Master Yong Soon Choi of Choi’s Tae Kwan Do in Scotts Valley, has earned what only a handful of women in California have dreamed of. In June, she completed testing with her instructor and finished the written and physical requirements to be awarded her seventh dan black belt in Tae Kwan Do. The seventh dan is two steps away from the highest level of black belt.
“Really I had no plans on moving past my first black belt,” Choi said. “My teacher kept pushing me to test and to keep improving and here we are.”
There are nine dans that can be achieved. After a student has earned the fifth dan they are considered a master. The seventh dan is tested both physically and mentally as the student must write a paper on the philosophy of Tae Kwan Do that is reviewed by a Grand Master or the board of the World Taekwando Federation in Korea, along with physical testing.
Master Choi has been practicing Tae Kwan Do for 35 years under the tutelage of Grand Master Hyun Choi (no relation) in San Jose.
“I got my college degree in accounting,” Choi said. “I was working as a CPA for the IRS until I had my first child.”
Master Choi said that her interest in opening her own studio stemmed out of necessity. As she transitioned to a stay-at-home mother, she began teaching friends and family. When her daughters were born, she wanted a local place to train, rather than commuting over the hill, so she opened her own studio.
Choi’s two daughters, Emma, 16, and Elise 13 are both second dan black belts as well.
Master Choi has over a hundred students at any given time at her studio in Scotts Valley. In May 21 of Choi’s students earned their black belt in Tae Kwan Do. This May she has four students testing for their second Dan and many others working to receive a black belt for the first time.
For information: 438-1765 or www.choistkdscottsvalley.com
