McAlester Tae Kwon Do 3.83

McAlester Tae Kwon Do, LLC has offered traditional martial arts training since 1974, with locations in McAlester, Eufaula, and Carlton Landing.

Our Grandmaster is Jack Hwang in Oklahoma City. Three of Grandmaster Hwang's guiding principles are:
1. The main goal of martial arts is to become a better person, 2. Learn to fight to avoid fighting, and 3. The secret to happiness is giving to others. These principles are the foundation and goals of our school.
(see www.jackhwangmartialarts.com).

Our school offers taekwondo (TKD) training programs for ages toddler through adult in all locations. "Bully" and aggression management skills are incorporated into all levels of TKD training.
Mommy/Daddy & Me TKD for toddlers
Pandas - Ages 3 to 5 1/2
Tigers - Ages 5 1/2 to 6
Dragons - Ages 7 to 8
White Belt - Ages 9 to Adult - This is a traditional Tae Kwon Do training program, and includes training in forms, self-defense (breaks & one-steps), sparring for orange belts and above (including multiple sparring), traditional kicks, punches, moving combinations(kicks, blocks, punches), and so forth.
Children's classes are designed to be developmentally appropriate for each age group, even in branch schools where these classes may be combined.

Krav Maga for ages 14 and up in both McAlester and Eufaula (see Krav Maga McAlester Facebook Page)

WSD Kickboxing Tuesdays at 6 p.m.; Special classes scheduled upon request.


TKD teaches basic life skills to use throughout one's lifetime including courtesy, respect, modesty, integrity, self-control, perseverance, and indomitable spirit. It teaches students how to stop a fight from happening at all and to increase personal safety and self-confidence. Tae kwon do also provides physical conditioning and is a year-round activity.

Our head instructor is Master Ray Harp, 7th Dan under the U.S. Taekwondo Grandmasters Society and a plumbing contractor by trade. Bret Hinds is a 6th Dan master instructor and home inspector by trade. Elizabeth (Betsy) Dew is a 4th Dan instructor. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor in Oklahoma. She is retired from the Oklahoma DMHSAS and is now full-time in taekwondo. Our instructors are recognized by the International Martial Arts Federation (GM Jack Hwang - see www.jackhwangmartialarts.com), the U.S. Taekwondo Grandmasters Society, and USA Taekwondo (USAT). In April 2014, USA Taekwondo announced collaboration with the United States Taekwondo Grandmasters Society - google this for detailed information.


We have partnered with the Choctaw Nation DVPI (Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative) to provide primary prevention of assault adn sexual assault training in schools.

HISTORY of McAlester TKD:
Our school has its roots in the martial arts school owned by Phillip Perkins around 1974 when Mr. Perkins became affiliated with Grandmaster Saejin "Jack" Hwang. Students of Mr. Perkins in the early 1980's included John Tapscott and Ray Harp. After Mr. Perkin's passing in 1988, John Tapscott, then 1st dan black belt, received the school and re-opened as McAlester Tae Kwon Do, Inc. Mr. Tapscott continued to teach tae kwon do in the spirit of Mr. Hwang's techniques and skills.

Ray Harp was the first black belt candidate out of Mr. Tapscott's school to test in front of Mr. Hwang, earning 1st dan blackbelt in 1989.

The school changed location numerous times, eventually changing the name to Tapscott's Tae Kwon Do in the mid 1990's. In early 2007, Mr. Tapscott, 6th Dan, retired from martial arts and turned the school over to the three black belts teaching at the school at the time - Ray Harp, Bret Hinds and Betsy Dew. The school was relocated and reorganized under the current name McAlester Tae Kwon Do, LLC.

It is through our history and our continued relationship with Mr. Hwang and the International Martial Arts Federation that this school can be considered the oldest martial arts school in southeastern Oklahoma.

In August, 2012, we added Krav Maga as recognized by thee International Association of Krav Maga.