About
World Class Taekwondo offers Taekwondo classes that include traditional Taekwondo forms, practical self defense techniques, and Olympic Style sparring skills. The program also runs birthday parties, summer camps, games, arts and crafts, and field trips.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
• Schedule: Classes available 6 days a week
• Price: $20 Beginner Class
World Class Taekwondo offers Taekwondo classes for children, adults, and families from ages 4 and up, including a Little Tigers program for 4- and 5-year-olds, kids classes for ages 6–12, teens and adults programs, and family classes. Birthday parties at World Class Taekwondo include Taekwondo basics, demonstrations, and board breaking, followed by pizza and refreshments served by staff, with no decorations, set up, or clean up needed from families. The summer camp is open to students and non-students across Western New York, and no martial arts experience is required to attend.
World Class Taekwondo has been a staple in the community since 1993 and celebrates over 30 years of teaching martial arts in Western New York. The story of World Class Taekwondo began in 1983 when Grandmaster Sun Ki Chong opened his first school in Syracuse, New York, and in 1993 the first World Class Taekwondo Center opened in Williamsville, New York, followed by four additional locations across the Buffalo area over the next 15 years. World Class Taekwondo has trained thousands of students of all ages, and staff members now teach the children and grandchildren of original students. It has served as a training ground for dozens of aspiring instructors, with over 35 former staff members having opened their own independent Taekwondo schools across the United States.
The leadership team includes Founder Grandmaster Sun Ki Chong, an 8th Degree Black Belt, and Co-Founder and Executive Director Master Michael Mertens, a 7th Degree Black Belt. Grandmaster Chong has over 60 years of experience, is a former Korean champion, and served as a five-time head coach for the U.S. National Taekwondo Team. Master Mertens is a former national-level competitor with over 40 years of Taekwondo experience, is a three-time New York State sparring champion, a two-time bronze medalist at the Collegiate National Taekwondo Championships, and a former captain of the Cornell University sparring team, and he is a graduate of the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations with a focus on Organizational Behavior. The curriculum at World Class Taekwondo was personally developed by Grandmaster Chong as a balance of traditional Taekwondo forms, practical self defense, and Olympic Style sparring skills.
Grand Master Chong’s philosophy is that Taekwondo is about self improvement as well as self defense, and instructors at World Class Taekwondo focus on teaching “life skills” as well as physical techniques, with an emphasis on helping students of all levels gain increased focus, confidence, and determination that they can apply to all areas of their life. World Class Taekwondo describes itself as WNY’s premier martial arts school since 1993, with a positive and encouraging environment that includes peers of every fitness level and age, flexible scheduling with classes available six days a week, and five convenient locations across Western New York. The staff includes an experienced team of professional black belt instructors.
Last updated February 10, 2026.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
• Schedule: Classes available 6 days a week
• Price: $20 Beginner Class
World Class Taekwondo offers Taekwondo classes for children, adults, and families from ages 4 and up, including a Little Tigers program for 4- and 5-year-olds, kids classes for ages 6–12, teens and adults programs, and family classes. Birthday parties at World Class Taekwondo include Taekwondo basics, demonstrations, and board breaking, followed by pizza and refreshments served by staff, with no decorations, set up, or clean up needed from families. The summer camp is open to students and non-students across Western New York, and no martial arts experience is required to attend.
World Class Taekwondo has been a staple in the community since 1993 and celebrates over 30 years of teaching martial arts in Western New York. The story of World Class Taekwondo began in 1983 when Grandmaster Sun Ki Chong opened his first school in Syracuse, New York, and in 1993 the first World Class Taekwondo Center opened in Williamsville, New York, followed by four additional locations across the Buffalo area over the next 15 years. World Class Taekwondo has trained thousands of students of all ages, and staff members now teach the children and grandchildren of original students. It has served as a training ground for dozens of aspiring instructors, with over 35 former staff members having opened their own independent Taekwondo schools across the United States.
The leadership team includes Founder Grandmaster Sun Ki Chong, an 8th Degree Black Belt, and Co-Founder and Executive Director Master Michael Mertens, a 7th Degree Black Belt. Grandmaster Chong has over 60 years of experience, is a former Korean champion, and served as a five-time head coach for the U.S. National Taekwondo Team. Master Mertens is a former national-level competitor with over 40 years of Taekwondo experience, is a three-time New York State sparring champion, a two-time bronze medalist at the Collegiate National Taekwondo Championships, and a former captain of the Cornell University sparring team, and he is a graduate of the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations with a focus on Organizational Behavior. The curriculum at World Class Taekwondo was personally developed by Grandmaster Chong as a balance of traditional Taekwondo forms, practical self defense, and Olympic Style sparring skills.
Grand Master Chong’s philosophy is that Taekwondo is about self improvement as well as self defense, and instructors at World Class Taekwondo focus on teaching “life skills” as well as physical techniques, with an emphasis on helping students of all levels gain increased focus, confidence, and determination that they can apply to all areas of their life. World Class Taekwondo describes itself as WNY’s premier martial arts school since 1993, with a positive and encouraging environment that includes peers of every fitness level and age, flexible scheduling with classes available six days a week, and five convenient locations across Western New York. The staff includes an experienced team of professional black belt instructors.
Last updated February 10, 2026.
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