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Published: Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012 / Updated: Monday, Nov. 12, 2012 11:56 AM

Lake Wylie’s only Taekwondo academy opening second facility

Opened six month ago, center announces expansion

LAKE WYLIE -- 

Elite Taekwondo Academy isn’t half a year old but already it has more than 100 students and, soon, a new training facility.

The academy at Landing Station near Bi-Lo is opening a second center just down the sidewalk, in what was most recently a Curves gym near the Post Office. The new space will be for combat defense tactic classes, mainly for adults.

The move allows for more taekwondo programs and classes in the existing dojo and is close enough for parents who may drop off a child at the current space and head for a class at the new one.

“Not only is it self defense, it’s a great workout, great cardio,” said co-owner Josh Flamm.

Owners expect to open the new center in January. Popularity of the combat classes led to the move. Classes at the new location will be “a little bit more aggressive” and will be tailored to students.

“It’s a really good mix of martial arts,” Flamm said. “These defense tactics have to work.”

Elite Taekwondo is a startup of Flamm and Fort Mill residents Chris Baker and Eric Schanno. The new space will mean one more instructor, Baker said. The group also will continue to hold regular community service events, having already partnered with food drives and other efforts. They’ve collected several bags of items from students to be sent to the northeast, for distribution to storm victims.

The academy also is a drop-off for Toys For Tots. They’ve collected three boxes of toys and are donating MP3 players for older children.

“A lot of people forget that there’s also the 13-year-old kid,” Schanno said.

For more information, visit elitetkdacademy.net.