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OTAUSA - Taekwondo (Harwood Heights)
4.5 ★★★★★ 8 Google reviews · Taekwondo school in Harwood Heights, Illinois
Style / system: Olympic / World Taekwondo · Kukkiwon-certified — based on the school's own site and student reviews. Taekwondo systems (Olympic/World Taekwondo, ITF, and ATA/Songahm) differ in forms, sparring rules, and tournaments; if lineage matters to you, confirm it with the school. ATA vs WT vs ITF, explained →
Affiliated school — reviews and the school's own info point to a recognized taekwondo organization or franchise (think ATA Martial Arts, Kukkiwon certification, World Taekwondo, or ITF). If credentials matter to you, ask which association the school belongs to and where the head instructor earned their black-belt (dan) rank and certification.
Plan your first class
- Free trial or intro class most schools welcome new students with a free trial or intro class — check their site or give them a call to book your first session
- Kids & teens classes kids and teens taekwondo classes — built around discipline, focus, confidence, and anti-bully skills
- Beginner-friendly all ages and levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or have any experience to start
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule ota-usa.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 708-867-6800
Hours
| Monday | 1–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 1–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 1–8 pm |
| Thursday | 1–8 pm |
| Friday | 1–8 pm |
| Saturday | 10 am–2 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“I've been training with Master Ong on and off for about 15 years (at the time of this review) starting as a young teen and he's the best.”
“This is a great place for my family to learn self defense and also get a good workout!”
Other martial arts here
“This is a great place for my family to learn self defense and also get a good workout!”
What students say
“Traditional, certified Taekwondo instruction from/overseen by Kukkiwon-certified masters, high-level practitioners, and instructors.”
From the reviews
This is a great place for my family to learn self defense and also get a good workout! The instructors are great and GrandMaster Ong is a legend! They're lots of places to take a Taekwondo course but this one is the best!
Traditional, certified Taekwondo instruction from/overseen by Kukkiwon-certified masters, high-level practitioners, and instructors. I've been training with Master Ong on and off for about 15 years (at the time of this review) starting as a young teen and he's the best.
New to taekwondo? Start at OTAUSA - Taekwondo (Harwood Heights)
OTAUSA - Taekwondo (Harwood Heights) comes up as a beginner-friendly school — noted on their own site. If you've never trained or set foot in a dojang, that's exactly who a good beginners program is for. A few things worth knowing before your first week. First, you don't need to be fit or flexible to start — you get in shape by training, not before it, and instructors scale the intensity to you. Second, you won't be thrown into hard sparring — reputable schools build fundamentals (stances, blocks, kicks, and basic forms) for weeks, sparring eases in gradually and with gear on, and instructors keep it controlled and safe. Third, all ages and all levels really are welcome — ask about a dedicated beginners or fundamentals class time so your first session is alongside others who are also starting out. Most schools are happy to let you watch or try a class first, so reach out before you commit.
Your first taekwondo class at OTAUSA - Taekwondo (Harwood Heights)
Nervous about walking into a taekwondo school for the first time? Almost everyone is, and good instructors expect beginners to come through the door. Here's what to know. What to expect: a typical first class is a warm-up, then drilling basic stances, blocks, and kicks with a partner or on pads — not hard sparring. Rest whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: loose athletic wear you can move in (or a dobok if you have one); you'll train barefoot on the floor. What to bring: water and a positive attitude — many schools lend a loaner dobok for a first class, so it's worth asking when you call. As you keep training you'll get your own dobok and belt, and sparring gear (mouthguard, headgear, and guards) once you begin sparring. Sparring eases in gradually, once your fundamentals and forms are solid. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to sign a waiver and meet the instructor. It gets easier fast — most people feel far more at home by their third class.
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