Palisades Taekwondo Students Earn Black Belts
Nine students from Tae Ryong Taekwondo tested for first- and second-degree black belts at Palisades High gym.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Secondary Education
Nine students from the Tae Ryong Taekwondo studio in Pacific Palisades tested for black belt ranks at the Palisades High gym, ranging in age from 7 to 64. Five students tested for first-degree black belts and four for second-degree.
Why it matters
The testing reflects continued training at the Palisades studio, which has served all nine students since it opened five years ago, including some who lost their homes in the Palisades Fire. The studio's reopening at its original location is set for January.
Nine students tested, with ages spanning 7 to 64, and all have trained at the Palisades studio since it opened five years ago. The source does not indicate how many candidates ultimately received their promotions.
The players
Scott Hutchinson
Seventh-degree black belt master who leads the Tae Ryong Taekwondo studios and opened the Palisades location in August 2021.
Tae Ryong Taekwondo
Taekwondo studio network offering traditional Korean martial arts training, with a Palisades location serving the Pacific Palisades community.
The details
Students tested for black belt ranks at the Palisades High gym under the studio led by seventh-degree black belt Scott Hutchinson. The studio emphasizes traditional Korean taekwondo, self-defense, discipline, focus, and Olympic-style sparring (kyeorugi).
Timeline
August 2021: Hutchinson opened the Palisades studio.
Last week: Nine students tested for black belts at Palisades High gym.
January 2027: Tae Ryong Palisades reopens at 843 Via de la Paz.
Season Trajectory
The studio's curriculum follows the Olympic-style kyeorugi format governed by World Taekwondo, linking local Los Angeles training to the sport's international competitive framework. Black belt promotions at the Palisades studio continue that pathway for students from childhood through adulthood.
Families in Pacific Palisades looking for martial arts classes for children and adults can return to the studio at its original location when it reopens in January. The studio's emphasis on self-defense and discipline is available to students across a wide age range, from 7 to 64.
The takeaway
Consistent training across a wide age range can build the discipline and skill that black belt promotions recognize. Students seeking similar progress can look for programs that combine self-defense with structured sparring.
What happens next
Tae Ryong Palisades is set to reopen at 843 Via de la Paz in January 2027.
Further reading
For related coverage, explore Secondary Education in Los Angeles.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Palisadian-Post.
