Growing after-school program leads Academy to 'mansion' down street

The students are calling it a mansion, and, for the owners, it feels like it.

The Aiken Taekwondo Academy, formerly of 728 East Pine Log Road, opened in a new, much larger location just a few doors away at 790 East Pine Log Road in mid-October.

The academy will host a grand opening for the public to see its new facilities Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. The day will feature inflatables including a jousting area, an obstacle course, free popcorn and candy and tours of the new facility.

The owners, master instructor James Johnson and head instructor Donna Johnson, as well as junior leaders and trainee instructors, will be on hand to answer questions. Grand opening discounts will be offered for a limited time.

The major motivation behind upgrading the business was the after-school program that now offers 38 students an alternative to daycare. Every afternoon, the Aiken Taekwondo Academy picks up students between the ages of 5 and 13 from eight different schools around Aiken County. The students come together to participate in a variety of activities at the academy.

"We outgrew the building and wanted to offer more for the kids. We went from 1,800 square feet to 4,300 square feet," Donna Johnson said. "We only had a workout area and small bathroom. Now we have three bathrooms, a boys' and girls' dressing room, a student lounge, a homework room and a larger workout area."

"When I first saw it, I said, 'It looks like a mansion,'" student Jamael Wilson said.

The Johnsons relocated to Aiken from New York, where they operated three schools. After becoming bored with not working, the couple decided to open a school in Aiken nearly four years ago, and now their daughters are involved as instructors with the family business.

Students involved in the after-school program are picked up from school by bus and brought to the academy, where they enjoy a karate workout, homework time, a snack and game time before being picked up by parents at 5:30 p.m.

In addition to the after-school program, the Aiken Taekwondo Academy offers evening classes for children, teens and adults. Classes are offered for all skill levels, and there is even a Tiny Tiger's class for children between the ages of 3 and 5.

"We specialize in kids, but we would love to have more adults," Johnson said. "The after-school program offers a great alternative to daycare. It is more structured, and we teach courtesy, integrity, perseverance, respect and discipline."

The entire community is invited to Sunday's grand opening event. For more information call 642-2633 or visit www.aikenata.com.

Contact Rachel Johnson at rjohnson@aikenstandard.com.