School History
Grandmaster Chung's first school was in Aurora, Colorado, later moving to the Mississippi address. In the mid nineties, he transferred control over the Aurora school to his student, Master Ghassan Timani. Master Ghassan continued to exercise control over the Korean Academy and Master Chung sold all three of the schools, returning to Korea to pursue a career in politics. While in Korea, he served as the head of security for Kim De Jung, the former president of South Korea. Master Ghassan is the highest student of Grandmaster Chung in the world. After moving and expanding several times, the Aurora location is now in a facility on E. Mississippi built especially for Taekwondo by Master Ghassan.
In 2004, the Korean Academy saw the addition of Master Bill Pottle, one of the Korean Academy’s highest ranking students. After getting his black belt from the Korean Academy, Master Bill trained at Cornell University and the University of Pennsylvania where he was pursuing academic and professional interests.
Master Ghassan has now passed the school on to Master Pottle, who has overseen its continued success and growth. Since then, the Korean Academy of Taekwondo has continued to expand. Master Emelio Tio moved to Texas where he opened an independent KAT Texas branch. Master Pottle has also opened a KAT South Branch in Colorado.
In 2005, the Korean Academy of Taekwondo was the featured school of USA Taekwondo. In October 2005 their fundraiser kickathon was covered by the local news media.
Recently, the school has moved towards a much more scientific basis of training. They were featured in an article by the Korean Embassy on the modernization of the art. In 2005 they held their 100th promotion test and
In 2010, the school expanded a branch to Loveland, CO. Three instructors were featured in the national press about older students training in Taekwondo.
Numerous students and instructors have served on the Colorado State Taekwondo Association board. Currently this includes Master Bob McKenna as president and Master Komiljon Latipov as Coach Representative.
Read more about this topic: Korean Academy Of Taekwondo
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