Discover Chung Do Kwan
United in Mutual Friendship
Chung Do Kwan United, Inc. (CDKU) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that unites practitioners of Chung Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do — a Korean martial art first taught by Won Kuk Lee, brought to the United States by Grandmaster Duk Sung Son, and now carried forward by the instructors who trained under him and the generations that followed. CDKU was formed by instructors and members who trained together under Chung Do Kwan USA, continuing its shared curriculum, standards, and mission as an independent organization. We provide education, instructor standards, and a shared curriculum that unites our member schools.
Brief history of our organization
— Our Mission
Chung Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do took shape in Korea in the years after World War II — a practical style of self-defense and a spirited form of physical training, forged by Won Kuk Lee. It was Lee's approach that set Chung Do Kwan apart from the Shotokan tradition it grew out of, and that distinction still shapes how we train today.
Lee's successor, Grandmaster Duk Sung Son, carried the art to the United States and founded the World Tae Kwon Do Association. From there, the lineage continued through Grandmaster Don Richardson, who established the Chung Do Kwan Alliance, and Grandmasters Ted Hilson and Ron LeBlanc, who founded Chung Do Kwan USA. Chung Do Kwan United carries that same lineage forward today.
We believe the primary purpose of learning a martial art is having the tools to defend yourself, should the need ever arise — and that everyone can learn this, in a safe and enjoyable atmosphere. Our mission has not changed: to foster the mind, body, and spirit of all our students, youth and adult alike, instilling honor, integrity, respect for others and self, self-discipline, self-confidence, and physical and psychological health.
Join Our Organization — Our Board
CDKU is governed by its members, not a single headquarters. As our founding letter puts it:
"What we won't do is micromanage or profit from the local schools. That is your business."
We welcome your school's voice on the board and your guidance toward the future of our art.