Introduction
I have dedicated many years to training numerous young students in Taekwondo at a studio. However, a significant challenge has been our inability to officially recognize their status as practitioners. To address this, I embarked on a mission to secure Kukkiwon certification for my students, acknowledging their dan status. Despite fulfilling the state’s legal requirements as a business entity, our efforts have been hindered by the township’s refusal to grant a business permit, citing zoning policies. As a result of this situation, I am currently unable to offer classes to the public.
If you are looking for a place, where you and/or your children can train, I certainly do have two recommendations.
Karate Unlimited
This is where I used to train alongside with my students for many years. Previous owner, Mr. Jim Fecca, had passed away many years ago and the studio is now owned/operated by former instructors. The studio is located in Sicklerville, NJ
Karate Unlimited offers an interesting combination of WTF, ITF, and some 1970s Taekwondo methods and weapons’ techniques. While Poomsae, stances, and kicks are loosely based on WTF styles, many of them have Karate Unlimited’s own interpretations and changes. While deviation from the WTF/IOC rules and guidelines are not desired, their unique styles are not necessarily bad things.
Ms. Bridgette Lear has been training at Karate Unlimited since she was very young for 13+ years and is very good with young students. When COVID-19, somehow, becomes the history and the studio opens up again, I’d recommend you to watch the classes a few times before making your decision.
Also, the final word on the late Mr. Jim Fecca. He was beloved, also the most hated, person around Karate Unlimited. On a shallow level, he appeared to be nothing but a money hungry business man with a rather questionable business ethic. However, once you got to know him on a personal level, you’d have realized he was actually a very caring person that he often failed to display in public. He will be missed dearly.
Master Ju’s World Class
Tae Kwon Do
I’ve observed Master Ju’s classes several times as a spectator. As far as the curriculum is concerned, Master Ju’s studio is the place to experience how Taekwondo is being taught in Korea. As stated in his website, he worked alongside with Master Kim in South Carolina for a number of years, and some signs of adopting commercialized/americanized teaching styles are apparent.
There are three distinctly different things about this place:
1) There is a main instructor along with a few instructor’s aid working together in tandem, so the class flows nicely without wasting too much time guiding/helping younger students with trouble following directions. Basically, things move fast.
2) There are frequent WTF/Olympic style sparring among students, weighing heavily on fast and effective footwork.
3) He issues Kukkiwon certified Dan certificates to his students. This may not like much of anything but it could be a big deal. Whether or not you can participate in Olympic games as a Taekwondo practitioner representing your nation, having a proper Kukkiwon Dan certification is one of many requirements.
His studio is located in Swell, NJ
Contact us
If you have any question, please feel free to contact me via the form.