Grandmaster Jun Chong: The Taekwondo Master Behind the Cobra Kai Dojo

When fans of The Karate Kid see the entrance of the Cobra Kai dojo in the original 1984 film, very few know that behind this famous dojo lies a real person with a massive history in martial arts and cinema. His name is Grandmaster Jun Chong.

Jun Chong during the 1970s.

To Taekwondo practitioners, he is considered one of the most important Korean masters who contributed to the spread of the art in the United States. To film buffs, he is a familiar face from the martial arts movies of the 1970s and 1980s. To researchers of The Karate Kid franchise, he is the man whose actual school was used as the original Cobra Kai Dojo.

The School That Became Cobra Kai

In the early 1970s, Jun Chong settled in Los Angeles, at a time when Asian martial arts were experiencing a massive boom in America. There, he founded his own school, which evolved into one of the most prominent Taekwondo academies in Southern California. Operating since 1973, his school remains active to this day, making it one of the longest-running martial arts academies in the area.

Jun Chong’s school in North Hollywood, which was used as the Cobra Kai Dojo

Jun Chong’s greatest connection to pop culture came in 1984. The producers of The Karate Kid were searching for an authentic martial arts school to serve as the headquarters for Cobra Kai. Their choice was Jun Chong's dojo located at:

5223 Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood, California

The building was used for the exterior shots of Cobra Kai in the first Karate Kid film and reappeared later in The Karate Kid Part III. For fans of the franchise, this specific address is now considered a historic landmark.

Jun Chong’s school in North Hollywood, which was used as the Cobra Kai Dojo

Even more interesting is the fact that a photograph of Jun Chong himself was displayed inside the dojo. For years, many viewers wondered about the identity of the Korean master depicted on the Cobra Kai wall. It only became widely known later that he was the actual owner of the school. Thus, without appearing as a main character in the movie, Jun Chong became an integral part of The Karate Kid mythology.

The Man Behind the Cobra Kai Image

Jun Chong's contribution was not limited to merely lending his building. For decades, he was one of the most prominent figures in American Taekwondo. His school served as a meeting point for athletes, instructors, actors, and stuntmen working in Hollywood. His name became linked with the development of Taekwondo in the United States and the creation of a bridge between martial arts and the film industry.

His Famous Students

His reputation as a master is also reflected in the roster of his students. Some of the most notable names who trained under him include:

- Thomas Ian Griffith (Terry Silver from The Karate Kid Part III and Cobra Kai)

- Phillip Rhee

- Simon Rhee

- Sugar Ray Leonard

- Lorenzo Lamas

- Heather Graham

 - Sam J. Jones

Many of them went on to forge their own paths in cinema, television, or professional sports.

The case of Thomas Ian Griffith is particularly interesting. Before becoming famous as Terry Silver, he was a student of Jun Chong and earned a black belt under his system. This connection holds a unique symbolism, considering that the future Terry Silver originated from the very school used as the Cobra Kai dojo in the Karate Kid cinematic universe.

Jun Chong and Bruceploitation

Fans of Bruceploitation cinema also know Jun Chong by a different name: Bruce K.L. Lea.

During the 1970s, when the film industry was searching for successors to Bruce Lee, several athletes and actors appeared in productions that utilized similar names and imagery. Jun Chong made his cinematic debut in a Korean production that was later released in the United States under the title Bruce Lee Fights Back from the Grave, where he appeared under the pseudonym Bruce K.L. Lea.

While he is not among the most widely known "Bruce Lee imitators," his name is tied to that unique era of cinema that followed Bruce Lee's death and gave birth to the entire Bruceploitation phenomenon.

Action Brothers Productions

In 1985, Jun Chong founded Action Brothers Productions, a company through which he produced and starred in several independent martial arts films. Among them, the most notable are:

 - Ninja Turf (L.A. Street Fighters) – 1985

One of the most well-known American martial arts productions of the era. It featured, among others, Phillip Rhee, James Lew, and Thomas F. Wilson (who later played "Biff" in Back to the Future).

- Silent Assassins – 1988

A collaboration with Sam J. Jones and Linda Blair, featuring fight choreography that included Phillip and Simon Rhee.

- Street Soldiers – 1989

Perhaps his best-known production. Jun Chong starred, produced, and choreographed the battle scenes, while the legendary Hwang Jang Lee also appeared in the film.

While these movies did not achieve major commercial success, they gained a loyal cult following among fans of martial arts cinema during the VHS era.

The Master's Philosophy

Jun Chong always taught that martial arts are not just about technique or fighting. His instructional system was primarily based on a combination of Taekwondo and Hapkido, placing great emphasis on discipline, respect, and personal growth. He also founded the World United Martial Arts Organization (WUMAO) to promote cooperation among schools and instructors from different countries.

The Legacy of Jun Chong

Today, Grandmaster Jun Chong is considered one of the most significant figures of Korean Taekwondo in America. His influence spans many different fields:

- In the education of thousands of students,

- In the development of Taekwondo in the US,

- In martial arts cinema,

- In the Bruceploitation phenomenon,

- And, of course, in the history of The Karate Kid.

To most viewers, he will always be the man behind the authentic Cobra Kai Dojo. For the martial arts community, however, his significance goes far beyond a movie location. He is a master who left his mark on both the dojangs of California and the history of martial arts cinema.

Jun Chong during the 1970s.


References and Sources

  • Jun Chong Martial Arts Academy (Official Website)
  • Black Belt Magazine Archives
  • Wikipedia – Jun Chong
  • Kung Fu Fandom Research Archive
  • Published interviews with Grandmaster Jun Chong
  • Archival material concerning The Karate Kid production and the Cobra Kai Dojo location