inner strengths and self-confidence that characterizes the sport of Tae Kwon Do.  Tae Kwon Do was introduced as a demonstration sport at the 1988 summer Olympics held in Seoul, Korea. Grand Master Choi received his 3rd Gup International Referee License (#805) during these Olympics. He is currently ranked as 2nd Gup international referee.  On September 2, 1992, Tae Kwon Do officially became a medal event for the Olympic games that occurred in the year 2000 at Sydney, Australia.  On December 18, 1994, Grand Master Choi received his Grand Master Certification [#(03)006] from the World Tae Kwon Do Federation.  Additionally, in 2001, Grand Master Choi was the general manager for the USA Tae Kwon Do team in the World Cup Tae Kwon Do Championships in Jeju Island, South Korea.