On May 23rd, 2009 Hwa Rang Do’s, Chief Master Taejoon Lee will be promoted to 8th Dan Hwa Rang Do® Black Sash and become Grandmaster Taejoon Lee.
This will be a historic day for many reasons….
On April 18th, 2009, Chief Master Lee successfully tested for his 8th Dan promotion in front of his father and founder of Hwa Rang Do, Supreme Grandmaster Dr. Joo Bang Lee during a private examination at the World Hwa Rang Do Headquarters in Tustin, CA.
Supreme Grandmaster Lee will formally award the 8th Dan Grandmaster title to his eldest son and heir to the Hwa Rang Do® legacy, on May 23rd, 2009 during a private banquet in Tustin, CA.
This is the last promotion Chief Master Lee will be formally testing for.
Very few people in the world can fathom the dedication, skill, knowledge and time it requires to achieve an 8th Dan title in Hwa Rang Do®. Hwa Rang Do® is the only martial art which has curriculum all the way through 7th Dan, encompasses over 4,000+ techniques and requires a rigorous test for promotion in each degree, through 8th Dan.
Only 3 other people in the world hold an equal or higher rank in Hwa Rang Do.
Chief Master Taejoon Lee has proven himself to be one of the world’s finest martial artists, in a style that spans an unusually broad skill-set of striking, joint locking, throwing, grappling, submissions and training in 108 different weapons.
His speed, precision, power, and encyclopedic knowledge of body mechanics converge into a beautiful yet lethal blur of movement, which can only be appreciated by seeing him in action.
Not surprisingly, his talents have been recognized by industry press, which has featured him in nearly two dozen articles including two covers of Black Belt magazine (World’s Leading Martial Arts Journal). He has trained many members of the Elite U.S. Military & Law Enforcement, and has performed celebrated demonstrations in the United States, Asia, Latin America, and Europe.
Aside from physical ability, over the 30 years of teaching Hwa Rang Do®, Chief Master Lee has selflessly given his life to his students, with the goal of self-betterment. Personal development and spiritual growth is a central focus of training in Hwa Rang Do® and his mentorship has been directly responsible for the extraordinary success of many of his students, which include leaders in corporate America, entrepreneurs, actors, singers, medical and legal professionals, to touch on a few.
With the current commercial focus on violence in the martial arts industry, the unusual focus on personal development and developing important life skills stands out as a powerful testament to the mental, emotional, spiritual, as well as the physical, benefits of martial arts training.
For more information about Chief Master Lee, details about his 8th Dan ceremony, and to join his students in celebrating his life’s work and passion, please visit: www.HwaRangDo.net/8thdan