Mr. John Emmons Awarded 8th degree Black Belt

Mr. John Emmons, owner of Emmons’ Taekwondo America in Kissimmee Florida, received his 8th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo and was inducted into Taekwondo America’s Hall of Fame September 21, 2019 at the Fall National Taekwondo Tournament.

Mr. Emmons started training in Taekwondo in Okeechobee FL in 1987 under Mr. Ken Mann to improve his health and reduce the stress of being a police officer. The positive changes he experienced through martial arts inspired him to open his own Taekwondo club in his garage in 1990, which then led to 5 locations with a total of 500 students throughout Osceola County.

In 2002 he was elected to the position of President of Taekwondo America, a role he filled for 10 years and which helped him develop many long term friendships.

His thoughts on achieving the rank of 8th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo?

“It can’t be me?  It was only yesterday that I was in the back of the class at Rolling Hills in the gym at black belt camp trying to see the 4th and 5th degrees teaching the clinic while Sean Wilson Michael Deese were goofing around trying to make me laugh all the while Ms. Julee Peck and Ms. Elizabeth Davis are telling us to be quiet. Or working on advanced one-steps with Mr. Sid Nelson and Mr. Warren Davis and being amazed at their ability and talent. I could go on and on. But, in the immortal words of Wayne and Garth, ‘I’m not worthy!'”

From all of us in Taekwondo America: Congratulation on this major accomplishment, Mr. Emmons!