ABOUT THE UNITED STATES CHUNG DO KWAN ASSOCIATION

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:
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 1st and 2nd 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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The USCDKA Founders
The USCDKA was founded by Grandmaster Edward B. Sell. Together with his wife of over 30 years, Grandmaster Brenda J. Sell, they oversee the entire USCDKA team of schools.

Grandmaster Edward B. Sell
Grandmaster Edward B. Sell is the highest ranked non-asian in Taekwondo. His credentials and reputation are world-renowned. Grandmaster Sell has received the highest recognition, appointments, and degree of anyone outside of Korea. He has more than 35 years of experience in the study, training, researching, teaching, and performing of one of the World's most effective forms of self defense (Taekwondo Chung Do Kwan).

He is the founding President of one of the oldest Taekwondo Institutions in the world, the U. S. Chung Do Kwan Association (est. 1967). He offers credentials to Black Belts who wish to excel in the profession of teaching Taekwondo. Grandmaster Sell developed a unique Instructors Degree system to keep the retention of high-ranking black belts.

He currently has more than 100 Master Black Belt students from 4th-7th Dan. He is known throughout the world for his impressive brick and concrete breaking techniques and high impact Taekwondo exhibitions.


He and his wife, Grandmaster Brenda J. Sell (7th Dan), have established an international Christian Black Belt Demonstration Team, called The Sell Team. They have received assignments through the U.S. Pentagon to perform at military installations throughout the world. They also perform in churches and public schools using Taekwondo to carry inspiring messages encouraging and motivating people of all ages to "be all they can be."

1960-67 - Instructor in Policemen's Combative Tactics.
1963 - First American ever to be allowed to compete in a Korean National Championship
1966 - First American to receive the Taekwondo Certificate of Merit from the Korea Taekwondo Association for outstanding contribution in the promotion of Taekwondo to the US Military.
1966 - First American to receive a 4th Degree Black Belt, earning him the title of Highest Ranked Non-oriental in Taekwondo, (of which he still holds today.)
1966 - First American to receive the Master Instructor's diploma.
1967 - Formed his own national association, the US Chung Do Kwan Association currently sanctioned by the World Taekwondo Federation.
1969 - Developed the Instructors Degree certification system to motivate, properly train and certify American Taekwondo Instructors.
1969 - He is the author of America's first Taekwondo training manual.
1972 - First American to be awarded the appointment to International Master by the W.T.F.
1973 - He and his wife authored one of America's best selling textbooks Forces of Taekwondo, currently in it's 10th revised edition.
1973 - He was the Coach of the US Team in the 1st World Taekwondo Championship, Korea.
1973 - 1st World Taekwondo Championship his student, and brother Ray Sell took a bronze medal.
1974 - First American to receive International Referee Certification.
1976 - International Referee, 1st World Games-Seoul, Korea.
1981 - Founder of The Sell Team, an International Christian Demonstration Team.
1987 - 8th Degree Black Belt World Chung Do Kwan Association-Seoul, Korea.
1988 - Public Relations Committee 1988 Olympics-Seoul, Korea.
1988 - Featured on the cover of Taekwondo Times December Issue.
1991 - 8th Degree Black Belt certified by the World Taekwondo Federation (Kukkiwon).
1997 - Featured on the cover of Tae Kwon Do Times.
1997 - 9th Degree Black Belt certified by the World Chung Do Kwan.
2001 - Successfully passed the examination that proclaims him as the highest ranked Black Belt in the world in Taekwondo outside the Korean nationality!

GrandMaster Edward Sell  has promoted more than 5,000 Black Belts in his career and his teaching principles have been exposed to nearly 250,000 American students. He is also the Founding President of the following: US Chung Do Kwan Association, Korean Taekwondo Association of America, The Sell Team (International Christian Demonstration Team), Taekwondo Rangers, and the Christian Taekwondo University. His goal in life is to touch people's lives, encouraging them to be strong in mind, body, and spirit.

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Grandmaster Brenda J. Sell
Grandmaster Brenda J. Sell is one of the first females in the United States to rise to the level of Grandmaster. She has more than 28 years of experience in the study, training, researching, teaching, and performing of one of the World's most effective forms of self defense (Taekwondo Chung Do Kwan).

She has pioneered the role of women in Taekwondo worldwide with her determination to succeed and overcome the obstacles associated with being involved in a male dominated martial art.

Grandmaster Brenda J. Sell with Grandmaster Edward B. Sell has established an international Christian Black Belt Demonstration Team, called The Sell Team. They have received assignments through the U.S. Pentagon to perform at military installations throughout the world. They also perform in churches and public schools using Taekwondo to carry inspiring messages encouraging and motivating people of all ages to "be all they can be."

1970 - Began training.
1972 - Awarded Black Belt
1977 - First female to be awarded International Referee Certification by WTF.
1978 - Awarded the 4th Degree and Master rank.
1981 - Founder of The Sell Team, an International Christian Demonstration Team.
1983 - Debut of International Female Competition at the 1st Pre-World Games Seoul, Korea given in her honor.
1987 - Appointed as International Referee for the First Women's World Tae Kwon Do Championships in Barcelona Spain.
1988 - Awarded Black Belt of the Decade.
1989 - Received Letter of Citation from WTF for contributions to Tae Kwon Do.
1990 - Receives promotion to 2nd Class International Referee, WTF.
1995 - First female promoted to 7th Dan.
1996 - Completes (with family) first Computerized CD-ROM training system of all WTF Taguek Poomse.
1996 - Ordained as a minister.
1998 - received the Grandmaster Degree. Featured on the cover of Tae Kwon Do Times.
2003- First Female promoted to 8th Dan

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What is Chung Do Kwan?
In 1942, a gentleman by the name of Won Kuk Yi (Lee) founded a unique method of teaching TaeKwonDo to a group of students rather than "one on one." He called his method of teaching "Chung Do Kwan," which can be translated several ways, such as "The Great Blue Wave" and many other translations relating to man's first source of power-"the force of water." However, GrandMaster Sell prefers to use the translation "a mighty wave smashing against a rocky shore," meaning that the power of water striking against any living of lifeless form on earth will win. Today, Chung Do Kwan is one of Korea 's strongest TaeKwonDo training systems and Mr. Won Kuk Yi has been titles as a Great Great GrandMaster and Founder, and is presently retired in the U.S. acting only as an advisor in the world movement of TaeKwonDo.

In 1967, GrandMaster Sell founded the American branch of the TaeKwonDo Chung Do Kwan Association, with the emphasis on strict discipline, shifting of body weight at the point of impact, and many other teaching techniques that would inspire the American student. In a very short time he realized that he had created the beginning of a "scale model" TaeKwonDo institute that would be responsible for setting high standards throughout the Eastern part of the United States . In the late 1960's and early 1970's, many schools attempted to imitate the teaching methods that GrandMaster Sell created, but failed, due to lack of leadership ability.

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