Our Approach
Our Mission
- To provide the highest quality traditional Taekwondo and martial arts instruction in Western North Carolina.
- To promote personal excellence, empowering our students with positive life skills, confidence and self reliance.
- To uphold the teachings of Jidokwan:
Our Story
Our Story
SafeKids USA Blue Dragon TKD offers kids and adults Tae kwon do and self-defense classes. Our Tae kwon do school serves WNC residents including Asheville, Waynesville, Clyde, Maggie Valley, Lake Junaluska, Canton, Candler and surrounding communities.
Meet the Team
Marshall Hale
Sa Bum Nim
Born and raised in Miami Florida, Marshall Hale spent a lot of his time on the beach snorkeling, surfing, and SCUBA diving. He began working as a beach guard for Miami-Dade County at Bakers Haulover beach in 1980 and became a Lifeguard Lieutenant in 1983, working there for almost 20 years.
In 1981 Marshall started his journey with Taekwondo classes from THE greatest instructor, Grand Master Young Soo Do at the Young Soo Do School of Taekwondo. He achieved his first-degree black belt in 1983. Throughout the 1980s he studied and competed with the Young Taekwondo fighting team, obtaining numerous first-place trophies for fighting, breaking, and forms competitions.
Marshall started a Taekwondo class for kids in the summer of 2008, and a few months later, he started an adult class, both with great success. In 2014, Hale opened his own school in Clyde.
Young Soo Do
Inspiration
Grand Master Young Soo Do was a native of South Korea and began studying Taekwondo as a young child. He was a 9th degree Black Belt in Taekwondo and he is eligible to bear the title of Master Instructor or Kwanjang Nim.
Grand Master Do served with the Korean Marine Corps in Viet Nam during the war. As a member of the 2nd ROK Marine Brigade known as “Blue Dragons” (where our school’s name comes from), in addition to major combat duty, he taught Taekwondo to American and Vietnamese soldiers. After the war, he returned to Korea as a Master Instructor in Taekwondo.
Next Steps...
If you are ready to make a difference in you and our family's life, give Marshall a call today 828-627-3949.