Meet Our Staff

Founder of Buffalo NY WTKD Grandmaster Chong

Master Christopher McDowell

4th Degree Black Belt
Over 30 years of experience

Master Chris McDowell

Co-Owner & Master Instructor

Master Christopher McDowell started his Tae Kwon Do journey when he was 9 years old in Buffalo, NY underneath the founder of World Class Tae Kwon Do, Grandmaster Sun Chong. Christopher was a shy, gentle kid who unfortunately would get bullied on a regular basis. To make matters worse, he was also diagnosed as a Type 1 Diabetic (Juvenile Diabetes – T1D) the same year. Tae Kwon Do became his outlet for developing his confidence to face the students at school, but also to face the challenges of his medical situation.

After training for 4 years, he tested for his 1st Degree Black Belt at 13 years old, and also started teaching and assisting other students below him as well. The teaching and training did not stop throughout his Middle School and High School years. He continued training, receiving 2nd Degree Black Belt his Sophomore year in High School, and then becoming a full time instructor after graduation. In college, he tested for his 3rd Degree Black Belt, and soon became a Director/Manager Instructor at one of Grand Master Chong’s Tae Kwon Do schools in Orchard Park, NY.

In 2008, Master McDowell left Buffalo to help his colleague and long time Tae Kwon Do mentor, Master John Pasquantonio, open his school in West Chester, PA. Here he married his current wife, Victoria McDowell, who was also a Tae Kwon Do instructor and student underneath Grand Master Chong. In 2012, both Victoria and Christopher became Master Instructors when they tested for 4th Degree Black Belt.

In 2021, after the long and frustrating COVID-19 Pandemic, both Master McDowell’s decided to follow their dream and open their own Tae Kwon Do school. Victoria was originally from the Syracuse, NY area, and with the area being perfect for their family, they opened up Master McDowell’s World Class Tae Kwon Do combining the current school founded by Grand Master Chong (Sun Chong’s Tae Kwon Do) and relocating it to Manlius, NY.

It is with this past, that the future will be led by Master McDowell “Sir” and “Ma’am” in Manlius, NY.

Master Vicky McDowell

Co-Owner & Master Instructor

When Master Vicky McDowell started her training with Grandmaster Chong in Manlius, NY in 1991, she was a girl who had lost her way. Her father had just passed away and her whole world fell apart. Tae Kwon Do was going to change her life forever.

Grandmaster Chong and the rest of the World Class instructors gave her a positive place to train, meet new people, and the encouragement that she needed to get back on track. Along the way she became more focused and determined to challenge herself in new ways. She really enjoyed competing in sparring on the local, state, national and international levels, where she obtained many first place victories.

During her training and competition time she eventually became a Black Belt and an assistant instructor. During that time her passion for Tae Kwon Do and helping people really shined through. It was at that point in time that she knew she wanted to do this for the rest of her career.

Her instructor career lead her to a couple of different places over the years. After college, she began teaching again in Buffalo, NY under Grandmaster Chong and then on to West Chester, PA with Master John Pasquantonio. During these years she met her husband, Master Chris McDowell. With their combined dream of opening their own Dojang one day, they both tested together to become Masters in 2012. Then in 2013, they welcomed the birth of their boys Cooper and Logan, who are also training students as well.

In 2021, their dreams became reality when they opened the doors to Master McDowell’s World Class Tae Kwon Do in Manlius, NY.