Meet Grand Master HONG
Grand Master Hong began his taekwondo career in June 1984 as a teenager at Nam's Taekwondo Academy under Grand Master Nam Tae Hi. Eager to excel and learn, he trained daily for 2 years before attaining his 1st degree black belt through the United States of America Taekwondo Federation (USATF); a sub-federation of the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF).
My Story
In July 1991, he received his 2nd degree black belt. During this time he trained with Grand Master Bobby Clayton and the All Army/WCAP Taekwondo team and began to teach classes on a regular basis. In November 1992, he received his 3rd degree black belt. By this time, his training became very limited and he focused his efforts on teaching full time.
In March 1998, Grand Master Hong tested for and received his 4th degree black belt. He continued to focus his efforts on teaching full time and working out by himself to further his development. In September 2002, Grand Master Hong received his 5th degree black belt, in 2009 he received his 6th degree black belt, and in 2018 he received his 7th degree black belt. He continues to teach and learn to better himself as well as others and striving to help others achieve their goals.
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Currently he is certified 7th DAN black belt and a 3rd Class Master Instructor through the Kukkiwon.
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He is formerly the 2016-2017 Colorado State Taekwondo Association (COSTA) Treasurer and the 2018-2019 COSTA Senior Vice President.
List of Master Hong's achievements in Taekwondo:
1984 - US Western Open Bronze Medalist in Sparring
1985 - Awarded Most Improved Student at Nam's Taekwondo Academy
1985 - USTU Colorado State Championships Bronze Medalist in Forms and Sparring
1985 - USTU National Championships Participant
1986 - Awarded Most Helpful Student at Nam's Taekwondo Academy
1986 - US Western Open Gold Medalist in Forms
1987 - AAU Colorado State Championships Silver Medalist in Forms, Bronze Medalist in Sparring
1987 - AAU Junior Olympic Games Gold Medalist in Forms, Bronze Medalist in Sparring
1988 - USTU Colorado State Championships Silver Medalist in Forms and Sparring
1988 - AAU Colorado State Championships Gold Medalist in Forms and Sparring
1988 - AAU National Championships Gold Medalist in Forms and Sparring
1989 - AAU Colorado State Championships Gold Medalist in Forms and Sparring
1990 - USTU Colorado State Championships Gold Medalist in Forms, Bronze Medalist in Sparring
1990 - Black Belt Open Full Contact Tournament Gold Medalist in Sparring
1991 - USTU Colorado State Championships Gold Medalist in Forms and Sparring
1991 - USTU National Championships Quarter finalist in Sparring
1991 - Black Belt Open Full Contact Tournament Silver Medalist in Sparring
1991 - US/Korean National Games Participant
1992 - US/Korean National Games Participant
1992 - Appreciation Award from Nam's TKD Academy Students
1993 - US/Korean State Games Gold Medalist in Sparring
1993 - US/Korean National Games Silver Medalist in Sparring
1996 - Appreciation Award from Nam's TKD Academy Students
1999 - Appreciation Award from Nam's TKD Academy Students
2005 - Appreciation Award from Nam's TKD Academy Students
2019 - US/Korean National Games Colorado State Coach
2008 Master Hong was featured in two instructional Poomse DVDs for both ITF and WTF forms. Learn more about Master Hong's Poomse DVDs.
2010 - USAT Level 1 Coach
2017 - Appreciation Award from COSTA
2017 - Kukkiwon Certified Level 3 Master Instructor
2017 - USAT D1 Korugi Referee
2017 - USAT Level 2 Poomsae Referee