 Summer Martial Arts: A Winning Choice for Youth at Joon Lee’s Tae Kwon Do Summer break is an ideal time for kids to stay energized, pick up new skills, and build self-confidence, and Joon Lee’s Tae Kwon Do offers an unbeatable way to do just that. With schools in Oak Lawn and Orland Park, young students in the Chicago area can dive into daily martial arts training under the guidance of Master Joon Lee, a 9th Dan black belt with decades of experience who has taught over 10,000 students. Why Practice Tae Kwon Do Every Day This Summer?More Classes, More Progress: Many martial arts schools limit students to just 2 or 3 classes weekly. At Joon Lee’s, kids can train up to six days a week throughout the summer, accelerating skill development and building stronger connections with new friends. Building Character and Friendships: Tae Kwon Do isn’t just physical, it’s a path to greater focus, self-discipline, and confidence. Plus, students enjoy the camaraderie of a supportive community and instructors who make training engaging and fun. Stay Active and Strong: Daily Tae Kwon Do sessions keep kids moving, enhancing strength, coordination, and endurance, and helping them stay fit and energized. Keep Sharp for School: Regular martial arts practice helps maintain mental sharpness and prevents the typical summer learning slump, setting kids up for success when classes resume. Keep the Momentum Going in the FallWhat makes Joon Lee’s program stand out is the seamless transition from summer to school year, something summer camps can't usually do. Students begin and keep their training schedule consistent, making it easier to continue growing without interruption, which is a real advantage over other programs. Try a Free Class Before SummerWondering if Tae Kwon Do is the right for you or your student? Reach out to either the Oak Lawn or Orland Park school to schedule a free trial class before summer kicks off. Experience the welcoming atmosphere and discover how martial arts can be empowering. About Master Joon LeeMaster Joon Lee holds a ninth degree (9th Dan) black belt and has been a pillar of the Chicago martial arts community for over 30 years. His dedication and expertise have shaped the journeys of more than 10,000 students, making his schools a trusted place to learn and grow.
Give your child a summer full of energy, confidence, and new friendships!  New Year's Resolution in Martial Arts: A Family That Kicks Together, Grows Together Fresh into the new year, many families seek activities that promote good health, time shared together, and personal growth. Martial arts, particularly Tae Kwon Do, offers an excellent opportunity to combine these resolutions. Tae Kwon Do not only transforms the body and mind, but also strengthens family bonds through a shared experiences and achievements. Physical Benefits of Tae Kwon Do Get a comprehensive full-body workout, perfect for improving fitness if that's part of your New Year's goal. Families can expect to enhance physical strength, and improve muscle tone, flexibility and balance. You'll also boost cardiovascular endurance, and get additional benefits of coordination and agility. These physical benefits don't just help you while training, but will also be contributing to overall health. The nature of Tae Kwon Do training makes it an effective tool for weight management, and the regular activity with those you love, and new friends, will boost your mood, even after you're finished with a class. Mental Transformation The impact of Tae Kwon Do on mental health and cognitive function is equally significant, aligning perfectly with resolutions focused on personal development. Adult and youth students alike experience sharpened focus and concentration, enhanced stress management skills, and increased self-esteem. Cognitive function and academic performance are two well-known areas that can benefit from the ongoing activity in martial arts, benefitting daily work- and school-life. Family Bonding Through Martial Arts Tae Kwon Do's suitability for all ages makes it an ideal family activity for the new year. When families train together, they experience shared goals and achievements, improved communication and bonding, a common language of respect and discipline, and opportunities for mutual support and encouragement and some fun shared memories. So you may be thinking, this sounds perfect, but how do I get started? Make and Keep a New Year's Resolution as a Family To successfully incorporate martial arts into your family's New Year's resolutions and build lasting habits, try these strategies:
By embracing martial arts as a family New Year's resolution and following these habit-building strategies, you're not just working towards physical fitness, you're embarking on a journey of personal growth and family bonding that will bring more joy, good health and moments of success into your life. It's never too late! A Resolution can be started any time, and sometimes it's even better to start one when you are ready as a family, instead of being limited to January 1! Free First Class!If you have questions about how Tae Kwon Do can benefit you, your child, or your family, we're here to help! Call or email to set up a time for a free first class. Youth, families and adults are all welcome at Joon Lee's Tae Kwon Do!
 Tae Kwon Do offers a variety of benefits for students, supporting their personal development and their efforts in learning. Getting back into the school year schedule, parents often look for activities outside of school that promote personal development, keep students physically active and offer opportunities to make new friends. Tae Kwon Do can be a great fit for these goals and more! More than just a physical activityIn Tae Kwon Do, students are doing more than just being physically active during training; they are developing a stronger mind-body connection and improved focus, and as these progress, more confidence which promotes self-esteem. When students begin a Tae Kwon Do class, through each movement and sequence of instructions, they are honing their ability to focus on and carry through their actions with precision, while getting immediate feedback from their instructors. Over time, through repetition and layering on of additional skills, flexibility and strength are improving alongside cognitive functions. Here, both physical and mental endurance develop as well. Social development and connectionsBeyond the mind-body development in Tae Kwon Do, there are many social aspects of training that create a sense of structure, stability and respect. The Tae Kwon Do training space and instructors have a unique set of rules that continually remind both students and instructors about their roles and expectations such as respect, and continued dedication to personal development and goals. As this unique space is returned to again and again, the comfort and confidence in roles and development allows for positive social connections, growing self-awareness, and respect of teaching and learning. Often, the associations and friendships made in Tae Kwon Do will last a lifetime. Beyond mind-body and social opportunitiesSome benefits even beyond the mind-body and social opportunities include preparedness, planning, follow-through, and thoughtfulness. This is because during the training time, other thoughts are left behind temporarily so that the student and teacher can focus entirely on the instruction. Over time, students learn how to prepare themselves to be present during learning, and self-manage the sequence of planning and follow-through in executing individual actions as well as for the entire process of training. Students come to understand how being present for learning improves their results, and that they are making the choice to be present. That choice is core to self-discipline that can support them in any area of life. Expanding abilities, meeting new challengesLater, as students progress further through the levels of achievement, confidence and self-esteem will grow, social connections continue expand, and new opportunities such as leadership roles may be presented. Throughout the entire process of learning Tae Kwon Do, instructor encouragement and a welcoming environment help keep students on track and in a positive mindset. Continued training presents newer and greater challenges, and demonstrates that students are mentally and physically capable, and can work through new situations successfully. The skills learned in Tae Kwon Do support much more than just body, mind, and community. They also help students grow toward their potential! If you have questions about how Tae Kwon Do can benefit you, your child, or your family, we're here to help! Call or email, or set up a time for a free first class. Youth, families and adults are all welcome at Joon Lee's Tae Kwon Do!
Black belt training happens every year twice, once in May and once in November. For about three months leading up to the day of the test, students eligible to test for their first black belt or for the next degree will train every Friday night at Orland Park for a rigorous two hours (much longer than their usual class time). This training time can be when students show the most improvement out of their whole Tae Kwon Do career. At the end of the training period, black belt testing takes place on a Saturday morning at Orland Park and lasts for a few hours. This is a chance for students to demonstrate everything they have learned over the course of their entire Tae Kwon Do journey. Students demonstrate every form they have ever learned, from Yellow or Orange belt, all the way to Deputy Black or Black Belt Forms. Students also perform self defense, sparring, and board breaking demonstrations. The entire testing process is completed with friends and family present, as well as a panel of judges made up entirely of current black belts. Successful participants will receive their new belt, a black belt exclusive uniform, a trophy, and a certificate at the end of the test. In this most recent black belt testing, participating instructors included Master Jared, Master Myers, Instructor Tyler and Master David and of course, Grandmaster Lee himself. Students who complete the black belt achievement have a lot to say about their experience! In this recent test, each student was asked their thoughts about the process. Words from our black belt students...“During my 7 years in Taekwondo, I developed the skills of becoming a responsible and dedicated person who understood the meaning of helping others.” George, 15, 3rd degree black belt “I learned that with hard work, I can do anything!” Yacoub, 6, 1st degree black belt “Taekwondo taught me to be disciplined and never give up on my goals.” Jad, 8, 1st degree black belt “I joined with my sisters when I was 6 years old. I was worried if I was going to like taekwondo. Now, I’m 8 years old and I love taekwondo.” Aya, 8, 1st degree black belt “Receiving my second degree black belt is a very big step forward and I’m just grateful I can be here.” Dunya, 14, 2nd degree black belt “[With taekwondo] you are learning an art and [at the] same time you are keeping your body fit and healthy [and] it will boost your confidence level. I am 52 years old and it shows age is not a bar to achieve something, if you have dedication and a good team to support like Joon Lee you also can be a black belt.” John, 52, 1st degree black belt “Grandmaster Lee, thank you so much for giving us a strong foundation in taekwondo, and for encouraging us at every phase of this journey.” Sharon, 19, 1st degree black belt “To my esteemed instructor, Master Jared, I offer my heartfelt appreciation for your unwavering support and mentorship. Your patience, encouragement, dedication, and profound wisdom have guided me along this transformative path. Our growth as martial artists has been truly inspiring.” Isabella, 11, 1st degree black belt “Grandmaster Lee, your teachings have been incredibly inspiring, and I am grateful for all the wisdom and guidance you’ve shared with me.” David, 9, 1st degree black belt “One thing that taekwondo advocates for is using your voice. If you’re like me, you use your voice to stand against social inequalities, loud and proud. Preaching from the chest and not just the vocal cords, [the way we are taught in taekwondo].” Shareen, 17, 1st degree black belt “Taekwondo gave me self confidence and helped me believe in myself. I will use taekwondo to help people achieve their goals and help them grow.” Timothy, 7, 1st degree black belt “I want to thank my parents and especially my grandfather. Mom and Dad, thank you for always supporting me and driving me to every class. And grandpa, thank you for believing in me. I couldn’t have done it without your help.” Thomas, 7, 1st degree black belt “This year I learned what it means to be a blackbelt. For me it means that I am strong and hardworking. I can set a goal for myself and work hard to reach it.” Julia, 7, 2nd degree black belt “You know what’s super cool? Taekwondo! It’s not just about throwing kicks and punches, it’s about becoming the best version of yourself. Thank you Master Lee and all my instructors for helping me become a real-life superhero!” Adam, 10, 3rd degree black belt “Taekwondo requires a great deal of discipline in order to master the techniques and movements. This discipline can translate into other areas of my life, helping me stay focused and driven in all aspects of my life.” Jenna, 12, 1st degree black belt “Thank you Master Jared and Grandmaster Lee for everything.” Rayan, 8, 1st degree black belt “I would like to thank my sisters for taking this journey with me, and the instructors who helped me out. There are so many more chapters for me to go through taekwondo.” Laila, 10, 1st degree black belt “Why do I love taekwondo? Because it’s like going on the coolest adventure ever! I learn new stuff, get stronger, and have fun too! And the best part? I get to do it all with my awesome taekwondo friends!” Ameer, 10, 1st degree black belt “I want to thank Grandmaster Lee and Master Jared for helping me get here [and receive my black belt] today.” Mohammad, 12, 1st degree black belt “I am very thankful for the stuff I [learned] at taekwondo.” Qusai, 11, 2nd degree black belt “I really like taekwondo and it’s helped me grow as not just a fighter, but also a person. I have become more disciplined. I strongly encourage taekwondo as a sport. This has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience.” Morgan, 12, 2nd degree black belt “I am truly blessed and grateful for all the memories this dojang has offered and always reminding us of the importance of respect, humility, and patience.” Ruth, 23, 1st degree black belt Black belt students are an accomplished group!
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