Dedications

I, Chief Master Taejoon Lee, would like to dedicate this website and the West Coast Academy to three historical figures to whom I owe the greatest honor, respect and gratitude.

"Men make history and not the other way round. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better."

Harry S. Truman

General Yoo Shin Kim

He is the most famous of all the Hwarang Knights. At the time, Korea was divided into Three Kingdoms: Koguryo, Paekche, and Silla. General Kim led the unification wars and united the country for the first time under the flag of Silla. This was truly the turning point in Korean History as it created the first glimpse of what Korea would be today.

Kwanchang Rang (Hwarang Knight)

The story of Kwanchang's heroism is legendary and has inspired many soldiers in Korean history to overcome hardships and to persevere to victory. The West Coast Academy's School Patch is designed after Kwanchang Rang.

Supreme Grandmaster Dr. Joo Bang Lee (Hwa Rang Do® Founder)

Dr. Joo Bang Lee is the 58th heir to the title of "Hwarang," which means Hwa Rang Knight and he is Dojoonim (Owner of the "Way"). There is only one Dojoonim in each generation, holding the highest rank of 10 Dan Degree Black Sash. He is the Founder and President of the World Hwa Rang Do® Association, which governs all Hwa Rang Do® schools, Masters, Instructors, and Students across the globe. He brought Hwa Rang Do® to the United States in the early seventies and currently presides at the International Headquarters located in Downey, CA.