Choi's Taekwondo Scotts Valley

Choi's Taekwondo Scotts Valley offers Taekwondo lessons and martial arts classes that include self-defense skills, sparring techniques, and a physical fitness workout. Students practice specific kicking, punching, and blocking techniques as part of their training. The program includes an introductory option where students learn overall physical fitness, self-defense skills, self-confidence, self discipline, leadership skills, respect for others, and listening skills.

• Ages: 5–18 years old

Children’s classes use age-appropriate Taekwondo lessons that emphasize respect, listening skills, and social skills, and all children’s classes are taught by Grand Master Choi and/or her senior instructors. The teens and adults program emphasizes proper kicking, punching, blocking, and sparring techniques, along with respect for self and others, perseverance, leadership abilities, and a sense of justice. Listed benefits for children include improved focus, confidence, discipline, and bully defense, and listed benefits for adults include stress relief, functional fitness, community, and self-defense.

Choi’s Taekwondo Scotts Valley is a traditional Taekwondo school led by Grandmaster Yong Choi, a Kukkiwon certified 8th Degree Black Belt with over 40 years of teaching experience and current President of the California Unified Taekwondo Association (CUTA). Grand Master Yong Soon Choi is a 7th Degree black belt with over 40 years of teaching experience, is the president of the California Unified Taekwondo Association, and is described as the first female Grand Master to run a major official Taekwondo organization in the world under World Taekwondo. The school’s mission states that it provides martial arts training based on the principles of respect, perseverance, integrity, self confidence, and indomitable spirit, and that it provides age-appropriate life skills training rooted in the history and traditions of Taekwondo to foster self-confidence, resilience, and a strong body and mind.

Choi’s Taekwondo has produced many black belts, including national and World Cup champions. Instructors at many Taekwondo or martial arts schools in the Bay Area got their start under Grand Master Dan Choi or Grand Master Hyun Choi, and two of Grand Master Dan Choi’s first black belts, Ernie Reyes (Senior) and Tony Thompson, went on to found West Coast Karate. The program also offers a Price Comparison Tool to understand per-hour cost for martial arts classes versus other services.

In 1968, Grand Master Dan Choi, along with several other instructors, came to California from Korea to introduce Taekwondo to the United States, and in 1971 he opened Santa Clara Valley’s first Taekwondo studio, Choi’s Institute of Taekwondo. Grand Master Dan Choi is the founder of this first studio, and Grand Master Hyun Choi is his younger brother. Over the past two decades, Grand Master Yong Soon Choi has received recognition nationally and internationally for her efforts in promoting and developing Taekwondo as a world sport and for her dedication to preserving the traditional teachings of Taekwondo. Grandmaster Yong Choi serves as President of CUTA, the official state organization for California under USATKD, the national governing body for Taekwondo in the United States.

Last updated July 13, 2026.