United States Chung Do Kwan Association

The United States Chung Do Kwan Association (USCDKA) is an American Martial Arts organization that was founded in 1967 in Trenton, Michigan by Edward B. Sell of the United States. Its current president is Brenda J. Sell, the only American Woman 8th Dan in the world. It is considered the oldest Taekwondo organization in the United States, and derives its roots from the World Chung Do Kwan Association and World Taekwondo Federation (WTF). The USCDKA was relocated to Lakeland, FL in 1974, where it is still currently headquartered.
The USCDKA is known for its highly refined development of the Instructor's Degree System. Degrees of Black Belt, or Dans, are earned separately of instructors' ranks. Each Black Belt is immediately eligible to earn an instructor degree upon earning their respective rank, but first must complete various training seminars (called NCITs), pass background checks, and demonstrate techniques in a manner similar to previous instructors. This is done to promote a sense of uniformity among schools, which are located all over the United States and Canada.
TaeKwonDo Chung Do Kwan
Chung Do Kwan Taekwondo is the oldest form of TaeKwonDo. Chung Do Kwan means "School of the Blue Wave." The USCDKA interprets this meaning as "awesome power" (characterized by Edward B. Sell) and "amazing grace" (characterized by Brenda J. Sell).
Practitioners of all styles of Taekwondo study poom'se (forms, gyroo-gi (sparring), elbon-dadee-un (one-steps sparring), and various self defense techniques. The USCDKA also incorporates board breaking, concrete breaking, weapons training, and Instructor certification. The USCDKA uses the Tae-Guek Forms, recognized by the WTF, along with four organization exclusive forms, for promotion. They also require students to be able to spar using WTF rules (kicking to the head and body, punching to the body), USCDKA rules (kicks and punched anywhere on the body except for groin, takedowns, and limited ground fighting), and sparring of multiple persons using each set of rules.
Belt and rank system
The USCDKA uses a ten belt ranking system, beginning at White Belt and finishing at Black Belt. Students are arbitrarily awarded the White Belt to begin with, and must appear before a Board of USCDKA Black Belts, with at least one Master on the Panel, to be eligible to promote to the next rank. Once a student has sufficiently demonstrated skill required by the Master on the panel, the student is awarded the next rank.
Colored belt series
* 10th Gup White Belt
* 9th Gup Yellow
* 8th Gup Gold
* 7th Gup Orange
* 6th Gup Green
* 5th Gup Purple
* 4th Gup Blue
* 3rd Gup Red
* 2nd Gup Brown
* 1st Gup 1/2 Brown 1/2 Black
Black belt series
A student under 16 is awarded "Poom" Belt instead of a "Dan" Belt. The belt is half red half black. Furthermore, until a student reaches the Master's rank of 4th Dan, he/she must confirm each rank of black belt after a six month waiting period.
* 1st Degree Black Belt (Eligible for Associate Instructor and Instructor Degrees)
* 2nd Degree Black Belt (Eligible for Head Instructor Degree)
* 3rd Degree Black Belt (Eligible for Chief Instructor Degree)
* 4th Degree Black Belt (Eligible for Associate Master and Master Degrees)
* 5th Degree Black Belt (Eligible for Head Master Degree)
* 6th Degree Black Belt (Eligible for Chief Master Degree)
* 7th Degree Black Belt (Eligible for Professor, Grandmaster Candidate and Grandmaster Degree)
* 8th Degree Black Belt (Eligible for Grandmaster Degree)
* 9th Degree Black Belt (Eligible for Senior Grandmaster Degree)
During the six month confirmation period, a student is required to perform all forms requirements up to, but not including, their current rank. When a student passes the confirmation, they are then awarded the certificate corresponding to their current rank.
4th Dan Master
Any person wishing to test for the rank of 4th Dan Master or higher must do so at the USCDKA National Conference in Lake Wales, FL during the spring of each year. The USCDKA Master test is administered by USCDKA Founder Edward B. Sell and the USCDKA President Brenda J. Sell, and a board of 5th, 6th, and 7th Dan Black Belts.
USCDKA patch
The USCDKA patch is worn on the left of the lapel. All members must have this patch on their uniforms. The patch is a representation of the ideals of true martial arts and the USCDKA, including bloodshed only if absolutely necessary, the shield of self defense, freedom, the circle of life, etc.
Criticisms
The USCDKA has been questioned in concern with overpricing credentials. According to the USCDKA, credentials are a vital part of the TaeKwonDo process; however, many students eligible to test for black belt are unable to do so simply because of the testing and membership fees involved. A student wishing to test for 2nd Dan, for example, and also applying for the Head Instructor Degree, must pay upwards of $200 for the test, $125 for the Instructor Degree, $150 for the courses required to earn the instructor degree, and $60 in membership fees. Furthermore, if a student wishes to earn international credentials, the USCDKA will require an additional $200 for the Kukkiwon Certificate. These fees do not include travel expenses associated with testing at one of the few Black Belt Testing centers is the United States.
They have also received criticism from members claiming the leadership is tyrannical and cult-like, the only accepted literature or learning tools is produced by the leaders themselves, outlawing all other materials. The leaders response to this has been that it is all for the sake of uniformity.
Another prominent concern is that although the organization requires background checks and instructor certification, there has been a significant increase in recent years of instructors finding themselves in legal trouble do to child related incidents. There has also been an increase in the amount of instructors from different types of martial arts that have been granted access to a TaeKwonDo exclusive organization.

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