Today we’d like to introduce you to Junki Hong.
Junki, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started Taekwondo when I was six years old. At that time, I was very shy, lacked confidence, and was often picked on. My father encouraged me to try Taekwondo to help me become stronger, so I began training. Over the years, Taekwondo completely changed my life. I gained confidence, discipline, and a deep passion for the art. Eventually, I developed a dream of studying Taekwondo more seriously and becoming a Taekwondo master. That dream led me to major in martial arts in college in Korea, where there are many academic programs dedicated to martial arts education.
I first came to the United States during my junior year winter break. My professor recommended that I try an internship at a Taekwondo school in the US, so I decided to go. During those two months, I was deeply moved by how sincerely American students and families loved Taekwondo. That experience stayed with me, and after graduating, I knew I wanted to return to the US and continue my journey as a Taekwondo instructor.
While working as an instructor in the US, I naturally developed a bigger dream of opening my own school and creating a place where I could share the values and life lessons that had shaped me since childhood.
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?
The road has definitely not been smooth. When I first came to the United States, one of my biggest challenges was the language barrier. I wanted to teach well and communicate clearly, but expressing myself in English was difficult. Learning American culture and understanding how families viewed martial arts also took time. I made many mistakes along the way, but each one helped me grow as both an instructor and a person.
Later, when I finally reached the point where I was ready to open my first school, the pandemic began. I had just signed the lease, and three weeks later the world shut down. It was one of the hardest moments in my life because I had worked for years toward that dream. Many people advised me to stop, but I chose to move forward and trust myself. The opening was delayed, but we eventually succeeded, and that experience taught me a lot about belief and perseverance.
About four years later, as the school grew and I built a strong team of instructors, I felt it was the right time to open a second location. I spent six months researching and planning carefully. But on the very day I signed the lease, I suffered the worst injury a Taekwondo instructor could face. I tore my ACL and meniscus, which required surgery and nearly a year of rehabilitation. Balancing my recovery while running the school and preparing for the new location was extremely challenging, but it also reminded me of the resilience I try to teach my students every day.
Through all of these struggles, I learned that growth often comes from the most difficult moments. Each challenge strengthened my purpose and deepened my commitment to creating a place where students can become confident, resilient, and strong.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about World Class Tigers Taekwondo?
Taekwondo is a traditional Korean martial art. Some people confuse it with Karate, which is a traditional Japanese martial art, but they are completely different in history, movement, and philosophy. In recent years, grappling arts like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu have become very popular because of the rise of UFC. As a result, Taekwondo is sometimes undervalued. However, from a technical standpoint, Taekwondo is a very powerful striking art. It has advanced footwork, a wide range of dynamic and effective kicks, and even many UFC fighters today train in Taekwondo to improve their striking skills.
Beyond the technical side, learning Taekwondo forms provides many benefits. Students develop body awareness, balance, coordination, core strength, and mental focus. These skills transfer extremely well to other striking arts and sports. Our school teaches traditional Kukkiwon style Taekwondo, which is the source of all modern styles of Taekwondo around the world. When students train with us, they are learning authentic Taekwondo with its full tradition and structure.
One of the things that sets us apart is the quality and consistency of our instruction. All classes are taught by experienced Korean masters with more than ten years of training and teaching experience. We do not rely on teenage instructors or volunteer coaches, which is very common in martial arts and youth sports programs in the US. When instructors constantly rotate, it becomes difficult to understand each student’s progress and needs. At our school, the same experienced masters guide the students every day, which allows us to truly understand each child and support their long term growth.
Our curriculum and structure are designed with great care. We focus not only on high quality martial arts training but also on character development and life skills. Respect, discipline, courtesy, and responsibility are central to everything we teach. I always emphasize that our mission is to provide high level martial arts education and to create a safe and positive community. When students learn to practice respect and kindness, that behavior spreads to their families, schools, and neighborhoods. I believe that when these children grow up with strong values, they will help create a safer and better community for everyone.
This is something you cannot find in most other sports. Character education is a core part of our curriculum, not an optional idea. I truly believe Taekwondo can change lives because I have seen it happen many times.
Our school is also very active in serving our local community. As we prepare to open our second location, we have donated to ten nearby schools. The reason is simple. Supporting the schools ultimately supports our own students and their families. We plan to continue expanding our community involvement and giving back even more in the future.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love the energy and spirit of the children in our city. I once had the opportunity to teach Taekwondo during PE classes at a nearby elementary school. There were so many bright and energetic students, but I was surprised to see how few of them had actually tried Taekwondo before. It made me wonder why such active and enthusiastic kids were not being exposed to it. That experience strengthened my desire to share the values of Taekwondo with more children in our community.
If I had to choose something I like least, it would be that Taekwondo is not as well known in San Antonio compared to other cities. Many families simply have not had the chance to experience what Taekwondo can offer. My goal is to change that. I hope to introduce Taekwondo to more schools and families and help our city truly understand the confidence, discipline, and positive character development that come from training in this martial art.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://worldclasstigers.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldclasstigerstkd_hq/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tigerhongstkd
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@worldclasstigerstkd
