Who We Are

Master Richard Thomas - Head of School

Richard Thomas, a native of Memphis, TN, has been training in martial arts for over 35 years. He holds a 5th-degree black belt in Taekwondo and 2nd Degree Black Belt in Judo and began his training at the age of 7 under Grand Master Jung Ho Kim in 1988. By age 8, Richard had won state and regional competitions, earning a bronze medal at the Junior Nationals. At 13, he claimed the gold medal and was ranked number one in the nation. After qualifying for the Junior National Team, he trained at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, but injuries prevented him from competing for the 2000 Olympic team. In 2004, after completing college, Richard began teaching at Grand Master Kim’s Bartlett, TN location. His passion is to share his invaluable experience with students, helping them achieve their goals and experience the lifelong benefits of martial arts."

Grand Master Jung Ho Kim — Founder

Grand Master Kim is a native of Seoul, Korea. He has been training in the Martial Arts for over 50 years teaching. He has earned 8th degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon do and Judo and a Fifth degree Black Belt in Hapkido. He is a graduate of the famed Yong-In University where, in 1980, he received a Bachelor of Physical Science in Martial Arts. Master Kim came to the United States in 1984 and settled in Chicago. There he met and began training Arlene Limas who, in 1988, went on to win an Olympic Gold Medal for the United States in Taekwondo. Upon moving to Memphis, Grand Master Kim established Kim’s Academy in 1986 and Collierville Taekwondo in 2016. Since then, Grand Master Kim has helped hundreds of students achieve their own personal level of success in Martial Arts.