Parks Tae Kwon Do Federation - Park Family History

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Park Family History

Written by Master Shick

Wednesday, 13 June 2007

Highest Quality Martial Arts Instruction

Written by Webmaster

Friday, 18 May 2007

The schools are operated by the Park family. Internationaly known, they bring a lot
experience and dedication to teaching martial arts.

The mission of Parks Tae Kwon Do is to provide the highest quality of martial art instruction, preserving the authenticity and original elements of Tae Kwon Do, while staying abreast of new methods, techniques and research. We incorporate the best of new innovations with the true essence and art of Tae Kwon Do in to our instruction system. We provide our students with the very best information and training to achieve the proper Yin-Yang balance.

Parks Tae Kwon Do carries on the tradition established by Grand Master Park, who serves as Honorable Grand Master for the school. The Park's family oversees day-to-day operations along with his superb staff. The Park's family uses a hands on approach and can be found teaching classes of all levels. Please take a moment and visit the History section of this site to learn more about the great history of the Park family and Grand Master Park.

With two state of the art locations and self-study courses available, Parks Tae Kwon Do is the perfect place to learn and enjoy Tae Kwon Do

Parks Tae Kwon Do Federation's new web site comes online. The site is still under construction but is coming together. Check back daily to see the new things we are adding.

HISTORY OF GRAND MASTER JUNG SOO PARK
AND THE PARK FAMILY LEGACY

Grand Master Park

Grand Master Jung Soo Park began his diversified training at the age of twelve. Unlike most martial artists in his native country of South Korea, Grand Master Park studied under several different “Kwans”(different systems of Tae Kwon Do training) instead of only one style. Before 1971, there were several Kwans in Korea: Ji Do Kwan, Moo Duk Kwan, Song Moo Kwan and “Chang Moo Kwan” (this was Grand Master’s main style, it was the hardest and most respected fighters of all “Kwans”). The Kwans later came together and unified all the “Kwans” to form the Art of “TaeKwonDo.” Grand Master had the great opportunity to study with the late General Choi, who became the President of the International TaeKwonDo Federation, and introduced Grand Master to the other traditional forms of Korean Martial Arts. This opportunity to study all the different Kwans set Grand Master on his journey to becoming one of the greatest Grand Masters of all time.

Grand Master Park graduated from Pusan University in South Korea and then served in the U.D.T (Underwater Demolition Team) R.O.K Naval Intelligence Division. During this challenging Naval Career, Grand Master was still diligently training and developing his martial arts skills. He was the Navy’s Taekwondo champion for many years during his service.

Grand Master Park former ROK NAVY SEAL with Koran SEAL Team members in Korea

Grand Master’s career expanded into other areas of the South Korean government:
•    Head was the head of security for the Department of Domestic and Foreign Affairs
•    Served as personal bodyguard for the Premier President of South Korea
•    Grand Master coordinated the security force for the Kiapon International Airport
•    Special Tactics Trainer for the Korean Navy, Air Force, and Army

During this brilliant career, Grand Master’s reputation as a Martial Artist also grew….he is one of the very few instructors ever to receive the rank of International Master Instructor, which was presented to him by the World TaeKwonDo Federation (South Korean government organization which monitors the certification of authentic Black Belts throughout the world and part of the International Olympic Committee).

Grand Master Park in Saigon

Grand Master Park military career and service to the Korean government earned him the respect of his fellow countrymen, but he still had a dream of opening a school in which he could bring his vast and diversified training to new students. After much consideration, Grand Master decided to come to the United States of AMERICA!
Grand Master in his journey to U.S. sacrificed and left his family behind in Korea, and arrived in USA in 1972 with little money and Do Bok (uniform) & Black Belt ready to teach. During this time, martial arts were gaining great interest in America and the demand for quality instructors was high.

Grand Master Park breaking roof tiles

Fortunately, Grand Master soon found out that his reputation in “TaeKwonDo” preceded him and he was offered a position to teach martial arts at the Air Force Academy in Colorado by the US Government. Grand Master Park then moved to Texas to instruct at the Forth Worth Military Base. He opened his first school on July 15, 1973 (Grand Master Park’s Birthday) while his wife Jeong and three children: Cheong, Shick, and Cheong Me remained in Korea.

The Park Family was separated for more than three years and was finally united in 1976! During this time, Grand Master was living in a very small room in the back of his school in order to save every dime for his family’s arrival. The first few years were very difficult for the Park Family, being the first generation new to the western culture & language they struggled like many immigrants do in this country. They still had to live in the TaeKwonDo school in order to make ends meet, living without many of the comforts that most people take for granted. But, Grand Master was dedicated to his goal of teaching and soon his school’s reputation grew locally and around the communities. Grand Master ventured off to many other states: Texas, California and New York to open TaeKwonDo schools and also broaden his own knowledge & experience of what U.S. culture was like.

Can you fing Master Park, Mam, and Master Shick?

Finally, the Park Family came to South Florida in the early 1980’s. They established many Park’s TaeKwonDo Federation schools throughout both Broward and Palm Beach Counties. Currently, the Park’s two signature schools are located in Coral Springs and Boca Raton Florida. It is here, South Florida, where Grand Master Park has established strong roots for the Headquarters schools and family. Grand Master’s unyielding spirit is the foundation on which the Park’s Organization is built on; the Park’s TaeKwonDo Federation has branched internationally to Korea, London, Dubai, New Zealand, Ireland, Newfoundland, Mexico, and Canada. Grand Master Park’s Curriculum is still practiced by new generations of black belt students, masters, and other grand masters who have traveled here to South Florida to get Tested and Certified thru Grand Master Park’s seal of approval.

Mam "Cheong Me" Grand Master daughter's at age 12

The World Martial Arts Research Union was developed in 1989 by Grand Master Park and sons, Master Cheong Park & Master Shick Park, to develop a systemized curriculum to not only challenge the traditional, but also enlighten the new coming of age, “Olympic Sport TaeKwonDo”. The Park’s Training system harnessed both traditional and modern sport into their schools. The WMARU (World Martial Arts Research Union) headed by Grand Master Park certifies all Park’s Black Belt Students & Park’s Instructors. Many of Park’s Black Belt students had the opportunity to grow and become a Park’s Black Belt Instructors, many of them also became successful Park’s TaeKwonDo school owners. This organization helps other martial arts schools by providing true Authenticity and development of TaeKwonDo along with sound business strategies to successfully grow their schools.

Grand Master Park on the set of Miami Vice with Edward James Olmos

Grand Master Park delivers the death blow on the set of Miami Vice

Assisting the Park’s Organization are his two son Master Cheong Park and Master Shick Park has had the opportunity to train with their Father side by side and the two sons carry on the Family’s Legacy. The heart of Park’s TaeKwonDo Federation is all the students and families that keep training and challenging themselves to become better martial artists and better individuals. Grand Master Park’s Indomitable Spirit and Dedication to provide “the highest accuracy of martial arts training in the world!” is a living dream that he sees EVERY DAY thru his Students and his Sons!!!