About

Our Mission

We are an organization based in Etobicoke, a part of the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Our primary aim is to promote the sport of Tae Kwon Do and its accompanying benefits through programs that are both accessible and affordable.

Among our many programs is a Family Class in which parents and children attend classes together. The uniqueness of this program, not only in Ontario but in all of Canada, led to it being featured in the September 1996 issue of the Canadian Living magazine.

We also operate a unique camp, Deh Camp, for children 6-12 years of age. This camp caters to the need for character education in our community.

If you are living in or near Etobicoke and would like to know more about us, do give us a call. If you are a fan or an exponent of Tae Kwon Do, anywhere in the world, feel free to drop us a note.

History

In 1985, there were no community programs for Tae Kwon Do of any significance in Etobicoke. To receive adequate instruction, one had to sign up and pay sometimes thousands of dollars at one of the local business-oriented “academies.” So, in 1986, Master Michael Deh started giving lessons as part of the City of Etobicoke’s Parks and Recreation Community Programs throughout Etobicoke.

For over 9 years he ran successful and well-attended classes. By the fall of 1994, there were over 600 participants in 9 locations throughout Etobicoke. At that point, Master Deh tried but failed to persuade the City of Etobicoke to do 2 things:

• increase the salaries of instructors in order to attract well-qualified and suitable instructors for the childrens’ programs;
• facilitate the rapidly growing amateur sport of Tae Kwon Do by expanding the programs to a higher athletic level.

The City of Etobicoke was not prepared to make the necessary changes to their programs. Consequently, Master Deh decided to leave.

Out of concern for the vacuum that would be created by Master Deh’s impending departure and out of a collective desire by many participants and their parents, a representative group was formed to negotiate with the City. Discussions held during the fall of 1994 produced no change in the City’s position. However, they led to a feeling of camaraderie among the participants and a sense that another avenue was needed for Tae Kwon Do in Etobicoke.

A pilot project of 2 locations was initiated shortly to determine whether an association could be established for the soon-to-be-former participants in all the programs run by Etobicoke Parks and Recreation. Master Deh provided his services for these new classes while still working for the City. After the first 10-week session, it was clear that another stream of programs could gain support in Etobicoke, especially if Master Deh himself instructed the classes.

Etobicoke Tae Kwon Do was established in March 1995 as an incorporated, not-for-profit organization and Master Deh resigned from the City of Etobicoke to focus his efforts at being the Program Director for the new organization.

With his slogan ‘TAE KWON DO-IT’, it is Master Deh’s expressed goal to make Tae Kwon Do a household activity in our community…and he has achieved that.