Business Details
46 Years
experience
Your Trusted Taekwondo School in Irvine, CA
Established in 1980, IL-DO Taekwondo Association has been a leader in traditional Taekwondo instruction in Orange County for over 40 years. Founded by Grandmaster Chang Jin Kang, we pioneered Taekwondo education in Irvine and remain committed to delivering world-class martial arts training. Our schools are certified by the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) and Kukkiwon, ensuring authentic instruction recognized globally. With three convenient locations, we serve students of all ages, emphasizing character development, self-discipline, and physical fitness. Our family-oriented programs foster intergenerational bonding through shared martial arts practice.We host annual tournaments to showcase student progress in a safe, competitive environment. Our team includes highly ranked black belts with decades of experience in teaching and competition. We offer specialized programs such as birthday parties and introductory classes to make martial arts accessible to new families. Our mission extends beyond physical training, focusing on cultivating leaders through traditional values like courtesy, integrity, and indomitable spirit. As pioneers in martial arts education, we continue to innovate while maintaining the core principles of Taekwondo.
Services
Taekwondo Classes
Family Martial Arts
Birthday Parties
Tournament Training
Self-Defense Workshops
Belt Certification
Group Lessons
Private Instruction
Corporate Team Building
Summer Camps
Details
- Year established: 1980
Highlights and features
- We have over 40 years of experience teaching traditional Taekwondo in Orange County
- Certified instructors with black belts ranging from 5th to 9th degree
- Family martial arts classes that build bonds through shared training experiences
- Annual tournament program that showcases student growth and achievements
- Payment plans available to make martial arts training accessible to all families
Associations and certifications
- World Taekwondo Federation
- Kukkiwon
What people say
Very patient with kids
Motivating ways to teach
Helping confidence
Services
Taekwondo Classes
Traditional Taekwondo instruction for children and adults combines physical training with character development. Our certified instructors teach self-defense techniques, forms, and sparring while emphasizing respect and discipline. Classes accommodate all skill levels from beginners to advanced black belts.
Family Martial Arts
Intergenerational Taekwondo classes create shared learning experiences for parents and children. These sessions build family bonds through collaborative training while improving fitness and teaching mutual respect. The program emphasizes teamwork and encouragement across generations.
Birthday Parties
Action-packed martial arts birthday parties include board breaking, obstacle courses, and games. Professional instructors ensure safety while providing two hours of engaging activities. Each guest receives a white belt and participates in Taekwondo-themed challenges and a ceremonial belt presentation.
Tournament Training
Annual competition program prepares students for safe, structured martial arts tournaments. Training focuses on sparring techniques, forms execution, and mental preparation. Participants gain confidence through competitive experiences while maintaining traditional Taekwondo values.
Self-Defense Workshops
Practical self-defense instruction teaches situational awareness and protective techniques. Classes emphasize awareness, avoidance, and de-escalation strategies alongside physical defense methods. Programs for women and children focus on confidence-building and boundary setting.
People
Grandmaster Chang Jin Kang
Founder/9th Degree Black Belt
Grandmaster Kang established IL-DO Taekwondo Association in 1980 and trained directly under Taekwondo's founder. With over 50 years of experience, he developed the first US bachelor's degree program in Taekwondo at Concordia University while maintaining traditional instruction methods.
Master Daniel Kang
7th Degree Black Belt
Son of Grandmaster Kang, Master Daniel Kang brings three decades of martial arts expertise as a certified instructor and competitor. He combines technical mastery with compassionate teaching, serving as a role model for the next generation of Taekwondo practitioners.
Master Lois Shim
5th Degree Black Belt
With corporate experience from UBS and GMAC, Master Shim integrates professional leadership with martial arts instruction. As Grandmaster Kang's daughter, she combines family tradition with modern teaching methods to connect with students and parents.
Master Yoon Choi
5th Degree Black Belt
A decorated competitor with 10 tournament gold medals, Master Choi brings military discipline and over 20 years of teaching experience. His background includes service in the U.S. Marine Corps and advanced training in Korea and the United States.
Questions
What age groups do you teach?
We offer programs for children as young as 3 years old through adults of all ages, with specialized classes for different skill and age groups.
Do you offer trial classes?
Yes, we provide a 2-week introductory program for $39 that includes a free uniform, allowing students to experience our teaching methods risk-free.
Are family discounts available?
We offer discounted rates for multiple family members training together, making martial arts accessible and affordable for households with multiple students.
What safety measures are in place?
All classes are supervised by certified black belt instructors with safety training. Students progress at their own pace with protective equipment used for sparring and contact exercises.
How often should students train?
We recommend attending 2-3 classes weekly for optimal progress, though we offer flexible scheduling to accommodate different availability and commitment levels.
What certification do you offer?
Students earn internationally recognized belts through Kukkiwon and WTF certification, with testing opportunities every 2-4 months depending on rank and dedication.
Videos
Reviews (4)
S. L.
Sep 26, 2021
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Always positive, always upbeat. Don't like the rule about having kids wear a mask, but all is good. Great Tae Kwan Do and martial art experience for kids. Seems like they really enjoy teaching and my son likes the rewards for showing up and doing the work. Children love all of the Masters. Focus and Discipline Improvement!
Elvira Mukhurova
Nov 15, 2020
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My son Raul has been taking
TaekWonDo class here and I can't thank the instructors enough for their patience, caring & more importantly teaching my son a whole lot of confidence and discipline. They are really experts in teaching this wonderful martial art. My son really enjoys his classes and looking forward to his lessons every week. A big thumbs up from me and my son! Thank you so much guys!!!!95969959596949 939499596$
TaekWonDo class here and I can't thank the instructors enough for their patience, caring & more importantly teaching my son a whole lot of confidence and discipline. They are really experts in teaching this wonderful martial art. My son really enjoys his classes and looking forward to his lessons every week. A big thumbs up from me and my son! Thank you so much guys!!!!95969959596949 939499596$
Michael Yuen
Aug 19, 2020
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Our son joined their Cubs program a couple months ago, and after the initial shyness, we saw how much he enjoyed going to training every, single time. Furthermore, because the instructors teach respect, focus, courtesy, perseverance, and other values, we saw a change in his behavior and motivation for the better. The instructors themselves are motivating and kind, and Master Daniel in particular is easy to work with in administrative school matters. When our son gets older, I may join him in Taekwondo myself, although my bad back may not allow it (previously did Krav Maga until the back stopped
Curtis Bailey
Feb 01, 2020
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Maybe it was me thinking an over weight guy, in his late 50's could go into a studio where they are supposed to know about physical fitness and perceive or at least talk to me about how difficult my goal would be, but they did not. I signed up for a one year contract and I fulfilled my part of the deal, but I do not think they did a good job. They could have recommended something else first and I would have returned, but I don't even feel I was even respected by his students who worked at the place of business.
