USCDKA History

Download USCDKA Timeline Here (9.2MB - PDF)    Includes photos of all events.

1961 Grandmaster Sell begins his training while stationed at Osan Air Force Base in Seoul Korea.
   
1962 Promoted to First Degree Black Belt
   
1963 First Foreigner to compete in the first National Korean Championship (won 3rd place)
   
1964 Promoted to 2nd Degree Black Belt
   
1967 Forms the "Korea TaeKwonDo Association of America" in Trenton Michigan. Later in 1974 renames it to the US Chung Do Kwan Association.
   
1969 Writes the first American TaeKwonDo Textbook, "Forces of TaeKwonDo"
   
1970 Establishes 20 schools across Southeast Michigan.
   
1972 Awarded International Referee Official and Master's Degree.
   
1973 Grandmaster Sell is a delegate at the organizing conference of the World TaeKwonDo Federation.
   
1974 USA Team Coach for the 1st World TKD Championships in Seoul.
   
1975 First American to be an International Referee in the First World Games.
   
1979 Relocated USCDKA World Headquarters from Michigan to Lakeland, Florida.
   
1981 Founded the "Sell Team Ministry"
   
1985 Grandmaster Sell ordained as a Christian Minister.
   
1987 Promoted to 8th Degree Black Belt by the World Chung Do Kwan Association.
   
1988 Appointed to WTF Public Relations Committee for 1988 Olympics.
   
1991 Promoted to 8th Degree Black Belt by the World TaeKwonDo Federation.
   
1992 Created annual "Soaring Eagle Seminar" Series, visiting all USCDKA schools.
   
1993 Created USCDKA Video Training Library documenting all USCDKA curriculum.
   
1994 The Sell Family created the first computer CD-ROM on all Taeguek forms.
   
1997 Promoted to World Chung Do Kwan 9th Degree Black Belt
   
1999 First USCDKA World Training Conference
   
2000 Only TaeKwonDo Demonstration Team to perform at West Point.
   
2001 September 11, 2001 - Grandmaster Sell tests and passes the World TaeKwonDo Federation (WTF - Kukkiwon) 9th Degree Black Belt, making him the highest ranking WTF Black Belt outside of Korea. The promotion was conducted at the World TKD Federation Headquarters in Seoul Korea.
   
2004 Grandmaster Brenda J. Sell becomes the President of the USCDKA. Grandmaster Edward B. Sell retains the title of CEO.

The following is taken from "The Forces of TaeKwonDo" by Grandmaster Edward B. Sell and Grandmaster Brenda J. Sell, used with permission.

On March 25, 1967 Air Force Staff Sergeant Edward B. Sell received and honorable discharge from the U.S. Air Force after serving eight years on active duty. His one hope and dream was to some day open his own Korean Karate (TaeKwonDo) Studio and build it into a national organization, so that others may benefit from his newly found "Way of Life."

In the summer of 1967, it was decide the Trenton , Michigan would be the site of his first studio. Many repairs and much remodeling were needed. With the help of his three brothers Tom, Ray, and Ron, the studio was opened in a very short time with very limited funds that were available.

August 18, 1967 the Trenton Karate Studio held its first class session with twenty-five enthusiastic beginners under the command of Master Instructor Edward B. Sell.

The strict discipline and "hard core" training molded these white belts into hard fighters whose reputation began to spread throughout the East Coast shortly after entering their first tournament in June 1968, when eight students brought home twelve 1 st and 2 nd place trophies and the Overall Club Championship Trophy. The impressive association patch worn by all the students' uniforms began to be feared by many competitors of other Karate Schools.

Today, Master Sell's dream has been fulfilled, as the U.S. Chung Do Kwan Association is indeed a National Organization and is growing even beyond Master Sell's expectations. Master Sell is presently organizing a consultant firm, in hopes of helping other TaeKwonDo and Karate Institutes expand in order that the martial arts may continue to grow at an even faster pace.

It is felt by Master Sell that the Martial Arts is still its infancy in the United States . Teaching, Demonstrating, Conducting Seminars, and Tournaments are ways in which Master Sell and the U.S. Chung Do Kwan Association are promoting the arts. The future of martial arts remains with all Black Belts who dedicate themselves to the principles and teachings of the TaeKwonDo and Karate.

©1967 - 2004 USCDKA, INC. MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF USCDKA, Inc.

 


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from the 1960's


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from the 1970's


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from the 1980's


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from the 1990's

 

 

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