Brenda Sell

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Brenda Sell
Grandmaster and Master 6.jpg
Born (1955-01-23) January 23, 1955 (age 66)
Residence Lakeland, Florida
NationalityAmerican
Style Taekwondo Chung Do Kwan
Teacher(s)Edward B. Sell, Park Hae-man, Uhm Woon-kyu
Rank9th degree black belt in taekwondo
Website http://tkd.grandmasterbrendasell.com/

Brenda J. Sell (born 1955) is an American martial arts instructor, and the highest ranking non-Korean female practitioner of taekwondo, [1] according to the Kukkiwon, an international ranking body within Taekwondo. She holds the rank of 9th degree black belt in the art. [2]

Contents

Biography

Sell is the president/CEO of the United States Chung Do Kwan Association (USCDKA) [3] and the only non-Asian female person to be recognized by the Kukkiwon as a 9th Dan Black Belt in the Chung Do Kwan style of Taekwondo, making her the highest ranked non-Asian female Tae Kwon Do practitioner in the world. [4] [5] This announcement was made at the Kukkiwon testing in Denver, Colorado in June 2017. [6] Sell began her Taekwondo Journey at the age of 14, in the state of Michigan. Sell earned her 1st degree black belt in two years. [7]

Sell has been teaching and training in the art of Taekwondo Chung Do Kwan for over 50 years, alongside of her husband, Edward B. Sell who died in February 2014. [8]

Before his death, Edward Sell appointed Brenda Sell both the position of President of the USCDKA in 2003, and the position of CEO of the organization in 2013. [9]

Sell was one of the first females to be certified as an international referee for the World Taekwondo Federation in 1977. [10] In 1988 Sell and 2 other female referees officiated in the first female division in Barcelona, Spain.

In 1981, Sell and her husband founded the Evangelistic Taekwondo Exhibitions, which would eventually be renamed The Sell Team Ministry. This team uses Taekwondo to teach their Christian faith to places like schools, fundraising events, prison ministries, West Point Academy, etc. The Sell Team Ministry is a non-denominational Christian demonstration team. [3]

In 2014, Sell was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, and was declared cancer free in 2017. [11]

Today, Sell retains her leadership position with the United States Chung Do Kwan Association, and continues to train and teach throughout the country. She also teaches regularly at her own school, The Sell Team Academy, in Lakeland, Florida at the Lakeland Square Mall.

Career

Sell began her training in 1970, and attained her black belt in 1972. She competed in the tournament circuit during the years 1970-1975. In 1977, she would become the first female to be awarded the World Taekwondo Federation certification for international level referee credentials. [12] She earned her 4th degree black belt, and master's degree in 1978.

Sell co-found the Evangelistic Taekwondo Exhibitions (currently known as the Sell Team Ministries), which would involve crusades in the military bases all over the country. In 1983, Sell was invited to Korea for the first ever international female competition at the 1st pre-world games. Sell was appointed as an international referee for the 1st Women's World Taekwondo Championships at the 1987 World Taekwondo Championships in Barcelona, Spain. She was awarded the Black Belt of the Decade. [13]

Sell became the first female promoted to 7th degree black belt in the World Chung Do Kwan Association by her instructor, Park Hae-man, who is currently a 9th degree black belt, and the head of the Kukkiwon, and the World Chung Do Kwan Association, as well as obtain her Kukkiwon 7th degree credentials from the World Taekwondo Federation. She would create the first CD Rom training videos for all of the World Taekwondo Federation Taguek forms, become an ordained minister, be inducted into the Hall of Fame as an Outstanding Female Master, [14] and take the Crusade demo team to Osan Air Force base.

Brenda Sell and The Sell Team performed at West Point Military Academy, US Air Force Academy, and in Korea. The Commonwealth of Kentucky commissioned her as a Kentucky Colonel. Sell was promoted to 8th degree black belt [15] by Park Hae-man in the World Chung Do Kwan Association, then in the Kukkiwon. Sell accepted the title of President of the United States Chung Do Kwan Association, and establish Presidential Tours throughout the United States and British Columbia. Sell and her husband were invited to address Chaplain Generals at the Pentagon, developed a Sanctioned Tournament System for the USCDKA, created a DVD training system that would allow any student 1-on-1 access, and made the DVDs available to Century Martial Arts.

Sell was awarded the Gold Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010, during which time, she also opened The Sell Team Academy of Taekwondo, which serves as the National Headquarters for the United States Chung Do Kwan Association. In 2012, she was awarded her 9th degree black belt by Park Hae-man, and in 2017, she was awarded her 9th degree black belt by the Kukkiwon High Dan Testing Board at a special, historical testing in Denver, Colorado. She was named the highest ranked American female in all of Taekwondo, [16] and only the 2nd female to ever attempt a 9th degree Kukkiwon black belt.

Related Research Articles

<i>Taekwondo</i> Martial art from Korea

Taekwondo, Tae Kwon Do or Taekwon-Do is a Korean form of martial arts, characterized by punching and kicking techniques, with emphasis on head-height kicks, jumping spinning kicks, and fast kicking techniques. The literal translation for tae kwon do is "kicking," "punching," and "the art or way of." They are a kind of martial arts in which one attacks or defends with hands and feet anytime or anywhere, without the use of weapons. The physical training undertaken in Taekwondo is purposeful and fosters strength of mind through mental armament.

Kukkiwon, also known as World Taekwondo Headquarters, and home of the World Taekwondo Academy, is where the official taekwondo governing organization was established by the South Korean government. It is supervised by the International Sports Division of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

Tang Soo Do Korean martial art

Tang Soo Do refers to a Korean martial art based on Karate and may include fighting principles from subak, as well as northern Chinese martial arts. Before the Nine Kwans united and formed the martial art Taekwondo, Tang Soo Do was used by select Kwans to identify their Karate-derived martial arts style.

Korea Taekwondo Association Taekwondo Association

Korea Taekwondo Association, originally the Korea Tang Soo Do Association (1961), is the first taekwondo organisation. It was founded in 1959, although official South Korean sources give 1961 as its year of establishment. In 1966, some members of the KTA, led by H. H. Choi, broke off from the KTA and formed the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF). The Kukkiwon and the then-World Taekwondo Federation were created by the KTA in the early 1970s. The KTA sits under the Korea Sports Council, is aligned with Kukkiwon, and is a Member National Association (MNA) of the WT. Its goal is to promote the martial art taekwondo as a national sport within South Korea.

Chung Do Kwan, created by Won Kuk Lee in 1944, is one of the first of nine schools or kwan teaching Tang Soo Do, later the school began to teach what came to be known as taekwondo. This style of Tang Soo Do is known for its overall power and emphasis on kicks to the head.

Song Moo Kwan, also named "Song Moo Kwan Kong Soo Do ", is one of the Five original kwans of taekwondo in Korea. Its founder, from 1944, Supreme Grandmaster Byung Jik Ro (1919-2015), was one of the highest ranking taekwondo practitioners in the world, and is considered the "Founder of Modern Taekwondo". The techniques of what is commonly known as Song Moo Kwan combine elements of Shotokan Karate Do and Korean taekwondo kicking.

Kwan in Korean literally means building or hall, but when used in martial arts it can also refer to a school or clan of martial artists who follow the same style and/or leader.

Han Moo Kwan, was founded in August 1954 by Kyo-yoon Lee and is one of the nine original Kwans that later formed Kukkiwon Taekwondo.

Edward B. Sell was an American martial arts instructor, and the highest ranking non-Korean practitioner of tae kwon do, holding the honorary rank of 10th degree black belt in the art. Sell founded the U.S. Chung Do Kwan Association.

Roy D. Kurban is a 10th degree American Taekwondo martial arts grandmaster and former Karate national competitor. He lives in Strawn, Texas. Considered to be one of the greatest competitors of all time.

Park Yeon-hwan is a South Korean grandmaster of taekwondo. He currently has earned a ninth-degree black belt and holds the title kwan jang-nim (Grandmaster) under the direction of the Kukkiwon. Park was the undefeated Korean national champion of Tae Kwon Do from 1971 to 1975 and the former coach of the U.S. Olympic and Pan-American Tae Kwon Do team.

Frank Massar British taekwondo practitioner

Frank Massar is a British martial artist. He currently holds the rank of 9th Dan in Taekwondo and is the founder of Massar Taekwondo Association. He has achieved six “Combat Hall of Fame Awards”, and holds several national and international competition titles. He is also featured in many magazines and books. He studied under Won Kuk Lee and also under Pak Hae Man of Chung Do Kwan. Massar received his Dan qualification directly from Kukkiwon (WTF) and graduated from Chung Do Kwan. Massar's precept is to share his knowledge of martial arts with the community at large, 'Passing on the Gift' and keeps in constant contact with various educational associations to achieve this end.

Sun-hwan Chung South Korean martial artist

Sun-hwan Chung, also known as James Sun-hwan Chung, is one of the highest-ranking Tang Soo Do, Hapkido, and taekwondo grandmasters in the world. He is founder of the Moo Sool Do form of martial arts and is president of the World Academy of Martial Arts, LLC.

Taegeuk Ee Jang is the second of eight taekwondo forms practiced by the Kukkiwon and the World Taekwondo Federation. A form, or poomsae, is a choreographed pattern of defense-and-attack motions. Taegeuk Ee Jang is considered a beginner form, often practiced by students of Kukkiwon/WTF-style taekwondo with rank of 7th geup. Seventh geup students of Kukkiwon/WTF-style taekwondo practice this form in order to advance to the next rank.

Taegek Sam Jang is the third of eight taekwondo forms practiced by the Kukkiwon and the World Taekwondo Federation. A form, or poomsae, is a choreographed pattern of defense-and-attack motions. Taegeuk Sam Jang is often practiced by students of Kukkiwon/WTF-style taekwondo with rank of 6th geup. Sixth geup students of Kukkiwon/WTF-style taekwondo practice this form in order to advance to the next rank.

Taegeuk Oh Jang is the fifth of eight taekwondo forms in the Taegeuk set practiced by the Kukkiwon and World Taekwondo. A form, or poomsae, is a choreographed pattern of defense-and-attack motions. Taegeuk Oh Jang is often practiced by students of Kukkiwon/WT-style taekwondo with rank of 4th geup. Fourth geup students of Kukkiwon/WTF-style taekwondo practice this form in order to advance to the next rank.

Taegeuk Yook Jang is the sixth of eight taekwondo forms practiced by the Kukkiwon and the World Taekwondo Federation. A form, or poomsae, is a choreographed pattern of defense-and-attack motions. Taegeuk Yook Jang is often practiced by students of Kukkiwon/WTF-style taekwondo with rank of 3rd geup. Third geup students of Kukkiwon/WTF-style taekwondo practice this form in order to advance to the next rank.

Taegeuk Chil Jang is the seventh of eight taekwondo forms practiced by the Kukkiwon and the World Taekwondo Federation. A form, or poomsae, is a choreographed pattern of defense-and-attack motions. Taegeuk Chil Jang is often practiced by students of Kukkiwon/WTF-style taekwondo with rank of 2nd geup. Second geup students of Kukkiwon/WTF-style taekwondo practice this form in order to advance to the next rank.

Taegeuk Pal Jang is the last of eight taegeuk taekwondo forms practiced by the Kukkiwon and the World Taekwondo Federation. A form, or poomsae, is a choreographed pattern of defense-and-attack motions. Taegeuk Pal Jang is often practiced by students of Kukkiwon/WTF-style taekwondo with rank of 1st geup. First geup students of Kukkiwon/WTF-style taekwondo practice this form in order to advance to the next rank, at which students then begin studying a new sequence of black belt forms.

References

  1. ↑ "Kootenay Martial Arts hosts second highest ranked woman on planet in Taekwondo". The Nelson Daily. Archived from the original on 2017-09-28. Retrieved 2018-01-07.
  2. ↑ "Taekwondo Times July 2017 issue - Grandmaster Brenda J. Sell, 9th Dan Kukkiwon". taekwondotimes.com. Archived from the original on 2017-07-22. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
  3. 1 2 "Sell Ministry Combines Faith, Tae Kwon Do". Lakeland Ledger. August 9, 1987. Archived from the original on May 18, 2016.
  4. ↑ "New Heights Fitness, Brenda J. Sell". Archived from the original on April 6, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  5. ↑ "The Nelson Daily, Highest Ranked Woman" . Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Kukkiwon Registry lookup". Kukkiwon. Archived from the original on July 5, 2017. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Sr. Grandmaster Brenda J. Sell". Martial Arts Online University. Archived from the original on March 15, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Edward B. Sell Obituary". The Lakeland Ledger. Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved Feb 10, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Grandmaster Brenda J. Sell, Timeline". United States Chung Do Kwan Association. Archived from the original on 2017-02-06.
  10. ↑ "United States Chung Do Kwan Association - Our Kwan'Jang". United States Chung Do Kwan Association. Archived from the original on 2017-04-04.
  11. ↑ "What our patients are saying: Brenda Sell". Watson Clinic. Archived from the original on 2018-03-15.
  12. ↑ "Brenda J. Sell". Mujeres Letales. Archived from the original on 2018-03-15.
  13. ↑ "First American Female Grandmaster". www.theledger.com.com. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  14. ↑ "Hall of Fame". www.lacancha.com. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  15. ↑ Hae-Rym, Hwang (May 22, 2005). "Florida woman breaks tae kwon do barrier - News - Stripes". Stars and Stripes . Archived from the original on 21 September 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  16. ↑ "US Chung Do Kwan Celebrates 50th Anniversary During National Championship in Daytona Beach". Sports Destination Management. Archived from the original on July 24, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
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