Choe's HapKiDo

What Choe's HapKiDo does

Choe's HapKiDo is a family-owned martial arts school that operates seven physical dojo locations across Georgia (Cumming, Dahlonega, Duluth, Flowery Branch, Grayson, Jefferson) and Maryland (Taneytown). The school teaches traditional Korean HapKiDo — a martial art emphasizing coordination of inner and outer strength with 365+ techniques — under a curriculum lineage passed down through the Choe family from the Korean royal courts. Grandmaster JiMong Choe, who brought HapKiDo to the United States in 1978, leads the organization and has trained over 2,000 Black Belts.

The business operates a horizontally segmented product portfolio across Kids, Teen, and Adult Martial Arts classes, complemented by Fitness Kickboxing, Health & Wellness Tai Chi, an After-School Karate Program, Karate Birthday Parties, and a tiered leadership development track (Junior Assistant Instructor, Assistant Instructor, Gold Junior Instructor). The core technology is the curriculum itself rather than software; there is no app, API, or digital product surface, and the school markets through a blog and conventional social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube).

The revenue model is predominantly subscription recurring memberships for instruction, with one-time event revenue from birthday parties. Customer acquisition is event- and referral-driven: two annual championships, an annual Kick-a-Thon fundraiser for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (cumulative $42,338.50 across 8 events), free trial classes, and word-of-mouth. A Hero's Discount extends membership pricing to military, first responders, healthcare, and education professionals and their families. Customer concentration is distributed across thousands of individual families and students in a single regional footprint.

Name

Choe's HapKiDo

Legal name

Choe's HapKiDo

Website

https://trykarateclasses.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Choe's HapKiDo is a family-owned martial arts school operating seven dojo locations across Georgia and Maryland. It teaches traditional Korean HapKiDo plus kickboxing, Tai Chi, after-school care, and birthday parties to kids, teens, adults, and seniors via recurring memberships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Martial Arts Instruction

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Traditional Martial Arts Schools (Karate, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, etc.) (HSADADAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Kids & Youth Martial Arts Programs (HSADADAG)

Keywords

• Martial arts classes
• Karate training
• Kickboxing fitness
• Tai chi wellness
• After school karate

Headquarters

HQ city

Cumming

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Martial Arts Membership Programs: Recurring monthly or annual membership fees for structured martial arts training programs tailored to kids, teens, and adults. Programs include belt progression systems, structured class curricula, and access to regular scheduled classes at any of the 7 locations.
2. Fitness Kickboxing Classes: Dedicated kickboxing program offered as part of the membership or as a separate program. Provides a full-body workout combining cardio, strength training, and martial arts techniques.
3. Health & Wellness Tai Chi Classes: Slow, controlled movement classes focused on balance, flexibility, and mental clarity. Targets adults and seniors seeking gentle martial arts-based wellness programs.
4. After School Karate Program: After-school program offering martial arts training for school-age children, providing supervision and physical activity after the school day ends.
5. Kickin' Karate Birthday Parties: One-time event rental/service for children's birthday parties at dojo locations, featuring martial arts activities, games, pizza, cake cutting with a Samurai sword, and an instructor-led celebration.
6. Hero's Discount ( Martial Arts Membership): Discounted membership program for community heroes including military, law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs, nurses, doctors, and teachers, as well as their immediate family members. Extends discount to spouse and children of eligible heroes.
7. Leadership / Assistant Instructor Programs: Specialized programs (Gold Junior Instructor Program, Assistant Instructor Program, Junior Assistant Instructor Program) for advanced students seeking to develop leadership and teaching skills. May involve additional program fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Choe's HapKiDo operates a multi-location martial arts school teaching traditional Korean HapKiDo to children, teens, and adults across 7 dojos in Georgia and Maryland. Core paid offerings are age-segmented martial arts memberships (Kids, Teen, Adult), Fitness Kickboxing, Tai Chi for health and wellness, an After School Karate program, and Karate Birthday Parties. Customers convert via 2 free trial classes into monthly subscription memberships, with Hero's Discounts offered to military, first responders, healthcare workers, and teachers.

Product overview

Choe's HapKiDo offers a comprehensive suite of martial arts programs and wellness services across seven locations in Georgia and Maryland. The core offerings include age-stratified martial arts classes (Kids, Teen, Adult), fitness kickboxing, and health/wellness Tai Chi. Supplementary programs include an After School Karate Program, Karate Birthday Parties, and structured leadership training through Gold Junior Instructor and Assistant Instructor Programs. All programs are unified under the HapKiDo martial art system, which teaches over 365 techniques harmonizing inner and outer strength, rooted in Korean martial arts traditions passed down through the Choe family since Grandmaster JiMong Choe brought HapKiDo to the U.S. in 1978.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kids Martial Arts Classes Age-appropriate martial arts training for children featuring games, agility drills, and interactive activities that teach self-defense, confidence, focus, discipline, and respect for ages 3-12.
• Teen Martial Arts Classes Dynamic martial arts program for teenagers ages 13-17 combining traditional HapKiDo techniques with modern training methods, building self-discipline, leadership skills, confidence, and a positive peer community.
• Adult Martial Arts Classes Comprehensive martial arts training for adults ages 18+ focusing on self-defense, cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, flexibility, and mental clarity in a supportive community environment.
• Fitness Kickboxing Classes High-energy kickboxing fitness program combining cardio, strength training, and martial arts techniques for a full-body workout that improves endurance, coordination, and overall fitness.
• After School Karate Program Structured after-school martial arts program providing school-age children with a safe, engaging environment to learn martial arts while parents are at work.
• Karate Birthday Parties High-energy celebration parties hosted at dojo locations featuring martial arts games, mini-lessons, pizza, and cake cutting with a Samurai sword, providing memorable birthday experiences for children.
• Health and Wellness Tai Chi Classes Gentle martial arts practice focusing on slow, controlled movements and deep breathing to improve balance, flexibility, mental clarity, and emotional balance for adults of all fitness levels.
• Leadership / Instructor Training Programs Specialized leadership and instructor training programs (Gold Junior Instructor Program and Assistant Instructor Program) developing advanced students into confident leaders and mentors through hands-on teaching experience and personalized mentorship.
• Trial / Free Classes Program Two free trial classes allowing prospective students and families to experience martial arts training, meet instructors, tour facilities, and discover program benefits before committing to membership.
• Hero's Discount Membership Program Discounted membership program for community heroes including active duty military, veterans, police officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, nurses, doctors, hospital staff, teachers, and other community service professionals, with discount extending to spouses and children of eligible heroes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,000 Black Belts trained since 1978
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• American Cancer SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024In January 2024, Choe's HapKiDo donated $260 to the American Cancer Society in honor of Jack Lowe, a fellow HapKiDo student battling cancer. The school has also previously supported cancer-related initiatives including volunteering at Hope Lodge in Decatur.
• Hope Lodge (Emory University)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023In December 2023, Choe's HapKiDo volunteers served dinner for cancer residents at Hope Lodge in Decatur and provided dinner for 50 people involved in cancer treatment programs at Emory University's Clairmont campus.
• Spectrum Autism Support GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023In October 2023, Choe's HapKiDo team efforts resulted in a $650 donation to the Spectrum Autism Support Group, supporting individuals with autism in the local community.
• Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Annual Kick-a-Thon fundraiser benefiting Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Students across all Choe's HapKiDo locations gather sponsors and complete kicks to raise funds for CHOA. Since launching in 2016, the annual event has raised $42,338.50 across 8 events. The 2025 event raised $8,051.60 and the 2026 event raised $7,338.50.
• The Humane SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChoe's HapKiDo has participated in charitable initiatives supporting the Humane Society as part of its broader community service program.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TITLE Boxing Club: Franchised boxing/kickboxing fitness club chain operating on memberships across the U.S. — competes for the same adult fitness and kickboxing customers as Choe's HapKiDo's kickboxing and adult martial arts programs.
• Tiger Schulmann's Martial Arts: Multi-location regional martial arts chain offering karate, kickboxing, and kids/teens/adult programs on a membership basis — closely aligned subscription model and program stack to Choe's HapKiDo.
• iLoveKickboxing: Franchised group kickboxing fitness studio chain with membership pricing and adult-focused programming — directly comparable to Choe's fitness kickboxing revenue stream and consumer base.
• 9Round Fitness: Franchised kickboxing fitness chain with multiple U.S. locations and membership-based model — directly comparable to Choe's fitness kickboxing program line in product, target customer, and unit economics.
• Gracie Barra: World's largest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu organization with hundreds of franchised schools — comparable multi-location martial arts school network targeting families with structured curricula and instructor certification programs.
• Premier Martial Arts: Growing franchise of multi-location martial arts schools serving kids, teens, and adults with age-segmented curricula and membership pricing — same product category, target customer, and multi-unit operating model.
• Karate America: Multi-location martial arts franchise offering karate classes for kids and adults with belt progression and trial-class funnels — directly comparable instructional product and customer acquisition approach.
• ATA Martial Arts (ATA Taekwondo): Largest martial arts franchise in the U.S. operating multi-location taekwondo schools with age-segmented programs, belt systems, and instructor pipelines — directly comparable multi-site instructional model targeting the same kids/family demographic.

Broad incumbents

• UFC Gym: National fitness franchise offering martial arts-inspired classes (MMA, kickboxing, boxing) for adults and youth within a broader gym model — overlaps with Choe's kickboxing and adult programs but operates at a wider portfolio scale.

Others

• US Taekwondo (World Taekwondo): National governing body for taekwondo in the U.S. that supports affiliated schools and athlete development — adjacent ecosystem participant, useful as a context for martial arts training market structure rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@choeshapkido
• Facebookfacebook.com/choeshapkidomartialarts
• Instagraminstagram.com/choeshapkido
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/choes-hapkido-cumming

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Choe's HapKiDo