Grandmaster Myoung Kuk Park
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Grandmaster Myoung Kuk Park was born in Seoul
Korea, in 1945. Shortly after the Korean War "at the age of 7" he
began his training in the Martial Arts. From the beginning, he has
devoted his entire life to learning and sharing his knowledge of the
martial arts with others.
At 17 years old, Grandmaster Park was the
Tang Soo Do instructor at Kun Kuk University in Seoul, Korea from
1962 to 1964.
He won the All Korea National High School Championships in 1963, and
in 1964 he was the coach for the Korean Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan
Demonstration team.
From 1964 to 1967, Grandmaster Park
instructed U.S. Solders Stationed in Korea. In 1967, he also won the
Korean Military Championships and was sent to teach the Korean Army
until 1968. He then spent an additional year teaching the
Korean and Vietnamese armies
From 1970 to 1973, he was the chief instructor for the Tang Soo Do
Moo Duk Kwan Association is Seoul. Also in 1970, he received his
licenses for Acupressure from the Korean Acupressure Association.
Two years later, in 1972, he received his licenses to practice
Acupuncture from the Korean Acupuncture Association
In 1974, Grandmaster Park came to the United States. He settled in
San Antoine, Texas. While in Texas, he established the Korean
Martial Arts School. In 1976, he was invited to Louisiana by a
former student to do a demonstration, while there he decided to stay
and establish Park's Karate Institute. He later became the Regional
Director for the Korean Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan Association. In
1980 the name was changed to Park's Oriental Martial Arts College
and remains so to this day
The 80's were years of great accomplishment for Grandmaster Park. In 1983, he tested for 8th Dan Tae Kwon Do and Tang Soo Do. He received his certification in both styles in 1984. Also in 1984 he tested for 8th Dan in Hap Ki Do, and was certified in 1985.
In April 2006, Grandmaster Park was promoted
to 9th Dan, and was appointed Southern Regional Director of the
World Moo Duk Kwon General Federation, an international Martial Arts
Association.
Grandmaster Park is the former Chief Instructor of the New
Orleans Police department self-defense class. He is an honorary
Deputy in the Jefferson parish Sheriff Department, a
Commissioned Civilian Officer of the New Orleans Police Department,
and an honorary Captain of the Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff's
Office. He is also the Korean Interpreter for the Jefferson Parish
Sheriff's Office.
Grandmaster Park is an avid golfer and has served multiple terms as
the President of the Korean Golfers Association of New Orleans. He
has also served as past President of the Korean Association of the
Greater New Orleans, as well as President of the Korean
Chamber of Commerce.