History of Mid-California Tae Kwon Do Centers
And The Christian Taekwondo Fellowship

In 1992 Dr. Dennis McCain, a student of Choong Sil Taekwondo in Nashville, Tennessee, moved to Ducor, California to pastor the First Baptist Church of Ducor.  He began teaching Taekwondo as an outreach ministry. Using the tenets of Taekwondo as a starting point, he applied biblical principles to the teaching of Taekwondo.  52 new students came to class on the first day.

The Tae Kwon Do school made the change from a church - centered located ministry to a college and public operation.  Then school then moved to the Porterville Community Center. The stability and integrity of Mid-California Tae Kwon Do has been the commitment of its instructors and students.

In 1994 Dr. McCain accepted a church-planting assignment with Western Baptist Home Mission in Truckee, California.  While in Truckee, another MCTKD Taekwondo school was opened under the direction of Dr. McCain. (30 of students) participated.

In 1995, Mr. David Hann took over the Porterville school.   In 1995 Mid-California Taekwondo had its first black belt camp in Truckee. 

Faith Baptist Church in Truckee reached an indigenous status, and Dr. and Mrs. McCain moved to Modesto, California to pastor Northside Baptist Church. Their first church service was in February of 1997. Also in 1997 MCTKD of Modesto began in the garage, at their residence.

In September of 1997 Ms. Schwartz began a new MCTKD school in Ducor Elementary School. This site also served as a Saturday morning workout area for black belt classes with Dr. McCain.

In 1999 Ms. Schwartz began another branch MCTKD school in Strathmore, California.  The gymnasium of Strathmore First Baptist church served as the workout area and two of the first students were the Pastor and the Principal of the Christian school which also met there. 

Mr. Keller moved to Visalia and became the principal of an elementary school in Woodlake, California. He began teaching Taekwondo as an extracurricular program.

Mid-California Taekwondo in Modesto moved to Northside Baptist Church.  

Pastor David Powell of Sunnyside Baptist Church in Fresno contacted Dr. McCain to do a Taekwondo outreach at his church. Mrs. Schwartz and Mr. Kotlarek accompanied him. The class met once a week at no cost to the students for tuition. The high number from this effort approached 100, and challenged the skills of the three instructors.  Interest was very high, and it was decided to continue the program for another pre-determined stretch of time. The first testing was held and the students officially became CTF members.

The challenging 2001 Black Belt Camp was taught by Dr. McCain for the first three days, working on advanced technique in patterns and sparring.  Master Hardin came to this camp for the last two days, gave us a workout and conducted the black belt testing. At this test Dr. McCain earned his 5th degree black belt and Mrs. Jennifer Robertson earned her black recommended.  Mrs. Robertson was an assistant instructor with Ms. Schwartz.   

A considerable number of students in Porterville have come from direct or indirect association with Mrs. Robertson, and extremely energetic home school mom.

The Fresno group made the change to MCTKD autonomy, with Mrs. Schwartz taking ownership of that school.  The school still meets in Sunnyside Baptist Church.   Ms. Schwartz also became the owner of MCTKD of Porterville.

Ms. Schwartz began another MCTKD school in Visalia, California.  She traveled between Modesto, Fresno and Visalia to conduct classes. 

August 3, 2003, Mr. Tim Kotlarek (3rd Degree Black Belt) opened his new school, in South Modesto, on Carpenter Road.  

In August 2003, Ms. Marian Schwartz moved to Modesto to work full time with Dr. McCain, and Mrs. Jennifer Robertson took the leadership of the Porterville school, assisted by Mr. Chris Stewart, 3rd Degree Black Belt.

In August 2003 Mid-California Tae Kwon Do moved into its new location in Modesto (Picture). The 3200 square foot school has been a place of blessing.  The students now enjoy a new facility and modern workout area.  The second anniversary of our new location was celebrated on August 1, 2005.  

In March 2006 the Christian Taekwondo Fellowship was formed by Dr. McCain.  With Master Hardin's knowledge and approval, the new martial arts association has begun a new era for the Mid-California Taekwondo schools of California.   There is great hope that other Christian Taekwondo school owners will join the organization to promote biblical principles of life, and the power of meekness in the life of true warriors. 

MCTKD is now in its 16th year and we looking forward to many more years of martial arts training.

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