Grandmaster Tiger Kim, Ph.D.
Founder & President
- Ph.D. in Political Science at the University of Kentucky
- Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels
- Presidential Advisor on Democratic & Peaceful
Unification in Korea - President of the Korean American Society of Kentucky
- Kukkiwon 8th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo
- Moo Duk Kwan 8th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo
- ITF 6th Degree Black Belt in Teuk Gong Moo Sool
- Kukkiwon Taekwondo Master
- Kukkiwon Taekwondo Judge
- Member of the Advisory Committee at the World Taekwondo Headquarters (Kukkiwon)
- World Taekwondo International Referee
- USAT National Referee
- Pan American Taekwondo Champion
Dr. Kim’s World Taekwondo Academey was founded by Grandmaster Tiger Kim. Grandmaster Kim is one of the leading Taekwondo instructors and educators in the world. The leader of our organization in Grandmaster Kim, who also founded the University of Kentucky Taekwondo Club in 1990. Grandmaster Kim served as the head coach of the UK Taekwondo Club. He has earned international recognition for his Taekwondo skills and teaching methods and directs all of his efforts to bringing the benefits of Taekwondo to the bluegrass community in Kentucky.
Academically, Grandmaster Kim received a Ph.D. in political science in 1995 at the University of Kentucky. He has taught political science at the University of Kentucky, Georgetown College, and Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea. He published numerous journal articles and books in the field of international relations and martial arts.
Grandmaster Kim opened Dr. Kim’s Taekwondo Academy in 2010 to introduce the true meaning of martial arts to people in Kentucky. He focuses on not only the physical aspect of Taekwondo, but also the mental aspect which is an important aspect for children as well as adults today. He always tries to teach his students to respect others in a fun environment.
Grandmaster Kim received a Citation on December 19th, 2011 from President Choe Chungwon (World Taekwondo) in recognition of his dedicated service and outstanding contribution to the development of Taekwondo. He received a Certificate of Appreciation on September 4th, 2014 from Chairman Bae Jhong Shin (Taekwondo Promotion Foundation) in recognition of his contribution to the development and globalization of Taekwondo with outstanding passion and effort. He also received a Letter of Commendation on September 23rd, 2016 from President Oh Hyun-Deuk (Kukkiwon) in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the development and dissemination of Taekwondo.
Grandmaster Kim married Dr. Sue Kim, M.D. and has one daughter, Krystal, and one son, Kai, who take the martial arts classes to improve physical fitness, self-defense techniques, and valuable life skills to enrich their mind and body.
Grandmaster Kim has strong interests in teaching special needs children and children in the public/private school systems. He has been teaching and volunteering to the students in the public and private schools to introduce the benefits of Taekwondo in the bluegrass community. In the past, he taught Taekwondo to more than 5,000 students annually in terms of field day, physical education, and health/fitness classes. Also, he has been teaching an after school martial arts program regularly at Rosa Parks Elementary over ten years.
Grandmaster serves as the President of the Korean American Society of Kentucky to represent and help Korean American people in our community. He is working with Mayor Linda Gorton of Lexington (the horse capital of the world) to establish the sister-city relationship with Jeju-City (the horse capital of Korea).
