Charleston Taekwondo

(843) 849-8018

Learn About Our Professional Martial Arts Staff

All martial arts instructors at Charleston Taekwondo in Mount Pleasant, SC are trained to ensure that our martial arts classes are safe, effective and fun.

Our instructors and instructor assistants are trained to focus on more than just teaching martial arts skills. Instructors also learn how to work with all students, tailoring their martial arts teaching methods to fit the individual child. Emphasis is put on encouragement and positive correction.

We are committed to teaching the physical skills of martial arts while applying attitude-shaping exercises aimed at bringing out the best character and physical potential in each student. Through weekly martial arts training, instructors advance their own martial art and educational knowledge to become even more effective martial arts teachers.

The Charleston Taekwondo instructors are required to maintain their personal level of martial arts knowledge and a high level of personal growth. They are expected to take classes on a regular basis and test at least once per year.

Our Mount Pleasant Martial Arts staff at Charleston Taekwondo looks forward to working with you.

Our Instructors:

 

Master Donovan Rider

  • Bachelor of Science: Business Administration- Marketing
  • 4th Dan Black Belt – Kukkiwon Certified – World Taekwondo Federation
  • USA Taekwondo Level 1 Certified Coach
  • CrossFit Level 1 Certified Coach
  • CrossFit Kids Certified Coach
  • USA-Weightlifting Level 1 Certified Coach
  • US Army – Retired (8 years)

William Donovan Rider is a South Carolina native born and raised in Orangeburg, SC. Rider began Taekwondo at the age of seven in 1992 and has been training and competing ever since. He earned his black belt at 10 years old and began competing on a much more serious level looking to win National and International titles.

Rider competed in his first Junior National Championships in 1997 and won Gold Medals in both poomse as well as sparring. Rider went on to win a total of seven Junior National Medals with four being Gold. He competed in his first ever International competition in 2000 at the Korea Open in Seoul, South Korea and earned a Bronze medal. As a Junior competitor, Rider won 14 State Championships and in 2001 was named “Student of the Year” by the South Carolina State Taekwondo Association.

William Donovan Rider was a member of the US Army World Class Athlete Program for 6 years and retired at the rank of Sergeant. During this time his mission was to train for, compete in, and win National and International competitions with an eventual goal of making the US Olympic Team. Throughout his career, Rider has been on 7 US National Teams as an athlete and once as a coach for the US Team at the 5th Military World Games held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 2010, Rider, was named “Outstanding Senior Male Athlete of the Year” by USA-Taekwondo.

Instructor Luke Manquen

  • 7– times State Champion
  • 2000 U.S. Cup – Silver Medalist
  • 2000 Korea Open – Silver Medalist
  • 2001 U.S. Cup – Gold Medalist
  • 2001 Fort Worth International – Silver Medalist
  • 2002 US Junior National Championships – Bronze Medalist
  • 2002 Fort Worth International – Silver Medalist
  • 2002 U.S. Open – Silver medalist
  • 2000 “Student of the Year” – South Carolina State Taekwondo Association
  • 2001 “Instructor of the Year” – South Carolina State Taekwondo Association
  • 3rd Dan Black Belt – Kukkiwon Certified – World Taekwondo Federation

Mr. Manquen has come to us with many years of Tae Kwon Do experience. He first started training in Michigan at the age of 10 years old. His family moved to Greenville, South Carolina in 1997 where he continued his Tae Kwon Do training. He received his Black belt at the age of 13 and continued to compete locally and nationally as his love for the sport grew.

Mr. Manquen has competed in many State and National Competitions. In 1997 he competed in his first Michigan State Championships where he won the Gold Medal in sparring and then went on to win 6 South Carolina State Championships. Mr. Manquen also earned a Bronze Medal at the 2002 US Junior National Championships. In addition to these accomplishments, he has placed Top 3 in seven other National competitions across the United States. At the age of 14, Mr. Manquen earned his first International Medal by finishing second place at The Korea Open in Seoul, South Korea – the birth place of Tae Kwon Do. Although competing was his main focus at this time, Mr. Manquen was awarded “Student of the Year” in 2000 and then “Instructor of the Year” in 2001, by the South Carolina State Tae Kwon Do Association.

Mr. Manquen has over 10 years of experience in teaching Taekwondo. Every student that has the opportunity to work with Mr. Manquen will feel his enthusiasm, as it is contagious! Every student that has the opportunity to train with him is just as lucky because his skills are extraordinary, and he always pushes himself and his partner to their limit! He is very fortunate and grateful that he can share his passion and love of Martial Arts with the students of Charleston Tae Kwon Do!