Williams Taekwondo kicks into new location, ownership

Matthew Day

Staff

November 17, 2025

HOWARD – As Master Dan Williams said in the Feb. 24, 2025, issue of The Business News, Williams Taekwondo is well accustomed to relocations. 

However, according to Anthony Strebel, what sets this move apart is that Dan will no longer be at the helm.

After selling the school to Strebel, a long-time student-turned-instructor, the new location at 2436 Glendale Ave. in Howard signals a fresh chapter for the taekwondo school.

“I think [Dan] wanted to start a new chapter of his life,” he said. “And I feel like he thought I could take off and run this with the same core values that he had, and I was going to respect that and build onto his legacy.” 

Strebel said he became owner of Williams Taekwondo this past summer, as Dan – who founded the school in 1998 – was in the process of moving it to the new location. 

He said the school – still bearing the name of the sixth-degree black belt who taught him the martial art – opened in Howard in early September. 

Strebel – who recently passed his third-degree black belt testing – said he had previously been in talks with Dan about opening a second location for the school someday. 

“If I ever moved out of the [Green Bay] area, I was going to see if I could open up [a taekwondo school], and it’d be through him,” he said. 

However, Strebel said plans changed when Dan approached him early this year about taking over ownership. 

“I was caught off guard, most definitely…,” he said. “It took me about a month to come to the decision.” 

Though the timing was unexpected, Strebel said he ultimately embraced the opportunity – after his family and the school’s other instructors assured their support. 

“My parents and my grandpa help a lot with building maintenance if I can’t get here,” he said. “My wife helps a lot with the bookwork, appointments and a lot of the administrative work. And then the instructors help run a lot of classes and a lot of the teaching criteria. So, a lot of support, which makes it possible.”

Strebel said the school’s students were also largely encouraging throughout the transition. 

Though unfortunately, he said anytime a martial arts school relocates, it’s likely to lose students, but he’s grateful for those who are sticking with the program – and excited to see new students joining from the Howard area, which he said doesn’t have as many options for martial arts training. 

Strebel said Williams Taekwondo will continue to teach the techniques and values imparted by its founder. 

“Integrity is huge – that’s my biggest focus,” he said. “It’s not just to equip people physically so they can fight. It’s my pride and joy… being able to build up a generation with confidence and a lot of discipline, perseverance – understanding respect and honor.” 

Strebel said the school’s class structures will remain the same, as will students’ opportunities to participate in competitions and tournaments. 

Though he’ll continue to honor Dan’s teachings and wisdom, Strebel said he’ll undoubtedly do so with his own unique leadership style – “where I want to build up and empower the people under me.” 

Still, Strebel said he looks forward to Dan’s continued participation, as he attends the testings for his former students and instructors. 

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