Tae Kwon Do/Karate in Cedar Park Texas-History

 In 1980, the Cedar Park area welcomed its first martial arts school, founded by champion Danny Michael and Robert Foster. Originally located at the Spicewood Springs Road shopping center, the school eventually moved to a small office complex near the Shenandoah subdivision on RR620 in Cedar Park, Texas. Known as the Austin College of Tae Kwon Do, this school would later be attended by Master Kaufman, who had previously trained in Austin.

(Note: The picture on the left showcases Master Kaufman demonstrating his exceptional balance by standing on a fence post on the 756-acre land where he grew up and taught martial arts classes. This once beautiful, undeveloped land in Cedar Park has since been transformed.)

 Before 1980, aspiring martial artists in Cedar Park had to venture to Austin to find schools offering disciplines such as Tae Kwon Do, Karate, and Kung-Fu. There were no martial arts schools in Leander or Cedar Park at that time.
However, during the early 1990s, the Northern Austin Metro area began to see the emergence of martial arts schools. Today, residents of Cedar Park and Leander have access to a wide range of martial arts schools near their neighborhoods. Some notable early establishments include 259-CHOP, run by the Gilliam family, Austin Society of Karate, led by Mr. Greg Beaver, and White Tiger TKD, operated by Mr. Kaufman himself.
Throughout the 1980s, Master Kaufman trained at several esteemed martial arts institutions in Austin, such as Joe Alvarado (Soryu Karate), KTA under Brad Dubey and Rick Lancaster, as well as Master Martial Arts with Korean masters and Grandmasters like Grandmaster Mu Gil Lee and Master Sam Um, along with other visiting Korean masters.

 Master Kaufman founded his White Tiger Academy in Cedar Park in the late 1980s, later relocating the school to North Austin before returning to Cedar Park in the 1990s. Recognizing the need for a more unique identity, Master Kaufman rebranded the school as Magnum Force TKD in the 2000s, distinguishing it from other schools sharing the White Tiger name across the United States.

As Magnum Force TKD, the school continues to uphold traditional martial arts values while fostering a strong track record of success in both training and tournaments. By blending a focus on safety with rigorous training methods, Magnum Force TKD ensures students gain superior knowledge and maintain an excellent record in competitions.

 In the past, it appeared that more young people were actively engaged in martial arts, with a noticeable emphasis on rigorous training and challenging curricula. Earning a belt promotion required dedicated effort, and students often had to demonstrate mastery of all belt requirements from white to black during black belt testing.
Nowadays, many martial arts schools have shifted away from these traditional practices, but Magnum Force Tae Kwon Do remains committed to preserving and upholding these time-honored methods. As a result, our students consistently demonstrate superior knowledge and excel in tournaments. While we continue to train hard, we prioritize safety to ensure our students can learn and grow without incurring the kinds of injuries that were more common in the past.

 In the past, martial arts competitions were quite different from what we see today. My old instructors recall a time when fighters didn't wear protective equipment. When I first started competing, I participated in point-style fighting. However, around 1982, I began entering Olympic-style tournaments. These events were massive, often drawing between 1,700 and 2,000 competitors, with divisions boasting up to 30-50 participants. To secure a top-three finish, a competitor had to defeat numerous opponents, emphasizing the importance of being in peak physical condition.

In contrast, modern martial arts tournaments have adopted sub-groups of four, enabling more students to experience the thrill of victory. It's clear that martial arts competitions have evolved significantly over time.

 Since its inception, Magnum Force TKD has become a leading martial arts school in Cedar Park, Leander, and North Austin, impacting numerous lives through the practice of martial arts. Our dedicated instructors have guided countless students to achieve excellence in various disciplines, including sparring, forms, weapons, group forms, and breaking. We are proud to have cultivated numerous State, National, and International Champions, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to helping our students reach their full potential in martial arts.