taekwondo.ca

Black Belt World (taekwondo.ca) is led by founder Grandmaster Tommy Chang, an 8th Degree Black Belt certified in both Hapkido and Kukkiwon Taekwondo. All instructors hold certification through at least one recognized body — World Taekwondo, Kukkiwon, the Pan-Am Taekwondo Union, Taekwondo Canada, and/or Taekwondo Ontario — and all staff are certified through the Canadian Center for Child Protection with First Aid and CPR training. If your main concern is who is responsible for your child on the mat and what credentials back that up, the sections below cover the founder's background, instructor credentials, and safety screening.

The Founder: Grandmaster Tommy Chang

Grandmaster Tommy Chang is the founder of Black Belt World and the anchor of its teaching credentials.

• Rank and certifications: 8th Degree Black Belt in Hapkido and 8th Degree Kukkiwon Taekwondo certified Master.
• Governing-body roles: Former Vice President of Sport (VP Sport) for the World Taekwondo Federation of Canada (Taekwondo Canada) and Head of Team Canada; past 1st Vice President of the Ontario Taekwondo Association (Taekwondo Ontario).

Those roles matter for a practical reason: they are national- and provincial-level positions, which means his experience extends beyond running a single school to selecting and preparing competitors at the team level. The school states it specializes in developing Olympic-level athletes as well as stunt performers for Hollywood films, and describes having Olympic-level athletes and coaches on staff.

Instructor Certifications

Black Belt World states that its instructors are certified and recognized through one or more of the following organizations:

The school's wording is "either... and/or," so not every instructor necessarily holds all five — the claim is that each instructor is certified through at least one of these recognized bodies. If a specific credential matters to you (for example, Kukkiwon certification for a black belt that travels internationally), ask which one applies to the instructor who would teach your class.

Safety Screening and Staff Training

Beyond martial arts rank, the school describes two layers of non-technical screening:

• Child protection certification: All staff are certified through the Canadian Center for Child Protection.
• First aid and CPR: All staff have completed First Aid and CPR training.

The school also states it was one of the first martial arts schools in Canada to participate in the Safe Place Program through the Peel Regional Police, and that it was chosen as the pilot school in Canada for the Talk Today program run by Taekwondo Canada and Taekwondo Ontario — a mental health awareness and education program. Grandmaster Chang has said the program matters to him personally, citing difficult times he and people close to him have faced.

What This Means for Choosing a School

If instructor credentials are your deciding factor, here is how to weigh what Black Belt World publishes:

• You want verifiable governing-body ties: The founder's past roles with Taekwondo Canada and Taekwondo Ontario, plus instructor certification through named national and international bodies, give you specific organizations to verify against.
• You want child-safety screening: Canadian Center for Child Protection certification plus First Aid/CPR for all staff is a concrete, checkable standard.
• You want competition or performance pathways: The school's stated focus on Olympic-level athletes and film stunt work, with Olympic-level coaches on staff, is relevant if that is your goal rather than recreational training.

The school operates across the Greater Toronto Area with locations in Burlington/Oakville, Kitchener, Mississauga, Vaughan (Woodbridge), and Toronto, and describes 51 years of establishment. Programs are grouped by age: Tiny Tigers (ages 3–5), Children (ages 6–12), and Teens & Adults (ages 13+).

Questions to Ask Before Enrolling

The published credentials are a starting point; these questions get you the specifics that a website summary cannot:

1. Which certifying body certified the instructor who would teach my (or my child's) class?
2. Is the instructor's certification current, and can I see documentation?
3. Who supervises classes when the head instructor is away?
4. How are new instructors screened before they work with children?

The site mentions a free trial, so a trial class is a reasonable way to observe instruction quality and staff interaction directly before committing.

Black Belt World offers a free trial as the entry point for new students, and you can start by picking the Ontario location closest to you, then contacting that school to confirm the schedule and book your trial. Placement in the actual program depends on age group: Tiny Tigers (ages 3–5), Children (ages 6–12), and Teens & Adults (ages 13+). The site does not publish class timetables or registration forms, so the practical next step is always a direct conversation with the academy.

Step 1: Choose your location

Black Belt World operates five schools across the Greater Toronto Area and Ontario:

The headquarters is in downtown Toronto. Since the site does not list per-location schedules or contact details in the material available, choose based on commute and then reach out to that specific branch.

Step 2: Identify the right age group

Program placement is by age, not by experience level:

• Tiny Tigers — ages 3–5
• Children — ages 6–12
• Teens & Adults — ages 13+

If you are signing up more than one child in different brackets, expect them to be in separate classes. Adults and teens train together in the 13+ group.

Step 3: Book the free trial

The free trial is the stated entry point for prospective students. When you contact the school, ask specifically about:

• Available trial times for your age group
• What to wear or bring to the first session
• Whether a parent needs to stay for the Tiny Tigers session
• How the trial converts into enrollment if you decide to continue

The site does not publish pricing, membership terms, or a signup form, so none of those can be confirmed without asking the school directly.

Step 4: Check the credentials before you commit

If instructor qualifications matter to your decision, Black Belt World states that its instructors are certified and recognized through one or more of: World Taekwondo, Kukkiwon, Pan-Am Taekwondo Union, Taekwondo Canada, and/or Taekwondo Ontario. Staff are also certified through the Canadian Center for Child Protection and have completed First Aid and CPR training.

The founder, Grandmaster Tommy Chang, is an 8th Degree Black Belt in Hapkido and an 8th Degree Kukkiwon Taekwondo certified Master, a former Vice President of Sport for Taekwondo Canada and Head of Team Canada, and a past 1st VP of the Ontario Taekwondo Association.

Two program affiliations are also worth noting if safety and wellbeing are part of your decision: Black Belt World participates in the Safe Place Program through the Peel Regional Police, and it was chosen as the pilot school in Canada for the Talk Today mental health program run by Taekwondo Canada and Taekwondo Ontario.

What to confirm before signing up

Because the website does not publish fees, contract terms, class schedules, or a registration process, treat the trial as your information-gathering step. Ask about:

1. Monthly or term fees, and whether there are uniform, belt testing, or tournament costs on top
2. Cancellation and refund terms
3. How often students test for belts and what that costs
4. Whether the school trains purely for recreation or also funnels students toward competitive and Olympic-level pathways — Black Belt World states it develops Olympic-level athletes and stunt performers for film, so the intensity and expectations may differ from a purely recreational club

Quick answer

Pick one of the five Ontario locations, contact that school, and book the free trial for your age group. Use the trial to judge the coaching, the facility, and the fit for your goals, then ask directly about fees and commitment terms before enrolling — that information is not available on the site itself.

Black Belt World (taekwondo.ca) runs five Taekwondo schools across Ontario's Greater Toronto Area, with its headquarters in downtown Toronto. The listed locations are Toronto, Mississauga, Vaughan (Woodbridge), Burlington/Oakville, and Kitchener. If you are trying to decide whether the academy is within reach, these five cities are the practical answer — and classes are offered 7 days per week, so scheduling is rarely the limiting factor.

The five Ontario locations

The site states the schools can be found "across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)" and separately names the five cities above. If your commute falls outside these areas, the closest option is likely the one in your direction of travel rather than the downtown headquarters.

Who the programs are for

The academy organizes its teaching by age group, which matters when you are choosing a location for a specific family member:

• Tiny Tigers — ages 3–5
• Children — ages 6–12
• Teens & Adults — ages 13+

Because each location is described as part of the same academy rather than a franchise with separate programs, the age groupings above are the academy's stated structure. Confirm with the specific branch that the class you need runs there, since not every location necessarily runs every program at every time.

What the academy says about its background

A few details from the site may help you judge fit:

• 51 years of establishment in teaching Taekwondo and martial arts.
• Founder Grandmaster Tommy Chang, described as an 8th Degree Black Belt in Hapkido and 8th Degree Kukkiwon Taekwondo certified Master, and a former Vice President of Sport for Taekwondo Canada and Head of Team Canada.
• Instructor credentials recognized through World Taekwondo, Kukkiwon, Pan-Am Taekwondo Union, Taekwondo Canada, and/or Taekwondo Ontario.
• Safety and child protection: staff are stated to be certified through the Canadian Center for Child Protection and trained in First Aid and CPR. The academy also says it participates in the Peel Regional Police Safe Place Program and was chosen as the pilot school in Canada for the Talk Today program by Taekwondo Canada and Taekwondo Ontario.
• Competition and film focus: the academy describes specializing in developing Olympic-level athletes and stunt performers for Hollywood films.

Practical steps before you pick a location

1. Match the city to your routine. Choose the branch closest to your daily route (work, school, or home), not just the closest on a map — a 7-day schedule only helps if the location is convenient on the days you actually train.
2. Confirm the age group runs at that branch. Ask specifically about Tiny Tigers, Children, or Teens & Adults at the location you are considering.
3. Ask about a trial. The site references a free trial, so it is reasonable to ask what a trial session includes and whether it is available at your chosen branch.
4. Check instructor certification for your program. If you are aiming at competition or film work, ask which coaches at that branch hold the relevant credentials.

Common sticking points

• "GTA" is broad. Five locations spread across Toronto, Mississauga, Vaughan, Burlington/Oakville, and Kitchener can still mean a long drive depending on where you live. Treat the city list as the real filter.
• Headquarters ≠ your branch. The downtown Toronto headquarters is the administrative center; your training experience will be shaped by the specific branch you attend.
• Program availability varies by branch. The age groupings are academy-wide, but class times and specific programs are worth verifying location by location.

For the most current addresses, class schedules, and trial details, check the individual location pages on taekwondo.ca or contact the branch directly.

Black Belt World is a Taekwondo and martial arts academy based in Ontario, Canada, operating under the domain taekwondo.ca. It describes itself as an authentic Korean martial arts school with 51 years of establishment, five locations across Ontario, and classes seven days per week. Its programs are grouped by age: Tiny Tigers (ages 3–5), Children (ages 6–12), and Teens & Adults (ages 13+). The school also states that it specializes in developing Olympic-level athletes and stunt performers for the film industry.

Where Black Belt World operates

The academy's headquarters is in Toronto, and it lists five locations across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA):

• Burlington/Oakville
• Kitchener
• Mississauga
• Vaughan (Woodbridge)
• Toronto

According to the site, classes run seven days per week across these locations.

Who it's for

Programs are organized by age group rather than by belt level on the homepage:

This structure suggests the school serves both young beginners and older students, including adults starting martial arts for the first time.

What makes it distinctive

Two things stand out in the school's own description:

Olympic and film focus. Black Belt World says it specializes in developing Olympic-level athletes as well as stuntmen and women for Hollywood blockbuster films. That is a narrower positioning than a typical community Taekwondo club.

Leadership credentials. Founder Grandmaster Tommy Chang is described as an 8th Degree Black Belt in Hapkido and an 8th Degree Kukkiwon Taekwondo certified Master. He was formerly Vice President of Sport for the World Taewondo Federation of Canada (Taekwondo Canada) and Head of Team Canada, and past 1st VP of the Ontario Taekwondo Association (Taekwondo Ontario).

Instructor and safety certifications

The site states that:

• All staff are certified through the Canadian Center for Child Protection and have completed First Aid and CPR training.
• Instructors are certified and recognized through World Taekwondo, Kukkiwon, Pan-Am Taekwondo Union, Taekwondo Canada, and/or Taekwondo Ontario.
• The school is one of the first martial arts schools in Canada to participate in the Safe Place Program through the Peel Regional Police.
• It was chosen as the pilot school in Canada for the Talk Today program by Taekwondo Canada and Taekwondo Ontario, which focuses on mental health awareness in the Taekwondo community.

Practical notes before you sign up

• Trial availability: The site references a "free trial," so it's worth asking about trial terms when you contact a location.
• Pricing: No prices or payment details are published on the page reviewed here, so costs need to be confirmed directly with the school.
• Location choice: With five GTA locations, the closest branch to your home or work is likely the deciding factor, since the program structure appears consistent across sites.

If you're looking for a Taekwondo school in the GTA with competitive and performance pathways rather than purely recreational classes, Black Belt World is positioned for that. If you want a low-commitment recreational program, it's still worth asking each location how its classes are split between competitive and general students.

Black Belt World (taekwondo.ca) splits its programs into three age bands: Tiny Tigers for ages 3–5, Children for ages 6–12, and Teens & Adults for ages 13 and up. If you are choosing a class for yourself or your child, the deciding factor is simply which band the student falls into — the school does not publish separate beginner/advanced tracks by age on its homepage, but it does run classes 7 days a week across 5 Ontario locations.

The three age-based programs

The school describes itself as an "authentic Korean martial arts school" teaching Taekwondo and related martial arts, with 51 years of teaching history behind the organization.

Class types beyond the standard curriculum

Age band is the main entry point, but Black Belt World also runs two specialized streams worth knowing about:

• Competitive/Olympic-level training. The academy states it specializes in developing Olympic-level athletes, with Olympic-level athletes and coaches on staff.
• Stunt performer training. It also trains stuntmen and women for Hollywood blockbuster films, which is unusual for a typical local Taekwondo school.

These are not advertised as separate age-gated programs on the homepage, so if your goal is competition or stunt work, ask directly which location and schedule supports that path.

Schedule and location practicalities

• Classes run 7 days per week.
• There are 5 locations in Ontario: Burlington/Oakville, Kitchener, Mississauga, Vaughan (Woodbridge), and Toronto.
• Headquarters is in downtown Toronto.

Because each location runs its own timetable, the age band tells you which program fits, but the specific location tells you when it's available.

Who this suits — and who should check first

The age split is straightforward and covers nearly every age from 3 upward, so most families and adults will find a matching band without much deliberation. Two situations need a direct call or visit rather than relying on the age chart:

1. A child right at a boundary (5–6 or 12–13). Placement may depend on maturity and prior experience, not just birth date.
2. Anyone seeking the competitive or film-stunt track. These are described as specialties of the academy, but the homepage does not map them to specific ages or locations.

Instructor credentials and safety (relevant to choosing a class)

If instructor quality is part of your decision, the school lists these credentials:

• Founder Grandmaster Tommy Chang holds 8th Degree Black Belt certifications in both Hapkido and Kukkiwon Taekwondo, and is a former VP Sport for Taekwondo Canada and past 1st VP of the Ontario Taekwondo Association.
• Instructors are certified through World Taekwondo, Kukkiwon, Pan-Am Taekwondo Union, Taekwondo Canada, and/or Taekwondo Ontario.
• Staff are certified through the Canadian Center for Child Protection and trained in First Aid and CPR.
• The school participates in the Peel Regional Police Safe Place Program and was chosen as the pilot school in Canada for the Talk Today mental health program run by Taekwondo Canada and Taekwondo Ontario.

How to decide

Match the student's age to the band above, then pick the nearest of the five locations and confirm the weekly schedule for that age group. The site mentions a free trial, so the lowest-risk next step is to book one at your preferred location and see how the class is actually run before committing.