Our Instructors

9th dan black belt Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido

Jun Chong was born in South Korea and began learning Tae Kwon Do at the age of 8. Though innately shy, he eventually progressed to winning national and international competitions and knew early on that martial arts would be a very important part of his life. He immersed himself in various forms of styles including Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido, Judo, Aikido, and boxing.

As a perpetual learner, Grandmaster Chong has never stopped his training in Tae Kwon Do. He can be found teaching classes every day or advancing his expertise in Kendo, Iaido, Aikido, Escrima, and Jiu Jitsu.

7th Degree Black Belt
Master Phillip Rhee and Grandmaster Jun Chong have been working together for years, not only teaching martial arts, but also producing action movies. Master Rhee has been an instructor since the Los Angeles studio was first open on Wilshire Boulevard in 1975. He is well known in the martial arts circuits as a competitor as well as an action movie star. He is best known for his series “Best of the Best” movies.

5th Degree Black Belt
Mason Williams was one of the youngest black belts in the Jun Chong Tae Kwon Do Studios in the 1980’s. His father, Greg Williams, is the first person who received a black belt from Grandmaster Chong at the Wilshire school. Mason has studied martial arts since infancy and is still an active instructor. He is an experienced tournament competitor and has been teaching at our school most of his adult life.

3rd Degree Black Belt
Ada Chong is Grandmaster Chong’s wife. She has been teaching for the last twenty years and helps with the studio administration. Mrs. Chong loves introducing women and children to martial arts and empowering them to be self-confident and mentally strong. She herself once was physically weak and lacking discipline, never once believed she could reach black belt. Parents like her tough love style of teaching.

4th Degree Black Belt
Armen Safarian is an original student of Jun Chong Martial Arts and after obtaining his black belt has been one of instructors at the Wilshire and West Los Angeles schools for more than twenty years. Mr. Safarian’s strength and excellent techniques have won him first place trophies in tournaments throughout his years as a student and later as a black belt. He also practices yoga and was a champion table tennis player.

3rd Degree Black Belt
Yong Chong is Grandmaster Chong’s son and has studied martial arts as far as he can remember. He has a third degree black belt in Taekwondo and Hapkido and has been teaching since 2006. In addition, Yong trains and competes in Brazilian Jiujitsu and is a talented breakdancer. Yong has been an instructor for the last twelve years for children and adults.

2nd Degree Black Belt
Stephen Howison received his black belt from our North Hollywood Studio branch as a teen ager and is now an instructor at our Wilshire Studio and the West Los Angeles Studio. He is known for his patience and understanding with students, but especially with children with disabilities. Stephen has been teaching for almost ten years.

3rd Degree Black Belt
Jonas Basom is an original student from the Santa Monica branch and has been an instructor for more than twelve years. He is a stickler for detail and demands perfection from each of the students in his class using his skills as a former school teacher and administrator.