Jimmy Kim's Taekwondo Center (JKTC) - Laguna Niguel, California

Andrew Sakai

I've been doing taekwondo for almost 20 years and this is one of the best schools in southern California and likely the best school in south orange county. Staff are very welcoming, friendly, and structured. The program is very solid.

Grand master Kim being a 1988 olympic gold medalist is so humble and doesn't boast or enforce his position due to his titles, instead he passes his wisdom assertively and creates a great environment for kids, adults, and experienced athletes.

I've followed master chase graham since he was a professional taekwondo athlete on the US national team back in 2015. His level of expertise, technical knowledge, structure, and dedication to the team is outstanding. He pushes us to be the best version of ourselves while also giving a great balance of fun into the mix.

Mrs kim, grand master Kim's wife handles the main business logistics exceptionally and professionally and creates a great mother-like atmosphere to all the teammates, making sure that everyone is safe, having fun, and also upholding the tradition of taekwondo passionately.

Rather you're looking to be the next olympian or just want to get in shape, this is definitely the school to go to. Overall they are highly involved in the tournament atmosphere and overall taekwondo community. I can guarantee no student or parent will miss out on any opportunities or experiences coming to this school.

Evelynn Flowers

Enrolling our child in Taekwondo at Jimmy Kim's Taekwondo Center (JKTC) has been one of the best decisions we've made. Even after 3 years, they remain excited to learn, progress in Taekwondo, and compete. The Kim family has created a welcoming yet challenging environment where students are encouraged to push their limits and realize they can accomplish hard things. The instructors are kind and constructive, expertly walking the line between pushing kids to be better and maintaining a supportive atmosphere. JKTC has become a second home for our child and much of the team, and it’s clear that the Kim family's dedication has earned them a loyal community of families.

With flexible classes available Monday through Saturday, there's always a time that fits your schedule, and Friday Fight Night is a weekly highlight. Each belt test is appropriately challenging, making every promotion feel truly earned. For those interested in competing, the competition team is well known in the TKD community, producing champions inspired by their founder, Olympic gold medalist Jimmy Kim. His legacy of excellence continues to thrive at JKTC.

O. Nasiby

This is long overdue and my son has a black belt now. All we have in our mind is good memories and we are so grateful for Master Kim and other coaches teaching our son , not Just the Taekwondo but also how to be humble and respectful and disciplined.
We love Master Kim and his family.

lubo70

My son has been going to JKTC for the last 7 years and this is the best thing that has happened to him as a little kid and young adult! He started from zero and with great effort and great coaching was able to medal at state and national competitions. The atmosphere is very supportive, it always feels like the team is behind you. We had so many unforgettable memories from team gatherings and tournament trips around the country. Coaches Grand Master Jimmy Kim and Master Chase Graham have tons of experience through the years, being national team members as athletes and coaches. Will be forever grateful to them!

Joshua Vuong

The best place for Taekwondo in all of Orange County. Master Jimmy Kim is a former Olympic gold medalist and is very knowledgeable in the sport and martial art of taekwondo. This is a family oriented business and it shows the moment you walk in. Everyone here is very friendly.

They have a great sport taekwondo program as well. This is definitely the place for taekwondo whether you're putting your child into it for recreational purposes, discipline, trying to get to the next level in sport taekwondo, whatever it is.

Tom Vo

I have known Master Jimmy Kim for over 17 years. I have trained under my father since I was a child and my father and I run our own school in fountain valley. When I would get ready for competitions, I would come to Master Kim's school and train with his competition team. Hands down one of the best Master's in the US. It is a very family oriented school that teaches traditional Tkd and discipline. Master Kim is a great role model. When I have kids I am going to send them JKTC for sure. It's far from me but I know it's worth the drive and the money.

Kyler N

I started at Jimmy Kim's Taekwondo Center when I was 14. After moving to Laguna Niguel from San Francisco, I wanted to rekindle my connection with a sport that my father and I shared deeply. It was almost fate that led me to this studio. Besides the fact that I was enamored by the Olympic Gold Medalist Master Kim standing right before me, I could tell that there was something extremely captivating about his raw personality. He seemed honest, genuine, caring, and a giant wrecking machine. 🙂

The studio had a diversified program catered to the varying interests potential Taekwondo practioners might desire. It was designed for individuals who casually wanted to learn Taekwondo for self-defense, athletes who wanted to compete in sparring and/or forms' competition, or kids who were just beginning their journey to one day become black belts. For me, I wanted to compete. They have a national sparring program that had been led by some of the most star-studded cast members who have reached the peak of their performance. Besides Master Kim, the '88 Gold Medalist, the program was led by another Olympian student, and several other high performance members who always ranked highest in their divisions. In that program, I have forged friendships that will last for a lifetime. More importantly, I have gained mentors who have coached, and still guiding me, through some of life's greatest challenges. I am confident to say I would not be where I am today without these individuals.

What makes Jimmy Kim's Taekwondo Center special is that the studio is a community. Everyone who goes there is treated like family, and is pushed to becoming the best that they can be. If you have done CrossFit, or competed in any martial arts at other locations, you understand that there are two important things to have from your fellow students and your coach: guidance and support. This place has it. I wish I started training at JKTC at a younger age to develop into the ultimate athlete that I could have been. But in such a short span, Master Kim and my teammates was able to accelerate my development into competing at a level I thought was not even possible. Also, getting my black belt along the way.

The wisdom and discipline I had attained from my training at JKTC has funneled through all aspects of my life. I attack all opportunities--career and personal development--with perseverance and determination, where I have netted the maximum success out of each situation. If you wish not just to become a well-groomed Taekwondo practitioner, but to also increase your performance in all facets of your life, this is the place to begin your journey.

Reza Azadegan

one should ask him/her self why do I practice taekwondo? Either you are doing it for physical conditioning and health or for becoming a stronger person mentally or doing it just to become a world class champion, this is the place for you. Dr. jimmy Kim is most knowledgeable master of taekwondo that I have known, He has over 40 years of Practicing Taekwondo and teaching at national level. At Jimmy kims Taekwondo Center in Laguna Niguel ,the students learn taekwondo from an Olympic gold Medalist champion of Taekwondo who is the United sates national team head coach.
Dr. Jimmy Kim is a Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine, this is the field of medicine where helps you with sport injuries and or conditions such as Car accidents and Physical traumas. I believe that Dr Jimmy Kim has integrated his Knowledge of both Taekwondo and medicine and utilize it in a such away that I can say that the benefits of training under his methods are much superior than any other Taekwondo schools and even I can say the taekwondo under his method of teaching is superior than other martial arts ,I was so lucky to be able to find the best martial art school in California just 5 miles from my residence and be able to sign up my self and My son to the school. After 30 years of practicing Taekwondo in three continents and being a Taekwondo coach and practicing physician I have seen many disappointed Taekwondo practitioners who either just stopped practicing for good or switched schools and then stopped after encountering sport injuries or just not feeling the results after achieving their black belts. I can guaranty that it is not going to be the case at Jimmy Kims Taekwondo center, as it was said earlier because of unique teaching methods of Dr.Kim sport injuries here are minimum compared to other schools, as different people have different Anatomy and musculo-skeletal and joint configuration not every one should expect to become word champion even with the best teachers , but I have witnessed that here students from even older ages and with some physical limitations caused by ageing will use the method of Master Jimmy Kim to overcome weakness and will be surprised when they perform technics that they never even dream of performing correctly. last but not the least ,this place is also very family oriented and very safe.Courtesy , Integrity, Perseverance ,Self control ,and Indomitable spirit which are 5 tenants of Taekwondo are highly practiced here. I Highly recommend this place without any reservations.