TaeKwonDo has never been so intense.

This weekend the Korean Martial Arts Demonstration Team will be performing at Veterans Memorial Auditorium. Korean national champions expect to dazzle the crowd with a demonstration of the speed, grace and power of martial arts.

The team is led by Seung Hyeun Nam, the 1988 Olympic Demonstration Team Captain for the ’88 Seoul Olympic Games, according to a recent press release.

The team plans to keep the crowd on the edge of their seats by kicking apples off swords and breaking boards from 10 feet in the air, the release stated.

“This team is awesome from just a technical standpoint. These athletes are the best of the best from Korea. We’re really fortunate they decided to come to Iowa,” owner and instructor Lance Farrell of Farrell’s U.S. Martial Arts and Fitness said.

Farrell was instrumental in bringing the team to Des Moines. “They’ve been touring around the world for the past four years, but this is the first time the team has come to Iowa,” Farrell said.

The program includes a demonstration of self- defense moves and concentration skills. Olympic style sparring will also be highlighted.

A halftime show will feature Iowa’s best local youth talent competing for the “high kick” contest. Signing autographs at the show will be the United States Olympic training center’s TaeKwonDo team, coached by two-time Olympic medalist Han Won Lee.

The 24 Korean team members have been staying with host families in Des Moines since Monday. “They speak limited English, but we’ve been able to communicate,” host Steve Kaeppel said.

Kaeppel is also a student of TaeKwonDo. He is quick to praise the team’s ability after having seen a recent rehearsal.

“They’re able to demonstrate not only feats of skill but incredible physical prowess. It’s an amazing combination of showmanship and athletic ability,” Kaeppel said.

Farrell is able to explain why this team is so talented. “Most of these athletes have been doing this since they were five years old. TaeKwonDo is Korea’s national sport. It’s like baseball over here,” Farrell explained.

The show will begin at 7 p.m. Friday. All seats are reserved. Ticket prices are VIP $22.50, $13.50 and $9.50. $2.00 off each ticket for group discounts are available on groups of 10 or more. Tickets are on sale at all Ticketmaster outlets and the Vets Auditorium Box Office. For more information call 515-245-5488.