White Tiger Taekwondo & Martial Arts

I wanted to comment on a previous review but I couldn't fit it within 500 characters. Pros: Nothing Cons: No more Korean masters more

My family and I have been members of White Tiger for several years now. What attracted us to this school was the uniqueness of it. There are many taekwondo schools around but very few which offered us this type of experience. I must say that I am neither close to either Master Rondy, Master Chung or the Korean masters so my views are solely my own. Over the last couple of years the changes that have taken place in the facility have been extremely hard to face. We have continued to stay loyal to the school with the belief that things would turn around. We stuck through the changes that took place once Master Rondy retired and then returned. It was sad to see how the personal matters of the former owners impacted the school. It is sad to see how the school has a feeling of division and people are choosing sides. For my family and I, the integrity of what a martial arts experience should be about has been lost to gossip and back biting. My family and I loved the training by the Korean Masters and although I did not feel the language was an issue for us as stated by someone's earlier review, their love for their craft was obvious. It was hard to to hear of their departure. I am not foolish enough to believe that anything we are being told is the absolute truth. I believe there is Master Rondy''s version and there is the the Korean Master's version and some where in between lies the truth. It saddens me to say that once our contract expires my family and I will choose not to renew. Not because we don't believe the school will continue to be a success but simply because the foundation that this school was built on no longer exists. We will take with us the wonderful friendships we have made with students and instructors. Pros: facility Cons: the current changes more

I have been training @ White Tiger for the last 3 years and regardless of what has happened with instructors, etc, I have been happy with the training I receive and would recommend this school to others. The class times are convenient, the instructors knowledgeable and friendly, and the facility second-to-none. Pros: Excellent Facility and Instruction more

It makes me sick to my stomach reading reviews about inferior instucters etc. How bout you get off your high horses and actually watch the new instructers. First off they speak english and I can understand them. Second, I have learned more in the past month then I did the month prior with the Korean masters. Master Rondy brought the drama into the Do jahng to inform her students. I would rather have someone confront me than hide all of the drama and have me wondering what is going on, As far as her treating masters....DO YOU KNOW THAT Master Rondy gave these masters a place to live, food, and health insurance when the kukkiwon only wants them to have the BARE MINIMUM. wow people who post here need to educate themselves because they are looking really dumb. AS FAR as what I am paying for. I am paying for a membership to the nicest, biggest, and friendlist gym in the country. Pros: Excellent atmosphere, Great staff Cons: not open sundays more

All of this is very sad. I have no way of knowing whose side to believe but in the end, it is all irrelevant. Drama like this should never make its way to the customer and I am disappointed that my family and I have had to experience it. Pros: My son is happy there Cons: Like watching a hispanic soap opera more

The Korean masters at White Tiger are not allowed to have a voice. The students of White Tiger need to know that the Korean masters who walked out did not disrespect their students. The problem with White Tiger are the owners: Master Chang and Master Rondy. The Korean masters are highly skilled and provide quality martial arts instruction. They are used by Master Chang and Rondy so their pockets can be filled. Master Rondy made the Korean masters work so long, even demonstrating at ten o'clock at night! At times, they are made to work on Sundays. They were also made to do personal things for Master Chang and Rondy such as installing their hottub, watering their plants, cutting their lawn, folding towels, and even cleaning their house. Not only are the Korean masters overworked but they are underpaid. Master Chang is obviously not underpaid as he drives a Bently. The Korean masters are required to demonstrate so much. While they are professionals, they are human, and after being overworked, at times they can get hurt. After being injured, Master Chang and Rondy never paid for any medical bills. They did not provide health insurance for their employees but did for themselves. Probably the worst thing they have done is to make one Korean master and his family illegal. Some Saturdays were very difficult for the Korean masters. After teaching class since 8:00 in the morning, putting on multiple birthday parties, and black belt seminars, Master Chang would invite guests and make the Korean masters party at night. Those are not real parties for the Korean masters. The masters are made to feel like waiters and dancers...waiting on the guests, dancing for the guests, and demonstrating for them as well. The Korean masters never receive a break. While Master Chang and Master Rondy could nap during the day, the Korean masters could not and were forced to celebrate at the parties Master Chang threw for himself, I guess because he is lonely due to his ex-wife's unfriendliness. Pros: Nothing Cons: Rating Should Be ""No"" Star more

My husband, two sons and I started at White Tiger over 4 years ago. At that time Master Rondy and Master Chang were co-owners. Things change! Master Chang decided he wanted to sell his half and leave. We have been taught by amazing Masters, Korean Tigers, over the years. They started as our Masters, but became our friends and valued members of our family. While I was heartbroken at their decision to leave recently and cannot fully understand the reasons behind their choice because I?m not Korean, it was based on their culture, heritage and loyalties. I can respect those differences and wish them well on their new path. I have been in contact directly with Master Seo. He shared with me how hard a decision it was, that it was multi-faceted and that they were not fired ? which some people keep trying to spread rumors falsely accusing Master Rondy. Master Rondy is an amazing businesswoman. She has made needed and wonderful changes to the dojahng in the last year. When the crisis hit, she immediately got to work to find new Masters for us, but she has sought our input, thoughts/opinions/feelings through the entire process. She has made sure to display her appreciation for members of the leadership team and students alike who have pulled together to help out in the interim. We are a family at White Tiger and we will get through this together in spite of the naysayers who post all the negativity and back biting comments. I?m sure I?m not the only one who noticed that they didn?t bother to post with their real names either. But that?s ok, we all know who you are. You don?t bother to act or to speak any different at the dojahng, so you?re not fooling anyone. My advice, if you?re that unhappy?leave. We focus on the Black Belt tenets at White Tiger: Respect and Courtesy, Integrity and Humility, Perseverance, Self-Control, and INDOMITABLE SPIRIT. We took the Student Oath and swore by the Creed: Taekwondo for Myself. Taekwondo for White Tiger. Taekwondo for my Country. Your posts are an obvious illustration that you neither took these ideals to heart, nor do you live by them if you hide behind rude, libelling anonymous posts. Pros: Staff, students and owner Cons: recent changes, but WT family pulls together to get through! more

When a true conscientious objector refuses to take up arms in defense of his country, it is not that he lacks integrity or is disloyal, disrespectful, or irresponsible to his country. He is simply showing a greater loyalty, respect, and responsibility to what he considers to be more important, his religion or culture. He may be painfully torn between conflicting values and systems he prizes. Making such a choice is not dishonorable, though one set of people or another may be disappointed. Those that understand him appreciate his dilemma and support him?even if disagreeing with his decision. White Tiger students that know Master Seo, Master Shim, and Master Yoo, know they are people of high integrity. The Masters are loyal, respectful, and responsible and have demonstrated those qualities numerous times in every single class they?ve instructed. They are our role models not only as martial artists but as people. Painting them as dishonorable insults them and the judgment of their students who hold them in high regard. Such claims are wholly inappropriate and inaccurate. More than anything they are demeaning of the person making those accusations and show their own pettiness or lack of awareness. Pros: Best facilities, strong bonds among students Cons: Temporarily dealing with a shortage of Korean Masters more

Martial Arts, regardless of what form, is about someday attaining a disciplined lifestyle. It consists of values such as INTEGRITY, LOYALTY, RESPECT, and RESPONSIBILITY just to name a few. Unfortunately, the three masters who left White Tiger most recently by choice over- looked these valuable traits they preached but didn't practice, thus bringing dishonor unto themselves and were a disappointment to many. Despite their absence, the White Tiger Students stand proud and strong ready to continue moving forward in developing their skills. The higher ranking students have truly proven themselves by stepping up and helping other students. Now that's ""TEAMWORK"" and the most genuine display of ""INTEGRITY!"" Pros: Students needs always attended to more

How is it possible that this is the only place on City Search that has either 1-star reviews or 5-star reviews. As a couple of other reviewers have noted, the 5-star reviews don't seem like reviews, but rather try to refute the 1-star reviews. Could it be that a disreputable business owner would try to scam people by making ""fake"" reviews? I could repeat what others have said (the 1-stars), but it would just be redundant so I won't do that. Do read the reviews though. One point I find especially funny is how someone slammed Rondy for her ""charity"" work, and it was quickly responded to by (uh, not Rondy -- yeah, right) in an ""answer review"". Pros: Can ""buy"" a belt here Cons: Funny, the whole place is a ""con"" more

I have been a student at White tiger for just over 7 years. The way this place makes me feel everytime i walk in this place is "" I'm home"". Now i know a lot has has happened this past couple of weeks and i know it destressing for a lot of people, but all these negative reviews are from former employes and students who left for reasons of there own and dont like us. They aren't even attending the school that they are writing about! Master Rondy is an amazing person and excellent business women, she is doing the best she can with what she has right now and in two weeks she has already found a master to fill in the positions everyone wants filled. Pros: family enviorment more

I have been a student of White Tiger since they first month they opened in Cary many years ago. I am so dissapointed in the things that people are writing that have absolutely no idea what they are talking about. First and foremost this school is the best facility you will ever find for you and your family. The standards that Master Rondy run this establishment by are top notch and honest, for people to claim differently obviously do not know her as a person or as a giving and productive Cary citizen. Instead of criticizing her maybe you should take the time and get to know her you will be pleasantly surprised at what an amazing woman she is and what a great role model she is for all children boy or girl. All businesses go through growing pains and if you say differently you must live under a rock, just take a look around America right now and you can see that this is the case. Pros: A great place for the entire family to bond more

Despite recent reviews, White Tiger remains a stellar establishment with quality teachers. As noted, there are changes in staff underway and some classes have temporary instructors. However, there are two passionate, committed Head Instructors working 12 hours a day to cover Taekwondo and Hapkido classes, with another visiting Master from Kukkiwon in Korea. The school offers a wide range of classes from competition-level training to ""Tiger Tots"" for 3 and 4 year olds. This is one of the largest Taekwondo dojangs in the world. Come check it out for yourself! Pros: supportive positive environment more

Recently at White Tiger Martial Arts in Cary the Korean Masters left, leaving students without instructors. However, instead of folding up and closing its doors the White Tiger Student Community banded together and kept all classes running and doors open. We have several Kukkiwon Certified Fourth Degree Masters in our ranks, both in Taekwondo and Hapkido. During this two week time period, Master Rondy has brought in two highly qualified Taekwondo, Hapkido and Weapons Masters to review their capabilities and gain feedback from the student community as to whether they should be brought on board as permanent Martial Arts Instructors. I believe during this time of upheaval that between the White Tiger Students and Management we have kept a very positive attitude in the face of adversity and will continue to be a positive force within our community as a whole for a longtime into the future. more

Wow. Really shady practices. Can't say I am truly surprised though. I trained at White Tiger years ago before they turned into a megamart. I have been around martial arts must of my life and although I had enormous respect for Master Do Hyun Chang, Rondy always tipped my shady-meter. Suspicious that she has somehow passed a native born career martial artist in rank. I sensed the commercialization and lack of martial way and left never to return. Master Chang seems to have opened a school here in North Raleigh. I know that's no help to you Cary folks but I plan on pulling my daughter out of Lee Brothers and enrolling her there asap. more

Master rondy told me that qualified master are going to be hired to take the place of those who left. If this is not done by the beginning of the new testing period I think the parents should get together and demand a refund or payments should be suspended until qualified masters are found. I did not pay 120.00 a month plus 65.00 testing fees for my child to be taught by inferior instructors. The economy is bad right now and most of us have make sure that we get what we paid for. Cons: High price, Low quaility service more

I wanted to complain about the fiasco that is White Tiger these days, but after reading the latest post it looks like someone already did. As that person said, all the good masters are gone now and all that is left is a bunch of teenagers with questionable skills to teach students. If it weren't so pathetic, it would be funny. But it's not funny because there are a lot of rumors floating around that contradict Rondy's version of events. Given the other posts on City Search and Google, it seems as though she has established herself as liar in the minds of many people. I have spoken with other parents of students myself and one thing seems clear: Rondy is the villain in all this. The only good reason to stay is that there are other good people who go there and the kids there have strong friendships. If only Rondy were not there, and the place was run by someone that actually cares about TKD and the students, it could be a great place again. One final thought: It really disturbs me that Rondy profits for her so called ""charity"" work. Most reputable businesses perform charity work at, or below, cost. But that just seems not to be the case here. It seems like charities get pennies while Rondy gets profits. I would like her to open here books with respect to her charity work. (Which really isn't her work, but the work of others while she takes credit and gives no credit to others.) I find this despicable. The best thing that could possibly happen is that Rondy sells the business to some who cares. If you are a current student, maybe you should hold out before leaving to see if things get better. If you are a new student, I would attend another school. There are some good schools in the area that are run by real Korean Tigers. Pros: Kid's friends Cons: Everything else, especially the owner more

I spoke with the owner regarding the recent fact that the three remaining Korean Master's walked out of WT, leaving no masters to teach. In my recent memory, I cannot remember being more disgusted from a conversation. I simply wanted to understand what the current situation is and what is being done to make the place worth the time to even drop off my kids. I am not going to take my time to drive my kids there so that they can be ""taught"" by other 13, 14 and 15 year olds-which has been happening since the masters left. Instead of addressing the issue at hand -- how/when does she expect her business to be reasonably operational again -- the conversation went nowhere. She may not like it, but it is her business that is collecting money from customers, and it is HER responsibility to ensure that services are rendered AS ADVERTISED. I was absolutely floored that she abdicated herself of any responsibility, and had absolutely no empathy for her customers. I'm not usually one to leave reviews, but after this conversation (and after reading many of the bogus reviews, which suspiciously do not look like actual customer reviews) I decided this is a good way to get the word out. I am virtually certain that this post will garner a quick response from some dubious ID. Thanks for reading. Pros: Now? None! Cons: You get ""taught"" by teens more

I currently practice Hapkido at White Tiger. The master that I study under was a captain of the Korean Tigers and he is absolutely top notch. The level of his knowledge never ceases to amaze me. (To put that in context, I have studied several martial arts formally.) I struggle with asthma, and have found them not only to be completely understanding and accommodating of that, but they also work very hard on instructional strategies for dealing with hyperactive children. In short, the instructors work hard to meet each student where he/she is currently, and then help move you along. If it is your first time practicing, they meet you where you are. If you are a more advanced student, they may challenge you more. There is no one size fits all approach. To me it always feels like a very personal experience when I go to class, I feel like the instructors care about me personally, and I feel a strong sense of camaraderie with my classmates. If a competition-oriented TKD program isn't what you want, check out Hapkido, Aikido, Tai Chi, Capoeira, or other styles taught there. I do feel that classes are too short. To those who talk about how many Black Belts that go through their ranks, this is a simple function of their sheer population size. They have several instructional areas, run multiple classes at once, and can accommodate a large number of students. Don't hold their size against them. As I said, despite the size of the school, I still feel like it's a very personal experience with a lot of camaraderie. They have a great weights and work out area, either to supplement your training, or help you get in shape a bit while your kids are in class. To those who complain about the contracts, it's simple. Don't sign a 3 year contract if you aren't sure. You can go month to month and cancel at any time. They give you a lot of options. They used to do a trial program with a free uniform and a month of free classes. They may still - I just don't know. You just can't go wrong with that. Stop in and give them a try. Pros: Instructors; very personal experience; camaraderie Cons: Classes are too short more

T Cons: Taekwondo more