Grandmaster Brenda Sell

Grandmaster Brenda J. Sell, 9th Degree Black Belt is a Pioneer in modern-day Taekwondo. A forerunner for women in Taekwondo on an international level Grandmaster Brenda J. Sell has accomplished the title of Highest Ranked Female Black Belt in the world (Taekwondo Chung Do Kwan) and Highest Ranked, 9th Dan Kukkiwon American Female (2nd highest in the world, outside of 1 Korean lady). Her JOURNEY to the TOP has not been easy. After a 15 month series of "Nightmare Circumstances", she decided to fight back by reaching out and helping others. Her famous Inspirational Videos on FB were birthed, her public speaking grew, and she developed a mentoring program. Her infectious smile and love for people are felt by everyone who meets her. Please join her on her FB page GrandmasterBrendaSell for regular inspirational deposits for your life.

Grandmaster Sell empowers others to "Be All They Can Be"

Brenda J. Sell has spent a lifetime in the pursuit and promotion of Taekwondo. She began her training at age 14 in Michigan, USA. There she realized her love for the sport. Within two years, she was awarded her 1st Dan. Since then, Brenda J. Sell has been a professional teacher of Taekwondo, an accomplished tournament competitor, an international referee, a Taekwondo performer, an ordained minister, President, and Kwan Jang of the U.S. Chung Do Kwan Association.

Grandmaster Brenda J. Sell is the President of U.S. Chung Do Kwan Association, est. 1967, America's oldest Taekwondo association. She is a world-title holder, a pioneer in modern-day Taekwondo, an author and motivational speaker. Her passion is to help other people find and maintain peace and happiness. She mentors an exclusive group of prequalified leaders. If interested in this program, PM her for more info. Grandmaster Sell has been teaching Taekwondo for more than 50 years. Even though she retired from competition in the late 1970s, she set the groundwork for women in Taekwondo competition. She competed and placed in many tournaments, many of them against both males and females. In 1983, Brenda J. Sell was honored for her accomplishments and was asked by the Secretary-General of the WTF to come to Korea for a demonstration of women’s competition at the Pre-World Championships. Her greatest accomplishment was passing the World Taekwondo Federation (WT) International Referee Exam.

She was the first woman to pass the WT International Referee Exam in 1977. Even though she successfully passed the exam, there was not a female division for competition. Female competition was a demonstration event only, and female referees were not accepted as official referees. It took ten years before women would be accepted and Brenda J. Sell would be recognized in her position as an international referee. In 1988, Brenda J. Sell, along with two other female referees became the first women to referee an international event.

In 1981, Grandmaster Sell and her late-husband, Sr. Grandmaster Edward B. Sell created the Evangelistic Taekwondo Exhibitions. This non-profit organization is the framework for “The Sell Team.” This Taekwondo demonstration team uses their talents to present the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world. They have performed in military bases, schools, churches, West Point Academy and Air Force Academy. In 1967, Sr. Grandmaster Edward B. Sell formed the Korea Taekwondo Association of America, renamed to the U.S. Chung Do Kwan Association, Inc. Since their marriage, Brenda J. Sell worked alongside her husband, supporting and promoting their association and Taekwondo. They have two sons and 4 grandchildren. She oversees the daily operations of the organization, in 2004, was appointed to President of the U. S. Chung Do Kwan Association, in 2013, she was appointed Kwan Jang. She restructured the organization and implemented a committee system that drew in many members of the organization. This restructuring has had a positive effect on the growth of the organization and has brought in talents of many of the school owners and other members.

In 2003, Grandmaster Sell tested for the National and Chung Do Kwan 8th Degree Black Belt. Sr. Grandmaster Edward B. Sell and Sr. Grandmaster Hae Man Park as her Instructors and mentors. She was the 1st female in these systems to accomplish this goal. In 2005 she accomplished another World Title by testing for the 8th Degree Black Belt at the World Taekwondo Federation Headquarters, Kukkiwon in Seoul, Korea. She was eligible to test for her final rank, the 9th Degree Black Belt in 2014 – another world record, leading the way for both females and Christians. However, this honor was delayed due to a diagnosis, treatment, and recovery of breast cancer.

July 2007, Grandmaster Sell developed the U.S. Chung Do Kwan tournament system that recognizes the annual sanctioned tournament accomplishments. Students are awarded points for each accomplishment. The top 10 compete at Nationals during the Night of Champions presentation. This is one of the highlights of the year for our members.

December 2012, Grandmaster Sell tested for the National and World Taekwondo Chung Do Kwan 9th Degree Black Belt. Presiding at the testing board were Sr. Grandmaster Hae Man Park and Sr. Grandmaster Edward B. Sell.

July 2013 was a historic movement for a female to be awarded the highest organizational position in Taekwondo, the Kwan Jang.

February 2014 her husband of 41 years, best friend, and business partner passed away after a battle with cancer.

June 2015 Grandmaster Sell was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was scheduled to test for the Kukkiwon 9th Dan in September 2015 but had to postpone the test due to treatment and recovery time needed. She went through a year of intensive treatment and is declared cancer-free. She credits her faith in God and physical conditioning through Taekwondo for the success of the treatment.

June 15, 2017 Grandmaster Sell tested for the Kukkiwon 9th Dan. She is the first American female and only second in the world to achieve the highest level of Taekwondo certification.

January 2018 Inducted into the Taekwondo Times Hall of Fame Leader of the Year

Since 1967, the U.S. Chung Do Kwan Association has enjoyed a reputation as being the Best of the Best. Grandmaster Woon Kyu Uhm and Grandmaster Hae Man Park have been father figures in the training and development of both Grandmaster Edward B. Sell and Grandmaster Brenda J. Sell. By continuing the Old Traditions with New Ideas, we keep ourselves on the cutting edge of training and credentials in the industry while maintaining the legacy passed down from the founder of modern-day Taekwondo. We have developed an effective system of teaching Taekwondo that has impacted nearly 1,000,000 (a million) men, women, and children since 1967. We are Biblically based and welcome schools of all sizes who want to be more effective in impacting their community through the teachings of Taekwondo. Our reputation and credentials are impeccable and reach worldwide. We’ve helped students with depression, anxiety, stress management, weight management, mobility issues, focus, and discipline. It does not matter what situation is presented, we have experience with it all. Lead by Senior Grandmaster Brenda J. Sell, the highest-ranked woman in Taekwondo Chung Do Kwan, our credentials are unparalleled in the industry. Through our unique National Certified Instructor Training Program, each student has a clearly defined path to Mastery and beyond. We guarantee that you will have the tools to have a life-changing experience through your Taekwondo journey by providing you with a safe, secure, friendly, family environment.

Today, Grandmaster Brenda J. Sell is a cancer survivor, and continues to carry on her late-husband's legacy, dream, and vision, to train, teach, preach, perform, and research better ways of mentoring Black Belts into Masters and Grandmasters. She continues to travel nationally and internationally, inspiring others with their martial art teachings principles and philosophy of personal and spiritual growth. One of her many goals is to edify and encourage Taekwondo instructors who have lost their zeal to achieve a high level of excellence in their martial art career. Her desire is to inspire them to a greater degree of accomplishment in their students’ lives than they themselves were able to achieve. For us as teachers of Taekwondo, there is perhaps no greater honor than to pass on the legacy of our teachers to influence and change our student's lives forever! Grandmaster Brenda Sell hopes her contribution to Taekwondo will make it better for the next generation.

She continues to lead the U.S. Chung Do Kwan Association and looks for like-minded black belts to join her team as Chartered Schools and has developed an exclusive mentoring program for selective leaders.