Ultimate Taekwondo Dojo in Downtown Burbank Turns 30

Ultimate TaeKwonDo Academy has been part of downtown Burbank since 1996, and its studio at 335 N San Fernando Blvd, next to Ross, is easy to miss among the shops and cafes of the pedestrian-friendly main street. This year the school is marking its 30th anniversary with introductory offers, including a $30 package of three classes that comes with a T-shirt and a small trophy for new students.

The academy is led by Grand Master Jin H. Lee, an 8th dan black belt with 39 years of experience and the title of Korean National Champion. Master Hector Arellano, a 6th degree black belt, teaches alongside him, and the school states that all classes are taught by a certified master instructor rather than by junior assistants.

The school's motto, printed across its homepage, is discipline, confidence and community since 1996, and the site sums up its approach as free trial available, beginner friendly, family atmosphere and competition ready. That combination is rarer than it sounds: plenty of studios lean either toward casual after-school fun or toward hard-edged tournament training, and Ultimate pitches itself as a place where both kinds of student can share a mat.

According to the 2026 class schedule, effective January 1, 2026, the studio is open from 3:30 to 8:00 pm Monday through Thursday, from 4:00 to 7:15 pm on Fridays, and from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm on Saturdays. Private lessons are available but must be arranged in advance.

PeeWees, for ages three to six of all belts, meet Monday to Thursday from 3:45 to 4:15 pm, a short session suited to small attention spans. Beginners from seven to twelve, white through green belts, train at several times across the week. Teens and adults of all levels share an hour from 7:15 to 8:15 pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and on Thursday that slot becomes advanced-belt sparring.

Friday is built around sparring by age group, plus a Demo Team session from 6:30 to 7:15 pm. Demonstration teams typically perform choreographed forms, jumping kicks and board breaks, and the training rewards students who love an audience while pushing flexibility and timing in ways that ordinary classes rarely do.

Saturday morning opens with Bo-Dan Preparation, the class for black-belt candidates, followed by beginner sessions, a Blue to Black class for higher belts and an all-children sparring session. Families who cannot make weekday afternoons often find that Saturday alone keeps a child moving through the ranks.

Ultimate is clear about its introductory offers, and both are for new students only. The $30 option covers three classes, which must be taken within two weeks, and includes a T-shirt and a trophy. The $300 option covers nine weeks at two classes per consecutive week, and includes a uniform, a white belt and a trophy. A free trial class is also available for anyone who wants to look before committing.

The nine-week option is the better deal for families who already know their child wants to train, because the uniform and belt are part of the package. The three-class offer suits adults or teens who want to test the waters before buying gear.

The 2026 academy calendar lists three Children Promotion Tests, on March 6, September 11 and December 11, each followed a couple of weeks later by a Forms Competition and Awards Ceremony on March 20, September 18 and December 18. The rhythm gives kids a clear target every season and a chance to perform their poomsae in front of family.

The school's rules are practical. Students should arrive with uniform, belt, water bottle and any required sparring gear so class can begin on time. There are no classes from November 26 to 28 over Thanksgiving, which matches the long weekend most local schools take.

Age decides the first placement. Children three to six begin in PeeWees, a thirty-minute class that suits small attention spans and builds the habit of listening to an instructor. Kids from seven to twelve start in the Beginners group and move to the Blue to Black class as their belts change color, while teens and adults go straight to the 7:15 pm hour, which is open to all levels.

Adults coming back after years away should mention their old rank when they book. Grand Master Lee and Master Arellano can then suggest whether to start with the all-levels class or join the Thursday advanced sparring once conditioning returns.

Pick the three-class offer if you are unsure, and spread the sessions across different days within the two-week window. A Monday class and a Saturday morning visit show two very different moods of the school, and a third class lets you see whether the routine fits your week before you commit to nine weeks.

Few dojangs in Los Angeles County sit in a downtown as walkable as this one. San Fernando Boulevard is lined with restaurants, coffee shops and boutiques, so parents waiting out a forty-five minute class can grab dinner to go or browse the shops without moving the car.

Burbank Town Center and the AMC Burbank 16 are a few minutes away on foot for a post-class movie, and McCambridge Park offers open lawns and a public pool for families who want more time outside. The Downtown Burbank Metrolink station puts the studio within reach of riders from across the Valley.

Address: Ultimate TaeKwonDo Academy, 335 N San Fernando Blvd, Burbank, CA 91502, next to Ross. Phone: (818) 567-1234. Email: UltimateBurbank@gmail.com. Studio hours: Monday to Thursday 3:30 to 8:00 pm, Friday 4:00 to 7:15 pm, Saturday 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Intro offers: $30 for three classes or $300 for nine weeks, new students only.

Good fit for families who want a long-established neighborhood school with a master instructor in every class and posted prices. Ask the Karpo APP to find a dinner spot on San Fernando Boulevard or to compare other taekwondo schools in Burbank and Glendale.