IRVINE : Tae Kwon Do Teacher Plans to Aid Schools

For grand master Chang Jin Kang, a tae kwon do instructor who holds two world records for breaking boards, overcoming obstacles is a matter more of mind than body.

But he is employing both mind and body to help the Irvine Unified School District overcome financial obstacles by pledging his earnings from city martial arts classes to local schools.

The pledge is among several activities Kang has planned to raise money for the school district and the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program. On May 20, 20 black belt holders will gather at Kang’s tae kwon do studio in Irvine for a “break-a-thon,” raising money from pledges made for each broken board. “We have to protect our children,” Kang said, “they are the future of the nation. Without education, we won’t have a future.”

Kang will donate his $39-a-month fee for each student enrolled in his sponsored classes to the school district, which could generate about $600 a month.

He is also planning a candy sale, car wash and garage sale to raise funds for Irvine schools and the DARE program. His fund-raising efforts will be duplicated in Fountain Valley, Santa Ana, Tustin and Laguna Niguel, where he also owns studios.

Kang, 52, was born in Seoul, South Korea, and immigrated to the United States in 1978. He owns the Il-Do Tae Kwon Do Studio in Irvine, where he has been teaching for 10 years. He is a 9th degree black belt.

In 1993, he set a world record by breaking 1,068 boards by hand in 13 minutes and 57 seconds. In 1994, he broke the world’s record for board-breaking by foot, smashing 506 boards with a side kick in 13 minutes, 31 seconds. Both exhibitions raised money for DARE programs.

Information about Kang’s city-sponsored tae kwon do classes is available by calling (714) 724-6611 or (714) 551-1800.