Every Friday
2:30 – 3:30 PM
Juniors · Ages 5–8 · 60 minutes
- Coordination, listening and confidence
- Kicking targets, footwork games and first poomsae
- No sparring at this age
태권도
Courtesy. Perseverance. Indomitable spirit.
Train where St. Elizabeth kicks.
Friday taekwondo in Santa Cruz for ages 5 to teens — taught by Master Kenroy Clarke and graded to the Kukkiwon standard through World Taekwondo Mandeville and World Taekwondo Jamaica. No experience needed.
5+Age you can start
FridaysTwo age groups
KukkiwonCertified ranks
WTJNational federation
Affiliated & recognised through World Taekwondo Jamaica
Friday schedule
Two groups. Fridays. Santa Cruz.
Split by age and taught by Master Clarke himself. Not sure which group fits? Message us and we'll place the student.
Every Friday
3:45 – 5:00 PM
Ages 9 & older · All ranks · 75 minutes
- Full syllabus: poomsae, step sparring, kicking combinations
- Self-defence releases and Korean terminology
- Eligible for grading and WTJ competition
Social Development Commission (SDC) Office, Centre Road, Santa Cruz.
Arrive ten minutes early. Wear a t-shirt and track pants until you have a dobok, and bring water. No class on public holidays.
Arrive ten minutes early. Wear a t-shirt and track pants until you have a dobok, and bring water. No class on public holidays.
World Taekwondo Mandevillefamily · est. 2017
About the academy
A dojang built on standards, not shortcuts.
Santa Cruz Taekwondo Academy is the St. Elizabeth programme of World Taekwondo Mandeville, run under World Taekwondo Jamaica. Students learn the same syllabus, grade to the same Kukkiwon standard and compete under the same national body as every other affiliated club on the island.
Every class covers four things: poomsae (the set patterns you are graded on), kicking and footwork drills, controlled sparring for the older group, and conditioning. Beginners spend their first months on stance, balance and the front-leg kicks — everything else is built on those.
Discipline 극기Structure and consistency in every session.
Respect 예의For instructors, training partners and self.
Confidence 자신감Built through skill, sparring and grading.
Fitness 체력Strength, flexibility and physical growth.
Your instructor
Master Kenroy Clarke
- President, World Taekwondo JamaicaThe national governing body for the sport.
- Director & Master Instructor, World Taekwondo MandevilleFounded 2017 — the home club of the Santa Cruz programme.
- Kukkiwon-certified black beltLeads Jamaica's Olympic-pathway and school programmes.
Master Clarke teaches the Santa Cruz classes himself. Every student trains on the same coaching system used in Mandeville and in the national development squads.
Your first visit
From the first message to the first kick.
Want to see a class before you commit? Anyone may try a class once Master Clarke confirms the date — just message first.
Message us
WhatsApp or call 876-784-1808 with the student's age. We'll suggest the right group and confirm a Friday.
Come as you are
T-shirt, track pants, bare feet and a water bottle. Arrive ten minutes early so we can say hello and sign you in.
Parents stay close
For new white belts, a parent or guardian stays for the first two to three months while the student settles in.
Register & get a dobok
Complete the online registration and waiver. Uniform sizing is arranged at registration.
The belt journey
White belt to black belt, one grading at a time.
Ranks follow the Kukkiwon kup system used across World Taekwondo Mandeville. Gradings are held every three months for students who have met the training-time, attendance and syllabus requirements.
White · 10th kup
Colour-belt grades are certified through World Taekwondo Mandeville. Black belt (dan and poom) grades are certified by the Kukkiwon in Seoul through World Taekwondo Jamaica, and are recognised at any World Taekwondo club in the world. Read the full grading syllabus.
Gallery
Snapshots from the mat.
Training, grading days and tournaments across the World Taekwondo Mandeville family. Santa Cruz photos join here as the programme grows.
Watch & learn
What is taekwondo?
01 · History
A great history
From post-war Korea to the Olympic Games — how the art became the world's most practised martial art.
Read the history02 · Poomsae
Dynamic and exciting
Foot-first, fast and continuous. Poomsae for precision, sparring for timing and courage.
Explore poomsae03 · Olympic sport
Fun — and Olympic
Children come for the kicks and stay for the friends, the belts and the confidence. The best go on to national trials.
Taekwondo at the Olympics
Affiliate
Affiliated with the St. Elizabeth Youth Innovation Centre.
The St. Elizabeth Youth Innovation Centre in Santa Cruz is part of the national Youth Innovation Centre network — a safe, creative space where young people in the parish access training, information and personal-development opportunities.
Our programme shares that purpose on the mat: discipline, confidence and a place to belong for St. Elizabeth's young people.
Visit the Youth Innovation CentreAround the taekwondo world
The latest from the sport.
Headlines from World Taekwondo, PATU, the IOC, the Jamaica Olympic Association and the sport’s specialist press, updated through the day.
FAQ
Questions parents and beginners ask.
Who runs the programme?
Master Kenroy Clarke, President of World Taekwondo Jamaica and Director of World Taekwondo Mandeville. Santa Cruz Taekwondo Academy is an official programme of World Taekwondo Mandeville, so students grade on the same Kukkiwon syllabus and hold ranks recognised by any World Taekwondo club worldwide.
Can we try a class before registering?
Yes. Anyone may try a class once Master Clarke confirms the date. Message us on WhatsApp or call 876-784-1808 first so we know to expect you.
What does it cost?
Fee details are shared directly with families. Message us on WhatsApp or call 876-784-1808 and we'll send the current schedule the same day.
Do I need to be fit or flexible to start?
No. Flexibility is a result of training, not a requirement for it. Every class warms up and stretches together, and beginners kick at whatever height they can reach today.
What should my child wear to the first class?
A t-shirt, track pants or shorts, and bare feet. Bring water. The dobok (uniform) is ordered at registration.
Do parents need to stay?
For beginner white belts, yes — a parent or guardian should stay for the first two to three months while the student settles in. Parents are always welcome to watch.
Is sparring compulsory?
No. The juniors group does not spar at all. In the ages 9+ group it is introduced gradually, light contact, with head guard, chest protector, gloves, shin and forearm guards, always supervised. Students who never want to compete can train the full syllabus without it.
How do belt promotions work?
Gradings are held every three months. A student is entered when Master Clarke judges them ready on syllabus, attendance and attitude. Colour-belt grades are certified through World Taekwondo Mandeville; black belt grades are certified by the Kukkiwon in Seoul through World Taekwondo Jamaica.
Do you take adults?
The Friday groups are for ages 5 to teens. Adults train by private arrangement with Master Clarke — message us and we'll set it up.
Can my child compete?
Yes. Students from green belt up are eligible for World Taekwondo Jamaica tournaments, and selected athletes join the Mandeville competition squad ahead of national trials.
How do I pay, and do I get a receipt?
Fees are paid at class or by transfer. Every payment is logged in the World Taekwondo Mandeville system and a receipt is sent to the WhatsApp number on your registration form.
Still not sure? Message us on WhatsApp — we answer the same day.
Contact
Come and watch a class.
Message us first and we'll tell you exactly what to bring. Parents are welcome to sit in.
- Social Development Commission OfficeCentre Road, Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth · Directions
- Phone & WhatsApp876-784-1808
- Fridays onlyJuniors 5–8 · 2:30–3:30 PM
Ages 9+ · 3:45–5:00 PM
No class on public holidays. Grading dates are announced on WhatsApp a month ahead.
SDC Office, Centre Road, Santa Cruz
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Ready for the first Friday?
Register online in about five minutes — the waiver is included, and we'll confirm your start date on WhatsApp.