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On May 23rd, 2009, Chief Master Taejoon Lee became, Grandmaster Taejoon Lee, 8th Dan Hwa Rang Do Black Sash - an extremely rare honor with only 3 other people in the world having an equivalent or higher rank. This promotion was given to him by his father, martial arts legend and founder of Hwa Rang Do, Supreme Grandmaster Dr. Joo Bang Lee. This 30-minute video presentation shown to our guests at his 8th Dan promotion and celebration, gives you a rare inside look into the 1st family of Hwa Rang Do and the incredible journey and life of Grandmaster Taejoon Lee leading up to this extraordinary honor. For more information, please visit: http://hwarangdo.net/8thdan

"All that I was afraid of is coming true. Digging a hole 10 feet deep to find water is fine. But what happens? What do you do when you've dugg 10 feet and there's still no water? Do you abandon your efforts? Do you start over? I chose to keep digging..." - Tae, as things get dangerous

http://www.ktownchronicles.com Tae, a young Korean-American man struggles to discover himself, uncertain in his ability to fulfill his duty to his father meets, Ed-K, a young Korean-American man who is struggling to understand his cultural heritage, but lost in the life of the streets of K-Town. The story starts with Tae and Ed-K in a duel as men, trying to uphold their honor. They both engage in a long battle. However, Tae being a superior fighter wins over Ed-K and he succumbs to Tae, accepting him as hyung (big brother). Tae carries the burden of being the next in line to lead a traditional Korean martial art of Hwa Rang Do, which his father reined as the 58th Hwa Rang Warrior. Tae feels undeserving of such responsibility and rejects his duty to his father and the art to discover life on his own terms.

http://www.ktownchronicles.com Growing up in Los Angeles as Korean-American, Tae has seen rough times, but he has always had the legacy of the Hwarang as an anchor and foundation to see him through. But not all of the young Korean-Americans have had this foundation to see them through the challenges of growing up in an alien culture. Tae at one point begins to associate with a young, misled and unruly street punk named Ed-K. In Korean Culture, only men of the same age can be friends. Otherwise, the older of the two assumes the title and responsibility as Hyung (Big Brother). The only exception is if the younger man challenges and defeats the older in a fight to submission. Ed-K, unwilling to yield to Tae and acknowledge him as his big brother, challenges him to a fight to gain his respect and earn the title of Hyung. Ed-K loses the fight and therefore yields to Tae. Tae accepts the title of 'Big Brother'. Tae thinks that in order to be of greater service to his people and not bring shame ...

http://www.ktownchronicles.com Tae and Ed-K go for a night out at the hottest nightclub in K-town, the Velfarre. What was suppose to be a celebration of their brotherhood turns into all out chaos as a gang of thugs rushes the club and attacks Tae and Ed-K. Out numbered, Tae and Ed-K must now fight their way out to survive...

http://www.ktownchronicles.com Ed-K takes Tae to a strip club owned by a beautiful blonde and friend of his. As Tae & Ed-K enter, the club owner is hussling two chumps at the pool table, and when they refuse to pay after she wins, she lays the smackdown, takes their money and has them thrown out.

http://www.ktownchronicles.com "The day I was born, my mother once told me, was the happiest day of my father's life. Being ... the first born son meant everything to him. I was his hope to carry his legacy. My father once told me, I carry his face, which I was never comfortable with. I have my own face. Then again he also said, "When a tiger dies, he leaves his pelt. When a man dies, he leaves only his name." I didn't want to stain his name. I had to find out for myself, what is my name?" - Tae, on cutting ties with Hwarangdo

In Korean Culture, only men of the same age can be friends. Otherwise, the older of the two assumes the title and responsibility as Hyung (Big Brother). The only exception is if the younger man challenges and defeats the older in a fight to submission. This ideal of brotherhood has united Korea as one family, preserving its heritage for over 2000 years. This is a story of Hyung (Big Brother) Tae and little brother Ed-K and their dark and dangerous journey together. KYO OO E SHIN Trust and Brotherhood among friends This is third code of a warrior class that unified the Korean peninsula as one nation for the first time in history. Watch Film: http://www.ktownchronicles.com Coming to a computer near you... Oct 2008 *Posted with permission from the World Hwa Rang Do® Association and Fighting Styles Productions.