• June 1996: Mr. Deese opened the school as Michael Deese's Taekwondo Plus at 2869 Reynolda Road in the Pine Ridge Shopping Center with the help and support of his friends. The original school was affiliated with the United States Taekwondo Alliance (USTA), which became the International Taekwondo Alliance (ITA) in January 2000. When he first opened the school, Mr. Deese was unknown in Winston-Salem and had no students. In less than a year, the school was a success and it has continued to grow to a current membership of over 200 students.

• 1996-1999: school gained local and national recognition as Mr. Deese's students regularly competed and won in regional and national tournaments. As the word spread of Mr. Deese's instructing skills, the quality of his students, and his strict, but caring way, with children, school membership began to outgrow the school's original location. Seeing the effect Taekwondo had on their children, many parents also started training; many entire families attend classes regularly. 

• October 1999: Mr. Deese opened the present larger, fully-equipped school at 2853 Reynolda Road with the help of his students and friends. The new school is fully matted with three regulation sparring rings, spectator area, merchandise sales area, and much more. 

• February 2000: School opens its web site at DeeseTKD.com.

• July 2000: school hosted its first regional tournament in Winston-Salem.

• August 2000: Mr. Deese and several other regional instructors severed their relationship with the ITA. In January 2001, all the regional instructors joined the Taekwondo America national organization. The school is now known as Michaels Deese's Taekwondo America. 

• February 2001: school began using TKDTutorage Software's TASK2 (Taekwondo America Student Keeper), to manage school operations.

• April 2001: school began its first television advertisements.

• May 2001: school hosted a Taekwondo America National Testing in Winston-Salem where Mr. Deese tested for and earned his 5th degree black belt.

• March 2002: school hosted its second regional tournament in Winston-Salem. With 560 competitors it was the largest Taekwondo America competition to date.

• April 2006: school hosted its third regional tournament in Winston-Salem.

• January 2008: Jim Alexander joined with Mr Deese and school name was changed to Michael Deese's Taekwondo America.

The school continues to grow in physical size and in enrollment, but its atmosphere is still that of one big, happy family where Taekwondo training, physical exercise, and fun are paramount.