An icon in Indianapolis martial arts received recognition during the 14th annual IndyCup Taekwondo Championships at Lawrence North High School.

Taekwondo grandmaster Chul Koo Yoon, founder of Korea Taekwondo Academy in Castleton, received a plaque marking his contributions to the sport around the world.

Yoon, who trained Indiana's only taekwondo Olympian and was the sport's organizational director at the 1987 Pan-Am Games in Indianapolis, received the award from KTA master instructor Garth Cooley, a world sparring medalist and former two-time national team member.

Yoon, a native of South Korea who is retired and now lives in the San Diego area, and Cooley, his former student, have promoted 3,000 taekwondo black belts since KTA opened 35 years ago this month.

The April 18-19 IndyCup tournament -- which included board breaking, forms and sparring -- drew more than 350 competitors from about a dozen states.

--- Scott Thien