About
Salt Lake City, Utah · Established 2007
About Wasatch Martial Arts Academy — Certified Soo Bahk Do in Salt Lake City
Wasatch Martial Arts Academy is the only school in Utah certified by the U.S. Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation and the World Moo Duk Kwan. We have taught Soo Bahk Do in Salt Lake City since the fall of 2007, and every rank earned here is registered internationally through the original Moo Duk Kwan — the organization founded by Hwang Kee in 1945.
- Founded
- Fall 2007
- Location
- 2375 E 3300 SSalt Lake City, UT 84109
- Phone
- (801) 819-9542
- Head Instructor
- Brian Corrales, Sa Bom6th Dan · Moo Duk Kwan Heritage Liaison
- Certification
- U.S. Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan FederationWorld Moo Duk Kwan
- Ages
- 4 through adultPlus family classes that train together
- Class Times
- Tuesday & Thursday5:00–7:00 PM · See the full schedule
- brian@dojang.org
Who teaches here
Classes are led by Brian Corrales, Sa Bom, a certified 6th Dan (Yuk Dan #36364) with direct instructional lineage to Moo Duk Kwan founder Hwang Kee.
- 6th Dan — certified Yuk Dan, Moo Duk Kwan #36364
- Teaching since 2007 in Salt Lake City
- Moo Duk Kwan Heritage Liaison — appointed 2021 by H.C. Hwang, Kwan Jang Nim
- USA Technical Advisory Committee — Ki Sul Bu member
- Ko Dan Ja Shim Sa — completed the Moo Duk Kwan masters-level examination in Spain, 2026
Corrales Sa Bom teaches every class personally — Tiger Tots through adults. You are not handed off to a rotating staff.
Why certification matters: instructor rank in the Moo Duk Kwan is verified and published by the federation, not self-declared. You can confirm ours on the federation’s own roster — U.S. Federation officials, Region 8 leadership, and the World Moo Duk Kwan directory.
What we teach
Soo Bahk Do is the codified Korean martial art of the Moo Duk Kwan. The name translates as “cultivating the whole self” — a system of striking, kicking, forms, and self-defense built on a philosophical framework, not a sport with a scoreboard.
The Moo Duk Kwan was founded by Hwang Kee on November 9, 1945, in Seoul, South Korea. The art it taught was known as Tang Soo Do for much of its early history; on June 30, 1960, the organization formally adopted the name Soo Bahk Do for its codified system.
Tang Soo Do, Soo Bahk Do, and Moo Duk Kwan are not three separate arts. Moo Duk Kwan is the school. Soo Bahk Do is what it teaches today.
Where we train
Our dojang is located at 2375 E 3300 S in Salt Lake City, in space we rent from Christ United Methodist Church. We are independently owned and operated and are not affiliated with the church. Students of all backgrounds and beliefs are welcome.
We serve families across Salt Lake City, Millcreek, Holladay, Sugar House, and Cottonwood Heights.
Who trains here
We teach four-year-olds in Tiger Tots, elementary-age students in the Kids program, teens, adults of every starting fitness level, and families who train side by side in the same class. Adults who have never done a martial art are the most common new student we see.
Training outside Salt Lake City
Corrales Sa Bom also teaches globally through Digital Dojang at dojang.org, an online platform for Soo Bahk Do instruction.
Online students are not limited to informal study. Rank testing is available by video submission, reviewed and certified against the same Moo Duk Kwan standards used in the dojang.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a certified Soo Bahk Do school in Utah?
Yes. Wasatch Martial Arts Academy in Salt Lake City is the only school in Utah certified by the U.S. Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation and the World Moo Duk Kwan.
Who teaches Soo Bahk Do in Salt Lake City?
Brian Corrales, Sa Bom, a certified 6th Dan and Moo Duk Kwan Heritage Liaison, has taught Soo Bahk Do in Salt Lake City since 2007.
What is the difference between Soo Bahk Do and Tang Soo Do?
They are not competing arts. Tang Soo Do was the name used by the Moo Duk Kwan for much of its early history. Soo Bahk Do is the name of the codified system the Moo Duk Kwan adopted on June 30, 1960, and teaches today.
Many schools still use the name Tang Soo Do, but only Moo Duk Kwan–certified schools can issue Soo Bahk Do rank.
How old do you have to be to start?
Four. Tiger Tots begins at age four, and there is no upper limit — we have adult students who began in their fifties.
Do I need experience to start?
No. Most adults who join us have never trained in a martial art before.
Schedule a free intro class
Your first class is on us. Pick a time, meet Corrales Sa Bom, and step on the mat — no obligation and no experience needed.
Schedule a Free Intro Class Questions? Call (801) 819-9542 or send us a message.