Edward B. Sell
Encyclopedia
Edward B. Sell is an American martial arts instructor, and the highest ranking non-Asian practitioner of tae kwon do, holding the rank of 9th degree black belt in the art.
school of Taekwondo
, making him the highest ranked non-asian Tae Kwon Do practitioner in the world. Grandmaster Sell was a member of the United States Air Force
from 1959 to 1967. For much of this time, he was stationed at Osan Air Base
in Korea
, where he began to study Tae Kwon Do. In 1969 he published America's first Tae Kwon Do training manual, Forces of Tae Kwon Do, and he has been featured on the cover of the Tae Kwon Do Times
twice, in September 1988 and June 1997.
. In 1974, he renamed his organization the "United States Chung Do Kwan Association" and relocated it to Lakeland, Florida
. Its current president is Sell's wife, Brenda J. Sell, an 8th Dan Black Belt and the only recognized female American Tae Kwon Do Grandmaster. The USCDKA derives its roots from the World Chung Do Kwan Association and World Taekwondo Federation
(WTF). It currently contains nearly 250,000 members and over 4,000 black belts, and is considered the oldest Taekwondo
organization in the United States.
The USCDKA is known for its development of the Instructor's Degree System. Degrees of black belts
, or dan
, are earned separately of instructors' ranks. Each black belt is immediately eligible to earn an instructor degree upon earning their respective rank, but first must complete various training seminars (called NCITs), pass background checks, and demonstrate techniques in a manner similar to previous instructors. This is done to promote a sense of uniformity among schools, which are located all over the United States and Canada.
Biography
Edward B. Sell is the founder of the United States Chung Do Kwan Association (USCDKA) and the only non-oriental to be recognized by the World Tae Kwon Do Federation as a 9th Dan Black Belt in the Chung Do KwanChung Do Kwan
Chung Do Kwan, created by Won Kuk Lee in 1944, is the first of nine schools or kwan teaching what came to be known as taekwondo. This style of Tae Kwon Do is known for its overall power and emphasis on kicks to the head.-Founding:...
school of Taekwondo
Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
, making him the highest ranked non-asian Tae Kwon Do practitioner in the world. Grandmaster Sell was a member of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
from 1959 to 1967. For much of this time, he was stationed at Osan Air Base
Osan Air Base
Osan Air Base , is a United States Air Force facility located in the Songtan section of Pyeongtaek City, South Korea, south of Seoul. Despite its name, Osan AB is not within Osan City, which is to the north. The base is the home of the Pacific Air Forces' 51st Fighter Wing, and a number of tenant...
in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, where he began to study Tae Kwon Do. In 1969 he published America's first Tae Kwon Do training manual, Forces of Tae Kwon Do, and he has been featured on the cover of the Tae Kwon Do Times
Tae Kwon Do Times
Tae Kwon Do Times is a magazine devoted to the martial art of taekwondo, and is published in the United States of America. While the title suggests that it focuses on taekwondo exclusively, the magazine also covers other Korean martial arts...
twice, in September 1988 and June 1997.
Personal
Both Sell’s wife Brenda J. Sell and their son Ronald Sell are high ranking black belts in tae kwon do. Brenda holds the rank of 8th degree black belt and Ronald currently holds the rank of 7th degree black belt.United States Chung Do Kwan Association
In 1967 Sell began the "Korea Tae Kwon Do Association of America" in Trenton, MichiganTrenton, Michigan
Trenton is a small city in Wayne County in the southeast portion of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 18,853...
. In 1974, he renamed his organization the "United States Chung Do Kwan Association" and relocated it to Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
. Its current president is Sell's wife, Brenda J. Sell, an 8th Dan Black Belt and the only recognized female American Tae Kwon Do Grandmaster. The USCDKA derives its roots from the World Chung Do Kwan Association and World Taekwondo Federation
World Taekwondo Federation
The World Taekwondo Federation is the International Federation member of the International Olympic Committee for the competition events of the martial art of taekwondo...
(WTF). It currently contains nearly 250,000 members and over 4,000 black belts, and is considered the oldest Taekwondo
Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
organization in the United States.
The USCDKA is known for its development of the Instructor's Degree System. Degrees of black belts
Black belt (martial arts)
In martial arts, the black belt is a way to describe a graduate of a field where a practitioner's level is often marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a degree of competence. It is often associated with a teaching grade though...
, or dan
Dan (rank)
The ranking system is a Japanese mark of level, which is used in modern fine arts and martial arts. Originally invented in a Go school in the Edo period, this system was applied to martial arts by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo and later introduced to other East Asia countries.In the modern...
, are earned separately of instructors' ranks. Each black belt is immediately eligible to earn an instructor degree upon earning their respective rank, but first must complete various training seminars (called NCITs), pass background checks, and demonstrate techniques in a manner similar to previous instructors. This is done to promote a sense of uniformity among schools, which are located all over the United States and Canada.
External links
- Official USCDKA Webpage
- Biography on USADojo.com