"My name is Wesley Arguelles and have been with the Joong Do Ryu Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido Martial Arts School under Grand Master Young S Kim for 18 years. I started taking classes not knowing what to expect, I was a shy teenager who knew nothing about Tae Kwan Do and Hapkido other than from what I have seen in movies and television. The longer I stayed, the more I learned from Grand Master Kim, not only about Tae Kwan Do and Hapkido skills, but how to become a better person and how his teachings and philosophies can be used in everyday life.
As the years passed by and I progressed to each new belt, I saw my self-confidence, discipline and respect for myself and others become better. Grand Master Kim asking me to become an Instructor and teach was a real positive impact on my life and really helped me become a better person. Through teaching, I feel I also get to help pass on what I learned from Grand Master Kim (respect, courtesy, self-confidence, patience, determination, kindness and self-discipline) to other students and hopefully make a positive impact in their lives. I am very grateful for Grand Master Young S Kim and everything he has taught me and all the other students that have entered his school."
Wesley"My son has been attending Young S. Kim Family Martial Arts at the YMCA for Taekwondo lessons. Ever since my son started attending, I have noticed a positive change in his behavior. His listening skills have improved as well as his mood and energy levels. Taking my child to Taekwondo has taught my child discipline and respect for others while learning self-defense. Master Young S. Kim, is a wonderful instructor who has infinite patience for his students. My son looks forward to every lesson with joy and I, as a parent cannot wait what the future awaits him in his journey to a black belt in taekwondo."
Lawless Family"While watching my son begin training with Grand Master Young S. Kim in 2003, I was greatly moved by the efforts and patience which Grand Master Kim and all the instructors displayed. After 2 years of waiting and observing during classes with other parents, I felt Grand Master Kim’s and the instructors’ passion and sincerity to teach, I decided to sign up as well, and I have never regretted it since! I feel like being able to train together with my son has created a special bond between us, and that practicing martial arts has greatly boosted our confidence, making us better physically, mentally and spiritually."
Grandmaster Kim has over 60 years of martial arts training and teaching in Tae Kwon Do and Hap Ki Do. His teaching techniques make it easy for us to comprehend and learn effectively. My son and I greatly appreciate his willingness to impart his skills and knowledge to us, and also share his philosophy and many health tips. What we learn from Grand Master Kim is invaluable!
I am grateful to Grand Master Kim for giving me the opportunity to be an instructor, and entrusting me to teach his students. I can confidently say that Martial Arts is a way of life, and I am thankful that I can now teach together with the patient and respectful individuals I can now proudly call my fellow instructors. Martial Arts is now a way of life for me!"
Jenelle"The Robinson Family would like to thank all of the instructors at Young S. Kim Family Martial Arts. Our daughter has been attending the South Bay Family YMCA. She started at the age of 6 years old, she is now 12 years old. She looks forward to attending class. It provides her structure, discipline and most of all confidence. It has been a pleasure to have her attend this class, and priceless in knowing what experience she will have the rest of her life."
Robinson Family"My name is Ruth Yufe. I have studied Tae Kwon Do and Hap Ki Do since late 1996 under Grand Master Kim. I was 50 years old when I started.
I had never taken any kind of exercise class or martial arts in my life. I was driving home from work and about a mile or so before arriving at my home, I saw a sign that read Tae Kwon Do/Martial Arts classes. I stopped and asked if they had classes for adults. To which Master Kim smiled and replied, "Sure!"
I had passed the same route for years and had never seen the sign. I do not know what compelled me to stop and ask but from that moment on my life changed forever. I suppose it was what I needed at the time. I am forever grateful that I did. It has given me a completely different outlook on life and improved my health and my heart. I have had great experiences since then.
Ruth"It has been almost five years since I started my oldest in Tae Kwon Do at the YMCA (four years for my youngest) under the supervision and tutelage of Grandmaster Young S. Kim, and his Masters/teachers. I put both my girls into Tae Kwon Do for the discipline I hoped they would receive, the confidence they would gain, and to learn how to "take care of themselves" if the need might arise in the future….which I hope never does arise. I was not disappointed in the least. I had only heard good things about the Grandmaster and his program, so I decided to go with the YMCA and their program offered. My daughters love the Grandmaster and all his Masters that teach the classes, I have watched all students strive their hardest for him. He is an exceptional teacher, and my daughters have learned so much, and they have grown so much. If anyone is thinking of getting their kids into martial arts, Young S. Kim's school of Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido is the perfect place. Discipline, confidence building, physical abilities... This is the perfect program."
David"Throughout the years I have watched and seen my daughters grow and develop in Taekwondo. With each passing year, they learn new skills and forms. In Taekwondo, they have learned various self-defense skills from hand-to-hand combat to weapon-hand combat, and finally weapon-weapon combat. With each self-defense skill, they learn various pressure points, quicken their reflexes and so much more. On top of the self-defense, they strengthen their memory through various forms from weapon forms to Taekwondo forms. My daughters have learned to use nunchucks and long staffs that require the use of both hands."
Now that my daughters are Black Belt students, they began to develop leadership skills which have led them to become instructors for the beginner classes. The journey for my daughters have been long and difficult, but through their struggles, they have learned life skills that have allowed them to become better people. Taekwondo and Hapkido develops discipline and taught my daughters respect and kindness.
Wu Mendez Family