Today we’d like to introduce you to Charles Dudley.
Hi Charles, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Born and raised in Mississippi. I have interests in many different things and have pursued several as occupations. Two that I most focused on were art and martial arts. I paint photo-realistically on a large scale, such as the sides of buildings, billboards, and walls inside businesses. I contracted with several outdoor advertising companies for over 20 years, traveling, living, and working in many different cities across the southern United States. I was sought out and ultimately hired by AHT Mega, a company in Malaysia, on a two-year contract, helping them develop an outdoor advertising company and teaching them how to paint, as I had been doing in the United States. It was quite an experience, and my contract ended just after the first Gulf War. As Malaysia is a Muslim country, even though they are officially tolerant of other religions and there exists a large expatriate community from all over the world, there was serious backlash because we were Americans, and there were several incidents that we experienced, such as a bomb planted at my oldest daughter’s school, to my house broken in to and ransacked and items stolen, and several others incidences that caused great conflict between the AHT Mega and me. They did not want me to leave, and I did not want my family in danger. Soon after the war ended, as my contract expired, I returned to the United States.
I had several job offers in different States, but of all the places I had lived, I liked San Antonio the best. It was like a big, small town! I fell in love with the people, the culture, and the beauty of the City. I picked up where I left off when I was here last. But, after a while, I saw the handwriting on the wall. The industry was changing with the advent of large-scale computer printing. I could go head-to-head with a computer in quality, but I could not produce twenty-four-seven like it could. So I turned to my other passion, martial arts.
I have been training in the Martial Arts since 1969. So, why teach Martial Arts as a profession? After experiencing a lot of personal and family turmoil in my life, as most of us have, I wanted to do what I could to help people build strength and overcome challenges, and I love helping people grow strong. Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. Mind, Body, Spirit, all three have to grow together. In teaching Martial Arts, I knew I could help change people’s lives for the better, mine included. Over the past 30 years, working with adults and kids alike, I have had many, many success stories of students who have gone on to do great things. So many positive stories to tell! These positive outcomes have made the battles over the years worth it.
The trials and tribulations of running a Martial Arts school, or any business for that matter, can be very difficult. One of the biggest challenges I faced was a battle with the State of Texas. In the year 2000, an enforcement officer from Child Protective Services walked in my door and accused me of running an illegal day care facility because I had an after-school Martial Arts training program. I explained that this was a martial arts school, not a day care. She demanded that I attend an orientation meeting to learn what I needed to do to become licensed. I went, and after sitting there for eight hours listening to things like changing baby diapers and dealing with formula, I asked the State instructor why I was there. She asked what I did, I answered, and she told me I was exempt. So, two months later, the State enforcement officer came to my school again, really angry as she thought I was ignoring her. I explained what the State instructor told me, and she said she didn’t care, threatened to bankrupt me, chain and padlock my door, and post a Deputy Sheriff there and arrest me if I tried to enter my building. That was a mistake on her part! You don’t come into my house and threaten me. We can talk, but don’t threaten me and my family. So the fight was on. There were many twists and turns throughout this battle with the State, and in 2005, I had caused so many problems for them that I was issued an exemption letter. That was fine, but they were also going after many other Martial Arts schools, Gymnastic studios, Dance schools, Cheer schools, and such. So I forced the State to issue the exemption letters to the schools I knew about, as we were all running our programs very similarly. I challenged the State on two points. The State agency was making up rules that lacked statutory authority, and it did not have the statutory authority to issue the exemptions. In July of 2008, one of the State legislators I was talking to took it to the State Attorney General, and he agreed with my position. He canceled all the exemptions the State had issued, and, by default, the schools that capitulated and did what the State told them were now committing crimes, as the laws governing children differ from those governing adults. We had a mess on our hands, forced by the State’s overreach. The only way to fix it was to change the law itself. So, I went to Austin and fought for 9 months. I was working 80 hours a week on this fight, plus running my Martial Arts school. I was only able to do so due to my wonderful wife and sons, who were running the school while I was up in Austin fighting. Fighting this battle with the State was an exhaustive process. I was asked many times why I was doing it, trying to save so many small businesses and organizations from the State’s overreach, as many were afraid to stand with me and take on this fight. It never occurred to me not to. After thinking about it, I realized I was not doing it just for them, but for my students, my family. Our students face negative peer pressure every day, which is just as real to them as the State threatening me with bankruptcy and jail. How could I teach them to stand strong against that negative peer pressure if I did show them how? I couldn’t quit…I wouldn’t quit! They were too important! The main war finished on June 19th, 2009, when Governor Perry signed Senate Bill 68, with amendments that I personally wrote, into law, which exempted all Skills-Based Programs from State regulation. Since then, I have cooperatively worked (for the most part) with the State, helping various Skills-Based Programs maintain and achieve their exempt status. Now, to be fair, the State had legitimate concerns about some questionable programs and about not creating loopholes that would allow others to escape necessary State regulation, thus putting kids at risk. I worked with the State to help close those as well, and I continue to work for the benefit of our people here in San Antonio—the City I love—and for the State of Texas.
I am proud to show off our City. One thing we do yearly is host the Korean Junior Eagles Demonstration Team, an official Taekwondo demonstration team from South Korea composed of young school-aged students. Each year, they tour various cities here in the United States. Their schedule changes each year, but the one city they always visit is San Antonio! They are here for about ten days in January, and we show them many of the wonderful things about our great City and the surrounding areas. One exciting thing for them will be performing the halftime show at the San Antonio Spurs game on MLK Day! I also have several local martial arts schools demonstrating at the pre-game show that evening. Their visit is an opportunity for all of us to have fun and learn about each other. The Korean students want to learn about real life in the United States, not just what they see on TV and the internet. One thing they will do is tour Wetmore Elementary School to see what an American school looks like. The Korean students will perform a demonstration to show their appreciation for this opportunity. But this is not just one-way. In the summer, we also visit them in South Korea. I believe in creating enriching experiences for our students that they would not normally get a chance to have. … So many stories!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a creator, whether it be painting, woodworking, photography/video, business innovation, or helping people grow and have better lives. With my faith, I work and use all my skills to produce something beautiful that improves our world, constantly seeking to improve and to serve. Long ago, the parents in my school gave me the nickname, “The Child Whisperer.” I guess what sets me apart from others is that I never quit and go to great lengths to help people realize the potential I see in them, whether they do or not. I work to help them see it, and make it a reality.
*I am a 7th Degree Chief Master in the Korean art of Kung Jung Mu Sul.
*President of the Texas Martial Arts Council
*Awarded, “Martial Arts Hero of the Year,” by Martial Arts News Magazine in 2009 for the victory protecting our industry here in Texas.
*Awarded, “Service to Youth Award,” by the Gymnastics Association of Texas for the aforementioned victory.
*Awarded, “Superintendent Award” by the North East Independent School District for service to the youth in the district.
*I work with several groups, such as Love Strong Marriage Ministry, to help people build better lives for themselves, their families, and the community.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
My faith, my warrior spirit, and my unwillingness to give up…ever!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://martialartstexas.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kung_jung_mu_sul
- Facebook: Kung Jung Mu Sul of Texas
- Youtube: Kung Jung Mu Sul of Texas
