75-year-old Taekwondo master continues to teach in Australia

For 51 years, Kim Myung-man has been a steadfast presence in Sydney, Australia, introducing and teaching the Korean martial art of Taekwondo. Now 75, he remains an active instructor, guiding over a hundred students ranging from five-year-olds to adults.

When Kim first opened his Taekwondo class in a Sydney suburb in 1975, the martial art was largely unknown. Locals were more familiar with kung fu and karate. To prove Taekwondo's efficacy, Kim engaged in several public sparring matches against masters of other martial arts. He recalls, "If I had lost even once, I wouldn't have been able to teach Taekwondo here." His victories, including defeating a larger kung fu practitioner and a karate master, garnered respect and led students from other disciplines to join his classes.

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If I had lost even once, I wouldn't have been able to teach Taekwondo here.

Kim's journey was not without hardship. He arrived in Australia after a period of unemployment in South Korea, driven by a prayer to be sent abroad. He faced challenges in a new country with a different language, and even experienced a visa scam. "Taekwondo has strong factions, relying on academic and personal connections," he noted, explaining the jealousy he faced from other instructors as his popularity grew. Despite these obstacles, his students remained loyal, and a Greek student even offered him accommodation and a job when he faced deportation.

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Taekwondo has strong factions, relying on academic and personal connections.

Now, Kim's Taekwondo club is a fixture, with other martial arts classes having long since disappeared. He teaches with a mix of Korean and English commands, his presence commanding the attention of students in their crisp white uniforms. He corrects stances, offers praise, and shares moments of humor, like playfully kicking a child's posterior, eliciting laughter. The students' enthusiastic "Thank you, Master!" in Korean at the end of a session underscores the deep respect they hold for him.

Kim emphasizes the need for Taekwondo itself to evolve, stating, "Taekwondo also needs to develop new techniques." His dedication extends beyond teaching; he aims for his students to become masters themselves and continue the legacy of Taekwondo. His enduring commitment, even at 75, highlights a lifelong passion for the martial art and its cultural transmission.

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Taekwondo also needs to develop new techniques.