AMAAsports | NC Sports Figure of the WeekNC Sports Figure of the Week

AMAA Sports Caught up with Tae Kwon Do Master Mike King in Greensboro, NC.

With several Tae Kwon Do programs in Greensboro and hosting a Tae Kwon Do tournament in March, we thought we’d chat with him

AMAA: How long have you been studying martial arts?

MIKE KING: Thirty-three years. I started training in about 1983. I first started teaching in 1991 and opened my first school in 1992.

AMAA: Where did you begin your training?

MASTER

MIKE KING: I started in Greensboro with a local TAE KWON DO instructor.

AMAA: Who are some of your martial arts influences?

MASTER

MIKE KING: Bruce Lee, of course. I also attended seminars of Professor Wally Jay, Bill “Superfoot Wallace”, Dr. Jinbangyang and Joe Lewis which had a big impact on me. I also trained with Boby Tobota in private lessons for about six months. Not only did all of these influences teach me great technology, but they also taught me martial arts philosophy.

AMAA: How long has your school been in existence?

MASTER

MIKE KING: Greensboro Black Belt Academy opened in 1991 – 25 Years.

AMAA: You have several programs throughout Greensboro, is that correct?

MASTER

MIKE KING: Yes, I have six programs: 109-B Pisgah Church Road; Ragsdale YMCA; Bryan YMCA; Spears YMCA; Crosstraining located at 5000 West Friendly Avenue; and Hayes-Taylor YMCA located at Lee Street.

AMAA: What do you enjoy most about teaching martial arts?

MASTER

MIKE KING: Getting to meet people and helping them to reach their goals.

AMAA: Have you ever had to use the arts to defend yourself?

MASTER

MIKE KING: Yes, a few times and it was very effective. Fortunately, I have never had to hurt anyone.

AMAA: What types of programs do you offer at your school?

MASTER

MIKE KING: Hapkido, tae kwon do, basic weapons and basic ground work. We also have a dedicated special needs class.

AMAA: You are hosting a tae kwon do tournament next month – can you tell us about that?

MASTER

MIKE KING: It is going to be forms only so that kids can get an introduction to competitive martial arts. Even though it is competition, it is more of an internal achievement event where kids can learn by doing. It will be great exposure and an opportunity for students to meet other students from various schools.

AMAA: What are your goals in teaching martial arts?

MASTER

MIKE KING: My basic goal is to introduce martial arts and give people an opportunity to try it out. My main goal is teaching confidence and self discipline. I want to teach young people self discipline and to be their own governor. It is important to accept that you are responsible for your actions – good or bad. I want to instill genuine knowledge of actions and results.

AMAA: What is your rank?

MASTER

MIKE KING: 5^th Degree Black Belt.

Interview conducted by: Theresa Williams of AMAA Sports

Michele Coalson

Questions & Answers with Michele Coalson

Michele is a coowner of Karate International of Advance & the

AMAA Sports Complx of Davie County. We recently sat down &

asked her about her career in Martial Arts.

QHi Michele & thanks for taking the time to speak with us today.

Let’s get started by asking you how you got started in Martial Arts.

AThanks for having me! When I was 14, we moved to Winston

Salem. My brother Ronnie wanted to take Karate but didn’t want

to take it by himself, so our parents signed us both up at

Karate International of Winston Salem.

QWhat was your training like & how long did it take for you to earn

your Black belt?

AFor me, training was FUN! I earned my Black belt in one year,

which is fast by today’s standards. But, you have to understand,

for that year, I lived for Karate! I was there when the school opened,

left to get lunch, came back & left when the school closed! I took

every class available, every day!

QYou were also involved a lot in tournament competitions as well,

right?

AAbsolutely! My mom & I traveled everywhere competing in

tournaments! I have over a hundred titles & have won multiple

Karate State Games competitions in Kata, Weapons & my personal

favorite, Sparring! I enjoy the competition!

QYou trained under Grand Master Richard Gilliland at Karate

International of Kernersville & trained with O’Sensei Shane

Williams of Karate International. How would you describe them?

AWOW! Grand Master Gilliland was the best kids teacher that I’ve

ever met. We had a large Godzilla at our school & I fondly

remember taking Godzilla (Mr. Gilliland’s nickname) in his bus,

throwing candy to the kids at all of the Kernersville parades. Still,

to this day, I remember him chopping watermelons off of me

during his sword demonstrations!

O’Sensei Williams is the best pure teacher that I’ve ever worked

with. You could tell from a young age that he had a tremendous

determination to succeed & the results show his focus! Both have

taught me a great deal!

QThere was a period where you got away from Martial Arts. Can

you tell us why?

AWell, I got married & had kids (laughing). Now I have six

daughters! That’s a good thing, but, it does take quite a bit of time.

My career in the Medical Office Management field was also

flourishing! The biggest blow however, was when Grand Master

Gilliland unexpectantly passed away. He was my friend & a great

mentor. To be candid, at the time, I didn’t want to continue training

under anyone else.

QAnd you had some health issues as well?

AYes, I dealt with sciatica in my back for over a year. During that

time, I was in excruciating pain & put on weight because of it.

Finally, they performed surgery which relieved the pain. I feel

for those with back issues because I know how dehabilitating

it can be! After the surgery, I began working out & dropped the

weight I gained.

QYou also did some work in Professional Wrestling as well, right?

AYes, I was a lady wrestler, manager & valet. It was a lot of fun!

QSo, how did you find your way back into Karate & Martial Arts?

AMy husband, Tarron & I have been involved in youth sports,

coaching basketball & soccer at the Jerry Long Family YMCA

for the past ten years. We’re also credentialed by the Positive

Coaching Alliance (PCA).

While we were coaching Girls Basketball, a couple of sisters on

our team told us they were taking Karate. I mentioned to them that

I was a Black Belt & they said that they were getting ready to

test for their Black Belts & invited me to their test.

Little did I know, when I got to the test, it was being run by

O’Sensei Williams, who invited me to sit on his Black Belt panel.

Boy, was I nervous about that! But, he convinced me to begin

training again & my husband & I opened Karate international

of Advance & the AMAA Sports Complex of Davie County.

QAgain, thanks for taking this time with us today! Lastly, where

do you see yourself moving forward?

AIt’s been my pleasure! I hope to continue my training &

building our school. We’ve had success with our school so far

& we’ve been performing Ladies Self Defense Seminars at our

school & at other locations in the Triad that have been

received very well.

Finally, I hope I can be the type of Mentor to others that Grand

Master Gilliland & O’Sensei Williams have been to me. I’ll be

successful if I can get close to that!

Master Dustin Pettenati

Dojo: Karate International of Pfafftown

Current Rank: 6th Degree Black Belt (Master Instructor)

Master

VP – American Martial Artists Association

Primary Current Instructor: Sr. Grand Master O’Sensei Shane Williams

Year started with KI: 1998

Total years of Martial arts experience (including non KI training): 17

Number of years teaching the martial arts: 7 years

Est. Number of students directly or indirectly trained: 100

NAME: Shihan Brandon T. Vaughn

Dojo: Karate International Elkin/Jonesville

Current Rank: 6th Degree Black Belt (Master Instructor)

Shihan

Sr. VP – American Martial Artists Association

Primary Current Instructor: Sr. Grand Master O’Sensei Shane Williams

Year started with KI: 2003

Total years of Martial arts experience (including non KI training): 22

Age: 36

Bachelor of Science in Graphic Arts and Imaging Technology

Certified Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Instructor, Certified Fitness Instructor

Number of years teaching the martial arts: 8 years

Est. Number of students directly or indirectly trained: 200

About Michael King

Greensboro Black Belt Academy (GBBA) has been a premier family martial
arts facility since 1991. Started by Dr. Jin Bang Yang, world renowned Olympic
style coach and instructor, the school quickly became the center for NC state
team training from 1993-2002. During that time many state, national and
international titles were earned with 8 earning spots on the US team. Our goal
while training students and competitors at this elite level was to also maintain the
family focus and atmosphere. This dedication allowed us to expand and serve a
larger area of Greensboro.
Michael King , the head instructor and owner, started training in the early
80’s and met Master Yang at UNCG as a student in the first Tae Kwon Do class
offered on campus. He later went on to teach that program for 17 years. Many
students were groomed to go out and begin their own programs. Most of the
instructors have been with GBBA for at least 15 years. Our instructors have
training in TKD, hapkido, jujutsu, balintawak, arnis, pressure points, boxing and
martial blade concepts. The programs have now expanded to include Spears,
Ragsdale, Bryan and Hayes-Taylor YMCA along with Crosstraining, Artistic Motion
and Greensboro Day School. Our Pisgah Church Road school acts as the
headquarters for all programs.

Early on in our development one of our goals was to reach as many needs
and abilities as possible. Mike King and Steve Adams were certified NCI instructors
and have a background in Special needs education. This allowed us to begin our
dedicated special needs classes over 10 years ago.
Greensboro Black Belt Academy has over 50 active black belts and 15
instructors. We have been blessed to have such a focused and dedicated group of
students. Our future goals are to continue to grow and meet the needs of our city
as well as give back to the community. Hopefully we will also be able to help
other schools develop their own dedicated special needs programs.