| All rights reserved. |
| CHANG'S MARTIAL ARTS ACADEMY |
| chuck@changsacademy.com (630) 506-2686 |
| Grandmaster Chang Seo Park |
| Instructor Chuck Westcott |
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ABOUT THE SCHOOL
Chang's Martial Arts Academy has been in
Lincolnwood since 2004. The school belongs
to an association of Chicago-area schools
that are named in honor of their owners'
teacher, Grandmaster Chang Seo Park.
Grandmaster Park (Master Chang to his
students) is a former Korean National
champion and has been teaching in the United
States for over 30 years. Instructor Chuck
Westcott owned and operated the Lincolnwood
school from 2004 until July 2011. Members
of the school currently practice twice a
week at the Sauganash Community Chuch.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Instructor Chuck Westcott has been involved
in the martial arts for nearly 25 years.
His Taekwondo instructor, Master Lanre
Lawanson, is Master Chang's senior student
and has run another Chang's location in
Wicker Park for over 20 years. Master Chang
and Master Lanre both encouraged Mr. Chuck
to start the Lincolnwood dojand. Mr. Chuck
holds multiple black belts in Taekwondo and
Modern Arnis. He has various levels of
experience in a number of other styles
including Tai Chi Chuan, Karate, and
Okinawan weaponry. He graduated from both
Northwestern University and the DePaul
University College of Law. He and his
family make their home in the suburban
Chicago area.
ABOUT TAEKWONDO
Chang's Martial Arts Academy offers
instruction in Taekwondo. Taekwondo is a
modern Korean martial art and sport. The
name means "foot fist way" and it is similar
to Karate but relies more upon powerful
kicking techniques. Based on ancient
fighting methods, the art has seen
continuous development since the end of
World War II. Taekwondo was an Olympic
demonstration sport at the 1988 Seoul games
and became and official medal sport in 2000.
Taekwondo can be practiced by people of all
ages. This martial art provides personal
challenge, improved physical well-being,
mental development, self-defense and, of
course...fun.
WHAT IS TAE KWON DO TRAINING LIKE?
Tae Kwon Do practice consists of several
fundamental elements: basics, forms,
sparring, self-defense and breaking.
Basic Techniques (Kibon) - Basic movements
are the building blocks, or alphabet of Tae
Kwon Do. Students must regularly practice
stances, kicks, strikes and blocks to
develop focus, accuracy and powerful
technique.
Forms (Poomse) - If basics are the alphabet
of the art, the forms are the textbooks.
Each level has a pattern or patterns of
moves representing self defense against
multiple imaginary attackers. Students must
learn and be able to perform these patterns
before attempting to promote. Forms
practice is important for developing mental
discipline, physical coordination and deeper
understanding of the art.
Sparring (Kyorugi) - Sparring is an
extremely important element of Tae Kwon Do
practice. Sparring helps students develop
the physical and emotional control necessary
to sharpen their skills. Until a student
practices with a live opponent, he is simply
swimming on dry land. Today Olympic style
sparring is the sport focus of Tae Kwon Do.
Success in competition requires resolve and
hard additional training.
Self Defense (Ho Shin Sul) - Self defense is
the original purpose behind the art.
Students learn to defend themselves against
a variety of attacks, grabs and holds.
Beginners learn self defense by applying
basic strikes, kicks and blocks. At more
advanced levels students learn escapes,
throws, falling, defense against weapons and
finishing holds.
Breaking (Kyukpa) - Tae Kwon Do is famous
for amazing feats of skill where
practitioners break wood, bricks, stones or
glass with their hands, feet and sometimes
their heads! Extreme concentration,
confidence, proper technique and speed are
required to break successfully without
injury.
Chang's Martial Arts Academy has been in
Lincolnwood since 2004. The school belongs
to an association of Chicago-area schools
that are named in honor of their owners'
teacher, Grandmaster Chang Seo Park.
Grandmaster Park (Master Chang to his
students) is a former Korean National
champion and has been teaching in the United
States for over 30 years. Instructor Chuck
Westcott owned and operated the Lincolnwood
school from 2004 until July 2011. Members
of the school currently practice twice a
week at the Sauganash Community Chuch.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Instructor Chuck Westcott has been involved
in the martial arts for nearly 25 years.
His Taekwondo instructor, Master Lanre
Lawanson, is Master Chang's senior student
and has run another Chang's location in
Wicker Park for over 20 years. Master Chang
and Master Lanre both encouraged Mr. Chuck
to start the Lincolnwood dojand. Mr. Chuck
holds multiple black belts in Taekwondo and
Modern Arnis. He has various levels of
experience in a number of other styles
including Tai Chi Chuan, Karate, and
Okinawan weaponry. He graduated from both
Northwestern University and the DePaul
University College of Law. He and his
family make their home in the suburban
Chicago area.
ABOUT TAEKWONDO
Chang's Martial Arts Academy offers
instruction in Taekwondo. Taekwondo is a
modern Korean martial art and sport. The
name means "foot fist way" and it is similar
to Karate but relies more upon powerful
kicking techniques. Based on ancient
fighting methods, the art has seen
continuous development since the end of
World War II. Taekwondo was an Olympic
demonstration sport at the 1988 Seoul games
and became and official medal sport in 2000.
Taekwondo can be practiced by people of all
ages. This martial art provides personal
challenge, improved physical well-being,
mental development, self-defense and, of
course...fun.
WHAT IS TAE KWON DO TRAINING LIKE?
Tae Kwon Do practice consists of several
fundamental elements: basics, forms,
sparring, self-defense and breaking.
Basic Techniques (Kibon) - Basic movements
are the building blocks, or alphabet of Tae
Kwon Do. Students must regularly practice
stances, kicks, strikes and blocks to
develop focus, accuracy and powerful
technique.
Forms (Poomse) - If basics are the alphabet
of the art, the forms are the textbooks.
Each level has a pattern or patterns of
moves representing self defense against
multiple imaginary attackers. Students must
learn and be able to perform these patterns
before attempting to promote. Forms
practice is important for developing mental
discipline, physical coordination and deeper
understanding of the art.
Sparring (Kyorugi) - Sparring is an
extremely important element of Tae Kwon Do
practice. Sparring helps students develop
the physical and emotional control necessary
to sharpen their skills. Until a student
practices with a live opponent, he is simply
swimming on dry land. Today Olympic style
sparring is the sport focus of Tae Kwon Do.
Success in competition requires resolve and
hard additional training.
Self Defense (Ho Shin Sul) - Self defense is
the original purpose behind the art.
Students learn to defend themselves against
a variety of attacks, grabs and holds.
Beginners learn self defense by applying
basic strikes, kicks and blocks. At more
advanced levels students learn escapes,
throws, falling, defense against weapons and
finishing holds.
Breaking (Kyukpa) - Tae Kwon Do is famous
for amazing feats of skill where
practitioners break wood, bricks, stones or
glass with their hands, feet and sometimes
their heads! Extreme concentration,
confidence, proper technique and speed are
required to break successfully without
injury.
| Grandmaster Chang Seo Park with Katelyn M. Carlson Beloved student & classmate 1997 - 2010 |
| Instructor Chuck Westcott Concrete Break |
| Instructor Westcott with senior students Sept. 2011 |