From Vienna to the world: The success story of Taekwondo master Andreas Held

From Vienna to the world: The success story of Taekwondo master Andreas Held

Taekwondo grandmaster Andreas Held founded a company in Vienna in 2003 that was entirely dedicated to martial arts. Much has changed since those humble beginnings: Over two decades, his company grew and adapted to demands while maintaining the focus on traditional Taekwondo. Held, who was born in Bavaria in 1974, began practicing Taekwondo at the age of 18 and has since achieved the sixth highest level of black belt. He also studied sports science and dealt with the topic of “Traditional Taekwondo” in his dissertation.

In recent years, Held's company has undergone a change: it has become a family project in which some of his daughters are also actively involved. Together they bring the principles of Taekwondo to their protégés not only within Vienna, but also beyond the city limits. In his training courses, not only techniques and self-defense are taught, but Held also combines the practice with significant personal growth and health promotion.

The core of the training

“Taekwondo allows you to continue to grow,” explains Held. “It’s not just about defending yourself, but also about health, fitness and personal development.” This comprehensive goal drives him to make Taekwondo and its values ​​accessible to as wide an audience as possible. He sees this as a contribution to solving conflicts and problems in society.

The vision is clear: Held wants to use the positive qualities of Taekwondo to promote discipline, respect and self-confidence in his students. The course offering is aimed specifically at families and young people who are challenged not only physically but also mentally by sport. The company therefore takes a holistic approach.

International expansion

Young-Ung Taekwondo GmbH, as the company is called, has an impressive list of developments over the last 20 years. Today the organization operates 28 locations and offers lessons to more than 3,500 students with around 100 trainers. This not only makes Taekwondo a sport, but also fosters a strong sense of community. This has proven to be particularly successful for the organization.

The latest steps in international expansion are particularly exciting: the first location was opened in Dubai in 2024, specifically aimed at Taekwondo training in an exclusive ambience. There are also plans for a resort in Kenya that will focus on the sport. In addition, the first franchise partner has been established in Baden near Vienna, which shows how much the Taekwondo trend is increasing.

Andreas Held and his family are setting new standards in the martial arts scene with their company and their passion for Taekwondo, while never losing sight of the roots and ethical principles of traditional Taekwondo. The commitment to the personal development of their students and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle could be seen as a cornerstone of Held's future work. For further information on the development of the company and the background of Taekwondo, we recommend taking a look at www.meinkreis.at.