Central Wisconsin Black Belt Academy (CWBBA) is the life’s work of Gary Jon Breitenfeldt, our Sahboonim. Originally opened in Wittenberg, WI in 1983, CWBBA has provided traditional Tae Kwon Do training in Clintonville, Antigo, and most recently in 2000 when we opened our Shawano Dojang. For the past 25 years we have been a stable business on South Main Street in Shawano, WI.
CWBBA trains in traditional Chang Hon Tae Kwon Do, a martial art developed in Korea in 1965. Since 1966, Taekwondo has been overseen by the TKD Federation. We study under the ITF, International Taekwondo Federation, brought to Toronto, Canada in 1973 after being founded by General Choi Hong Hi in Korea. Chang Hon Tae Kwon Do is an art that encourages observation, patience, control, and precision. It is defensive, not offensive, and teaches us to protect rather than attack.
WhAT Is CWBBA?
Our Dojang is a diverse family. We work and train together, and we also celebrate and explore together. In addition to classes, we engage in many family events: a 4th of July BBQ, a fall pumpkin hayride, and a winter sleigh ride are a few of our bigger annual events. Fostering this sense of family is an important component of who we are. It allows our students to bring their larger family groups into the Dojang on a regular basis.
Every member of our Dojang family travels an individual path working to push themselves to their best possible success and ability. Hours in rank are used as a baseline for preparing for examination, but Sahboonim works with every student to determine when they are truly ready for a successful belt test. Examinations happen on site Saturdays in March, June, August, and December annually. Testing students are encouraged to invite families to share in our celebration of growth and success.
Students train with each other, and often work with different black belt instructors to steadily improve with the goal of mastering their needed skills. Classes at the Dojang are fluid and evolve as the hour goes on, giving members an opportunity to be both student and leader. High standards, respect, and heavy effort are balanced with moments of fun and laughter.
Thank you for exploring CWBBA! We hope you take the next step and plan a visit to the Dojang soon!
Sahboonim
Martial arts was something I wanted to participate in during my youth, and Tae Kwon Do became a life-changing gift I gave to myself on my 20th birthday. I did not realize at the time that I would dedicate my life to “Do” - the way. My born into the martial arts date is October 16, 1980 when I began training with Duk An Yun in traditional Chang Hon Tae Kwon Do.
I have now studied full time for over 45 years and have accrued more than 20,000 hours of training across 13 different martial arts disciplines. Each art offers me a unique journey with Tae Kwon Do as my center, an anchor through all phases of my adult life.
When I began training, I could never have imagined I would one day open my own Dojang and also earn the title of Sahboonim: Head Master of a Tae Kwon Do System. CWBBA is a culmination of my martial arts life’s work. To date, I have instructed over 18,000 students in some capacity and worked with over 9,000 students through Central Wisconsin Black Belt Academy.
I believe and observe the code of Bushido in all its forms: embrace each moment as though it is your last. Every day I look forward to our unique classes at CWBBA, our Dojang family where everyone is welcome and encouraged.
RichARD- 4th dan
When my son became involved in the CWBBA Little Dragons program, it was an opportunity for me to explore my own interest in martial arts as well as join my child in something that he was having a lot of fun with. My born into martial arts date is June 23, 2005, I was 45 years old. My goals were to explore martial arts, something that had always interested me, and spend time with my son. What I found was a place where everyone can belong.
CWBBA is a unique family environment where each student has an opportunity to reach their own potential if they choose to dedicate themselves to learning and growing. I did not join with aspirations of becoming a black belt, but here I am 2 decades later with over 6000 hours of training.
In class, I most enjoy working on and teaching the skills of interaction and self-defense. developing practical responses to real life situations knowing that when employed, mine will hold up under pressure to help me and others stay safe.
One of the things that makes us a unique learning environment is that at a very young age, we begin to teach people how to be leaders. We encourage students, regardless of age, to begin teaching others. In this way, even young people have an opportunity to develop self-confidence through actively leading by positive example.
I chose to dedicate myself to the martial way, making black belt and continuing with my studies is a show of commitment to myself and students to come. You may join out of interest, on a whim or because of someone else but you will stay at CWBBA for yourself because this is an environment where you can really become more of who you want to be.
My Born into Martial Arts is December 4, 2013. In what has been a relatively
short period of time I have acquired over 7000 hours of training.
Martial arts is something I have always wanted to participate in, but did not
pursue until I was an adult. I was inspired to join with my daughter when she
was 5 and decided that she wanted to be a ninja when she grows up.
Becoming part of the CWBBA family is one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. Every person here is a part of our family, who you are MATTERS and what you bring to the Dojang is celebrated.
My favorite things to do in the Dojang are line formation delivery and individual expression of patterns. What makes us unique from other martial art systems is that you are your only competition. Your patterns, your skills, your rank and outcomes are your sole creation within an environment that has offered consistent support, nurturing you in this journey.
At CWBBA our main discipline is Tae Kwon Do but no single martial art has all of the answers to self-defense so we cross-train the 12 additional styles in which Sahboonim is proficient. Therefore, in our system it is a tremendous achievement to be invited to test for and then earn the rank of black belt because you must be able to navigate a wide variety of challenges. I feel honored to be part of our teaching staff.
Eva - 4th dan
When my wife and I adopted our son from Korea, we felt it was important to
offer him something familiar, something that would tie him to his culture.
My born into martial arts was in 1990, when I was in my 30’s. I started this
journey for my children and have now been a student under Gary Jon
Breitenfeldt, my Sahboonim, for over 3 decades.
I have lived in various locations around the state that were not in close proximity to CWBBA. Therefore, I explored many different Tae Kwon Do Dojangs thinking: Tae Kwon Do is Tae Kwon Do, right? What I learned is that CWBBA is a unique and very special place; the tenets are alive, instructors hold students accountable to become their best version of themself and our Sahboonim breathes a desire for excellence into every student.
I appreciate most that we hold ourselves accountable to maintaining the discipline and structure of a traditional martial art where technique AND character matter. Our application of technique is held to a high standard of excellence; situational awareness training is based on practical application of skills that will hold up in the event they are needed. We do not go through the motions, we do not misrepresent ourselves with paper dragons nor do we award rank for mediocre representations of a person’s potential. Everyone is equally held to the expectations that they will strive for what their individual personal excellence can be.
I originally chose Tae Kwon Do because it is a Korean martial art. Now in my 70’s, I have and will continue that journey at CWBBA because the culture of our Dojang family does uphold the tenets, the discipline and standards of personal excellence which enrich my life.
Steve - 3rd Dan
Stephen- 3rd Dan
Being a long-term student at CWBBA has introduced me to a network of martial artists of the highest caliber. It has laid a foundation of skills and has given me confidence that serve me in every aspect of life.
My born into martial arts date was August 21, 2001 when as a child, my parents gave me an opportunity to explore my interest in Tae Kwon Do. Being a student at CWBBA quickly became an anchor through my adolescence. I feel like I grew up at CWBBA, having spent more hours in the Dojang than I did in high school sports practices or music rehearsals. During my 4 years of college, I would return to our Dojang during breaks, a place that felt like home where I was always welcome. After college in 2015, I enlisted in the United States Navy.
I was fortunate to have studied under our Sahboonim, in the culture he created, where students are truly accountable to the tenets of Tae Kwon Do. When I decided to work toward becoming a naval officer, I found myself prepared to perform under pressure, rise to an occasion and be held to exceptionally high standards of personal and professional conduct.
I was commissioned as an officer in 2017 and am presently a Lieutenant, having been stationed in six different cities and on three different warships. I remain connected to my martial arts heritage by training individually and practicing with my spouse and daughter. When I am in town, I return to the Dojang and am reminded of why this is such a special place for so many of us.
Tyler - 2nd Dan
My born into martial arts date is March 10, 2010. I first joined to learn emotional stability, self-confidence and self-esteem. After 16 years I can say that I’ve balanced myself out and am now focusing more on the intricacies of the artform itself.
Martial arts can be taught many different ways. At CWBBA our focus is on community and personal growth, with many students forming strong friendships with each other and growing together.
How you approach martial arts will be different from how someone else approaches it. Some people want to practice as a form of exercise, some a hobby and others make it their lifestyle. All of these are valid ways that you can practice martial arts. Your path is just that, your own and should not be effected by how others choose to study.
Samantha - 2nd Dan
My born into martial arts date is February 2, 2010. Being a
student of Chang Hon Tae Kwon Do means that I am provided
with purpose and community. Growing up, society told me
that I was a girl, so I was meant to be meek and mild. After 16
years of study, I can say that I am proud of who I am and that
I pursue what makes me happy for my own sake. Ultimately,
doing this has been just as meaningful for my mental health
as my sense of security.
I believe that my role as a CWBBA black belt is to reflect the
qualities of the tenets of Tae Kwon Do and carry on the
traditions of our style. Our black belts are kind, filled with grace and love to teach. Most people assume that a black belt holder is someone to fear but there are few places that are more safe than being by their side.
The education you and your child will receive at CWBBA is comprehensive. My favorite areas of training are those where I can express myself, such as patterns. Though structured, how a form is performed feels like art! As a creative person, my commitment to the art of Tae Kwon Do is reinforced every time I do my patterns.
My born into martial arts date is March 29, 2010. I began Tae Kwon Do at the encouragement of my parents to find a way to stay active and connect with others. I have stayed because I found just those things at CWBBA.
Being part of CWBBA has had a lasting impact on my life. Through training, I have built strong friendships and learned values like patience and humility, personal ethics which have carried over into both my academic and professional life.
I currently reside in Colorado, I always look forward to the next opportunity to train and continue my growth along side my friends and colleagues here. I make it a priority to return to our Dojang for every testing and attend classes whenever I am in town. Staying connected, even from a distance, has reinforced how important this community is to me.
In the near future, I plan to test for my 3rd-degree black belt. I hope to relocate back to Wisconsin, return to a schedule of attending classes weekly and continue on my journey as a CWBBA black belt.
Connor - 2nd Dan
Connie - 1st Dan
I began at CWBBA for and with my then 10 year old granddaughter, as a way to build on our relationship. I was 63, I already held the status of black belt from a different Tae Kwon Do system and I thought my martial arts journey was complete. Once we started, I was stunned by how unprepared I was from my former training, how little I understood about the martial way and how incomplete my dossier of techniques was. I realized the black belt I held was that of “a paper dragon” and I absolutely refuse to be that person! I do not discount that black belt or that system, but not all Tae Kwon Do systems are as thorough and complete as is CWBBA. Therefore, I consider June 11, 2018 to be my re-born into martial arts date.
I began for my granddaughter, we had a wonderful experience with what quickly felt like a second family. Training together, supporting and encouraging one another, learning as a team gave me memories I will cherish for the rest of my life, but I stayed for myself. I embraced the challenge of starting over at white belt, I wore it and every belt thereafter with absolute pride in my accomplishment.
At 71 years old, I tested for black belt at CWBBA; my skills, execution of patterns, application of self-defense techniques, and my perseverance were tested for over 3 intense hours, and I know with absolute certainty I EARNED this black belt.
I now understand that martial arts can be a life-long journey, one which I plan to continue for as long as I am able. I choose to have CWBBA as my Dojang because here is where I have found a martial family dedicated to nurturing disciplined, quality people while producing truly competent martial artists.
My born into martial arts date is July 31, 2013. I am very proud to be the
most recent recipient of a black belt at CWBBA. I have dedicated myself
to working very hard to be the best student and now teacher that I am
capable of becoming.
What I like most about CWBBA is that I have an opportunity to develop a lot of different skills and learn from many different people. I particularly enjoy working on my rolling and breakfall skills. These are fun activities and it is very practical to know how to fall without getting hurt. My favorite self-defense interaction drills are ground sparring!
Being involved in Tae Kwon Do has helped me become a more confident and self-disciplined person. I have learned how to really focus and concentrate, pay attention to instructions, notice the details and work to my full potential.
As a new student what you need to know is that: At CWBBA everyone is important, all of us matter, and every student has something positive to contribute.
Leah - 1st Dan
Warriors Tribute
It is with the deepest gratitude and respect for a fallen warrior that I honor him here in this memorial: To my friend and fellow marital artist, Ken Schroepfer.
I fondly remember teaching class in Wittenberg, it was 1984 when in came this man announcing, “I am not very good at this stuff, but I’ll give you what I got” and he did exactly that.
I could not have asked for a finer friend or imagined a more committed student. Ken was at my side when CWBBA was born and for over 35 years, wore the honor of a red Dobok top; a symbol of our shared passion for Chang Hon Tae Kwon Do and his unwavering loyalty as my most committed and faithful student.
Ken was a full-time student of Chang Hon Tae Kwon Do for over 40 years and during that time, became proficient in 11 different styles of marial arts. In 2022 I had the honor of testing him to 7th Dan Black Belt, a profound accomplishment that highlights his life-long commitment to self-discipline and personal improvement.
For over 42 years we trained together, we laughed and cried together. Until the last year of his life, Ken was able to attend class; proudly representing himself and CWBBA wearing the honor of a red Dobok top. My dear friend passed away January 1, 2026 from complications of Alzheimer’s Disease. His top is displayed in the Dojang, this in remembrance of his leadership and presence each time we ring the bell to begin and end class.
Rest in peace my dear friend!
