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Grand Master Don Cha was born on January 22nd, 1957 in Seoul, South Korea. In 1963 at the young age of 6, he began his studies
in the martial arts. 7 years later at the age of 13 he immigrated to Brazil where he continued his studies in martial arts
through Tae Kwon Do for a year. In January of 1972 he arrived in Canada and took up Hapkido training with Master Yeo in Toronto.
In his 18th year he was granted his 1st degree black belt in Hapkido. 8 years later at the age of 26 he was granted "Sah-Bum"
or 4th degree. In 1984 he moved to Hamilton where he taught Hapkido in the basement of his store. In 1988 he founded the
style of Hwa Won Yue Hapkido and proclaimed Grand Mastership as a result. By 1998 the club had moved to King street into
its very first dojang. 2 years later the club relocated to Upper Ottawa then to Queenston Road in 2005 and finally found
its home in 2006 on Bigwin Road where Grand Master Cha currently teaches. Grand Master Cha has taught self defense instruction
at the Hamilton Regional Police Headquarters to the Hamilton Regional Police Force, and still teaches members of the force
and other law enforcement agencies to this day. His instruction abilities are such that instructors from other arts and even
other grand masters from other arts seek his guidance in improving their techniques. Grand Master Cha has attended the University
of Toronto for studies in the philosophies of Taoism, Buddhism, Daoism and Confuscionism and is also deeply into the study
and benefits of holistic and natural healing processes.
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