Tae-Kwon-Do is a Korean martial art which utilizes primarily kicking techniques. Within our club, we teach the Palgwe forms, and also train members in full contact sparing.
While no previous experience is required to participate in the club, our accreditation with the Kukkiwon and World Taekwondo Federation allows us to recognize the belt levels of incoming members, as well as permit members to carry their belt level to any other accredited dojang.
Practice Times: Monday & Thursday, 8:00 - 9:00 PM
Pete Willson Wrestling Room (North Harrison Hall)
For more information, please contact abigail.vanderhart@my.wheaton.edu
Club History
The Wheaton College Tae Kwon Do (TKD) Club was started in the fall of 1984 by Phillip Ahn, who was a sophomore and a third degree black belt at the time, along with Rick Yohn and Mark Vaughn, who were his first officers and assistants. Before the club was started Rick and Mark were part of the Karate Club, which was taught by an instructor that they had hired. The club was not well attended. Rick and Mark informally worked out with Phillip from time to time during Phillip's freshman year and eventually asked him to start a TKD club. With Rick and Mark's assistance, Phillip held a demonstration at the start of the 1984-85 college year, after which almost 40 students signed up.
The first students included such dignitaries as professors Jay Wood and Stan Jones (who later became provost), as well as Stewart DeSoto (current Physics professor) and Chris Keil (current professor of Environmental Science), who were Wheaton students at the time. Throughout the club's history, some other famous students have included Donn Nelson, current president of the Dallas Mavericks; Heather Ashcroft, daughter of the former attorney general John Ashcroft; Keith Bishop, former star QB and current QB coach of the Thunder; Chad Thorson, former star LB of the Thunder and father of Clayton, starting QB of the Northwestern Wildcats; Nancy Swider Peltz Jr, Olympic speed skater; and Camille and Kennerly Diebold, aka "Harp Twins". Students have also spanned two generations of families, including some current and recent club students, whose parents were some of Phillip's first students.
After Phillip graduated and went onto medical school, the club was taught by his brother Eun (who later became a professor at Wheaton) and briefly by his sister Sarah. With the help of Andy Kay, who was one of the club's first students, Phillip returned to teach the club in the late 1990s and early 2000s, until handing off these responsibilities to other black belts that they groomed which included the Diebold twins, as well the current instructor, Peter Sidebotham.