Today we’d like to introduce you to Joowon Lee.
Hi Joowon, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was working as a bodyguard in Korea. I had some Hollywood stars as my clients such as Brad Pitts, Michelle Rodriguez, Will Smith, Jaden Smith, Luke Evans, and some other Korean celebrities. I could work as a bodyguard because of my martial arts background.
I studied Taekwondo for more than 20 years and currently teaching taekwondo in mountain view, California. I flew out to Utah as a taekwondo coach for participating in the 2022 USA national taekwondo championships held in salt lake city, Utah. It was my first time going there but I really like the city.
I didn’t get to travel much because I had to be with my athletes almost the whole day for 5 days. I would love to visit Utah again to explore the city.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it was not smooth at the time. I had some injuries from training and I had to leave my family behind in Korea and came to the states by myself when I was only 20 years old. There was a language barrier and cultural differences.
I wasn’t financially stable therefore sometimes I had to go to church for free lunch, and divided 1 lunch box into 3 meals for one day. However, because of taekwondo, I could make lots of friends and I could follow my passion which was to introduce real taekwondo in the states.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I teach taekwondo and self-defense. It is great martial arts not only focuses on fighting skills but also hugely on disciplines. Taekwondo practitioners should abide by five tenets of taekwondo; courtesy, integrity, self-control, perseverance, and indomitable spirit, No matter how great skills you have you are if you are not caring and respectful towards others then you are not a true martial artist.
From 4 years to more than 50 years old adults we teach the same value and I see countless positive impacts taekwondo makes to my students, it builds your confidence by letting you help your juniors at taekwondo, and by training you get stronger physically and mentally.
We encourage our students to not give up and finish what they are asked for. This teaches them not only at taekwondo but also at school or at the workplace they are trained to finish their job. You name it and I can keep going about how great taekwondo is.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
When you are a beginner at something (I’m currently learning Brazilian jiu-jitsu and I am very new at this martial arts) it will take time for you to get better. Be patient and persistently and consistently put in your efforts and work you will become great at anything.
Black belts are not white belts who were great, black belts are white who did not give up. So it’s very important you stick with it and keep going no matter what. And one day you will become what you wished you to be.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Instagram.com/joowonly
- Facebook: Facebook.com/hasioka
