Throughout the history of Korea, Tae Kwon Do has been called by several different names: Soobak, Soobakhee, Soobyuk, Takkyeon, Beekaksool, Soobyukta and Kwonbub. Tae Kwon Do has continued to grow and evolve as it was handed down from generation to generation. During the end of the Lee Dynasty and during the Japanese occupation of Korea, Tae Kwon Do appeared to fade away, but the Tae Kwon Do spirit in Korea never died. Tae Kwon Do started to revitalize itself with the restoration of Korea's independence after 36 years of Japanese occupation.

In 1956, Jhoon Rhee arrived in Texas for military training by the USAF While there, he taught what was possibly the first American class in Tae Kwon Do. Allen Steen, karate pioneer in the American Southwest, studied karate under Jhoon Rhee in 1959 at the University of Texas. He earned his black belt in 1962, and in 1963, he promoted his first black belt. In 1966, he was a member of the victorious U.S. National Karate Team in Hawaii. That same year, he won the International Karate Championships in Long Beach, beating out both Chuck Norris and Joe Lewis.

During the early 1970's Steve Ashcraft began to train with the pioneers of Martial Arts like Allen Steen, Alvin Francis, Demetris Havannas, and Joe Lewis. During this time Steve also began his career as a professional kick boxer. Steve continued to fight for 14 years attaining the #3 ranking in the world and #1 in Texas.

Steve's teaching career began at the Texas Black belt Institute in the mid 1970's. This original dojo is still in operation at the location off Nakoma. In the 1990's the name was changed to Ashcrafts Martial Arts as a salute to the chief instructor and his accomplishments as a martial artist and championship kickboxer.

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