Instructors
GRAND MASTER CHONG
GRAND MASTER INSTRUCTOR (10TH DAN)
Master Chong has served as the head instructor of the University of Michigan Taekwondo Club since 1968. He is a former President of the United States Taekwondo Union, a former member of the WT council, and has served as head of the US National Taekwondo Team. His students have included Olympic Gold Medalist Lynette Love and Bronze Medalist Han Wan Lee. In addition to being the U of M Master Instructor, Master Chong is formerly a Lecturer in the Division of Kinesiology, and taught the Beginning Taekwondo and Advanced Taekwondo courses for the U-Move Program.
MASTER BUSCH
INSTRUCTOR (6TH DAN)
Master Busch is the Master Instructor of the U of M Taekwondo Club and has been involved in Taekwondo for over 30 years, starting at the University of Michigan in 1987. After serving as a club officer, he became an instructor in 1991 and served in that capacity until 2002, when he relocated to South Bend, IN. Master Busch then became an instructor at Hong's USA Taekwondo where he taught advanced classes and sparring. His students included the University of Notre Dame Taekwondo club. Master Busch returned to the area in 2005 and resumed teaching at UM. Master Busch is a certified referee.
MASTER DAVID REITZ
MASTER INSTRUCTOR (5TH DAN)
David Reitz is a seasoned competitor hailing from Master Russell Gale's school in Plymouth, MI. David's recent accomplishments have included winning gold at the 2017 USAT National Championships in the men's black belt featherweight division. He is currently ranked #2 in the nation for this division.
MASTER JASON MCDONALD
INSTRUCTOR (4TH DAN)
Jason McDonald has a background in ITF and WT styles. He previously taught and trained under Grand Master Scott McNeely at DFW Metroplex. He attended Brigham Young University.
Officers
Hello! I'm Lidia, a junior studying Business and Sociology. I'm a 4th dan and have been doing taekwondo for 13 years. As President, my job is to make sure you have a great time in the club. I enjoy traveling, folk music (Noah Kahan), and reading.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions!
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Hey y'all!!!! I'm Ameilia, pleased to meet you! I am a junior studying biochemistry. My hope as VP is to support making your time in UMTKD memorable. I started taekwondo for the first time freshman year (currently a red-black belt), but have been involved in martial arts since I was 7! I enjoy volleyball, reading, and all things Ghibli outside of tkd. Hope to see you on the mats soon~✨✨
Hi, my name is Mitchell, and I am a sophomore studying Biology, Health, and Society. I am a green belt and just started TKD last year. I am the club treasurer this year, and will be in charge of managing our club’s finances. Other than TKD, I enjoy drawing, cooking, and dancing.
You can find me at matebara@umich.edu.
lidia cappelletti
(she/her/hers)
PRESIDENT
ameilia chung
(SHE/HER/HERS)
VICE PRESIDENT
mitchell atebara
(he/him/his)
treasurer
Hi! My name is Iona, and I am a 2nd Dan black belt and have been practicing taekwondo for 10 years. As secretary, I keep the team updated, take attendance, and more! I love to bake, get outside, and make playlists, look me up on Spotify 🙂
Feel free to reach out with any questions at ionas@umich.edu
Hello!! I'm Vanessa, a junior studying Mechanical Engineering and I've been a part of Michigan Taekwondo for 2 years. I joned with no experience and now I'm a red-black belt. I have so many incredible memories with this club and am honored to be a part of board. As Travel Coordinator, I will ensure our tournaments are well-planned, memorable, and fun all year long! Other hobbies of mine include traveling, cooking, and exploring new bakeries and cafes. Happy to help if you need anything! vdanci@umich.edu
Hi! My name is Jasper and I’m a freshman studying Mechanical Engineering. I’m a 3rd Dan and have been doing taekwondo for 12 years. As Travel Coordinator I’ll make sure that tournaments run smoothly and are enjoyable for everyone! Outside of Taekwondo I enjoy watching soccer, photography, and reading comics. Feel free to reach out to me at chjasper@umich.edu!
Hello!! My name is Saori and I am a freshman in LSA. As equipment manager my role is to make sure everyone gets their uniform and gear! I started taekwondo my fall semester and am currently a yellow belt. I enjoy traveling, trying new hobbies, and baking. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions at saori@umich.edu!
iona sarraille
(she/her/hers)
secretary
vanessa danci
(SHE/HER/HERS)
travel coordinator
jasper chu
(he/him/his)
travel coordinator
saori espinosa
(she/her/hers)
equipment manager
If you're reading this, you probably want to know a little about me. Hello there, I'm Wilson, a junior studying chemical engineering. I joined this club on a whim with zero experience in any martial arts and ended up having so much that I decided to stay a bit (currently a red belt). As one of your media managers, I promote stuff on our social media and capture memorable moments from the club. I have really generic interests, such as nerd hobbies, photography, and lazing around. You can email me at wilzhao@umich.edu. :D
Hi! I’m CJ, a freshman studying Neuroscience. I’m an 8th geup (yellow belt) and I have prior experience in Shotokan Karate, but I’m new to Taekwondo. As a media manager, I capture all of the fun memories made within the club! Some of my hobbies include reading, video games, and wandering into nature on side quests. Feel free to reach out and contact me at clantjr@umich.edu!
Hi!! I’m Victoria, a sophomore currently studying Political Science and Spanish. I’m a red belt, but have been involved with TaeKwonDo since I was thirteen. As social chair, I plan everything from weekly study rooms to the end of the year banquet, and I am always open to new ideas! In my (admittedly limited) free time, I love playing guitar, reading, and collecting new hobbies. Please reach out if you have questions, suggestions, or just want to chat and grab coffee!
wilson zhao
(he/him/his)
media manager
CJ griffith
(HE/Him/HiS)
media manager
victoria mccabe
(she/her/hers)
social chair
student instructors
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Office hours
​*Office hours are a chance to ask questions, get some more practice, and receive individual feedback outside of regular class time. Whether it's poomsae, sparring drills, or kicking, come by for some extra practice!
​If you want to attend, look above to see which instructor is best suited to help you with your goals. Then reach out by email, messenger, or Calendly to arrange a time and place.
Please come prepared with questions or a goal you'd like to work towards. Office hours are not classes and are meant to be more student-driven rather than instructors providing a lesson plan.
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**Please be amenable to any instructors' time conflicts/changes in availability as they are also busy students and may not always be able to update their schedule immediately**