World Champion Taekwondo's local demonstration team is learning skills under the direction of Grandmaster Ki Moon Kwon and the help of Master Maria and Master An.
The school, which opened in 2008, is located near Marc's in Aurora Commons. It has a sister location in Solon that has operated since 1991. More than 300 students are enrolled at the two locations.
The team performs in parades and at community events, and sponsors fundraiser for children's charities.
This year, the team has performed in Aurora's July 4 and Mantua's Potato Festival parades. It won an award as best business entry in the Aurora parade and best drill/rifle team in the Mantua event.
Classes at the school take place five days a week, and cater to children and adults. There are many siblings and parent/children combinations participating.
Daily classes provide students with a controlled safe environment to learn taekwondo, increase their concentration and self-discipline and improve balance coordination and memory.
Classes are taught by qualified black belt instructors, and programs are overseen by Kwon, who is the owner and head instructor.
He has trained in taekwondo for more than 35 years and holds an eight-degree black belt. During his training, he won several Korean and Asian national gold medals, including at the World Games.
When he accomplished the latter feat, he was one of the youngest ever to do so.
Kwon's credentials include coach of many U.S. and Korean competitive teams and athletes, and at the state, national and international levels.
In July, he took a seven-member team to an international competition in South Korea and brought home one gold, three silver and three bronze medals.