About Us

Welcome to Ascent Martial Arts. We are an elite martial arts school founded by Grand Master K.H. Cho, 9th degree black Belt, in 1973. We have been teaching the traditional martial arts of Chung Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do and Hap Ki Do in Morris County for more than 48 years. Today Master Teacher Brian O’Connor, a student of Grand Master Cho’s for more than 34 years, continues the legacy of Grand Master Cho’s timeless teachings and training right here in Madison, NJ. Master O’Connor is a former United States Marine and Close Combat Instructor and was directly appointed a World Certified Master by both the World Tae Kwon Do Federation and the World Chung Do Kwan Federation due to his ceaseless dedication and development of martial arts throughout the world.

Master O’Connor also brings to his teachings his formal martial arts training in Korea and other locations around the world as well as his experience as an International and National Martial Arts and Tae Kwon Do tournament champion. At Ascent Martial Arts, all classes are taught directly by Master O’Connor. The goal of this is to pass on to each and every student the great martial arts teachings and training that was taught to him by Grand Master Cho.