KATU Taekwon-Do

07/29/2026

Congratulations to Mr. Devin Morgan and Henderson YMCA Taekwondo

After a great deal of hard work, dedication, and a commitment to continually improving upon his already high standards, Mr. Devin Morgan of Henderson YMCA Taekwon-Do has officially been approved as a K.A.T.U. National Instructor and 4th Degree Black Belt.

With this achievement, his school has also been recognized as an official K.A.T.U. Affiliate, designated USA-KY-003.

Mr. Morgan's next objective is to earn the distinction of K.A.T.U. International Level Instructor, and we have every confidence that he will continue to pursue that goal with the same professionalism, perseverance, and dedication that brought him to this milestone.

On behalf of the K.A.T.U. Membership Committee, our Masters, and Grandmasters, we proudly welcome Mr. Morgan, his students, and Henderson YMCA Taekwon-Do into the K.A.T.U. family.

We look forward to watching his dojang continue to grow, modernize, and further elevate its Taekwon-Do standards while serving its students and community with excellence.

Congratulations, Mr. Morgan, on this well-deserved accomplishment!

07/01/2026

K.A.T.U. first summer camp since 2003 is returning! K.A.T.U.s first summer camp was held in Spring Texas in 1986 hosted by Cho, Dae-sung, and the last K.A.T.U. summer camp was held in Manchester CT in 2002 by Hwang, Kwang-sung! Now, returning and this years summer camp is hosted by Masters Kim, Ki-tae and Douglas Grant! This time in Western Kentucky at Pennyrile State Park in Dawson Springs, Kentucky! More info coming!

06/21/2026

Uniform Back Logos, where is your State?

05/22/2026

Ok, serious question for all my fellow martial arts schools and instructors out there…why set your students up for FAILURE?

Now before anyone gets defensive, hear me out.

A LOT of schools run testing every 3-4 months like clockwork. Nothing wrong with that at all. Structured schedules are fine. But here is what I don’t understand…HOW are students being allowed to test if the instructor already knows they are not ready?

And then some of those same students FAIL…then have to PAY AGAIN to retest?

I’m sorry, but unless a student completely freezes up, panics, or just has a really bad day under pressure which DOES happen why are they standing on the floor testing in the first place if they were not prepared to succeed?

To me, that is backwards.

Failure should happen in CLASS. That’s where students struggle, make mistakes, get corrected, improve, and grow. THAT is training. THAT is learning.

Testing should not be a surprise ambush. It should be a confirmation of skills already earned through hard work and preparation.

When instructors knowingly let unprepared students test, in my opinion, it becomes a disservice to:
• the student
• the family paying for it
• and honestly…the reputation of the school itself

Because what message does it send?

“You paid for the opportunity to fail.”

Again, if a student chokes under pressure, forgets material, or just mentally falls apart that day, that’s different. We are all human. But knowingly pushing students through testing just because “it’s testing month” makes no sense to me.

At our school, students test when they are READY. If they are not ready on testing day, then we keep working. No shame in that. Sometimes they wait until the next testing, sometimes we test them separately when they are prepared.

A belt test should leave students feeling:
CONFIDENT
PROUD
MOTIVATED
and hungry to keep improving.

Not embarrassed, defeated, and lighter in the wallet.

Maybe I’m old school…but I believe instructors have a responsibility to PREPARE students for success, not profits.

What does everyone else think?

05/17/2026

Argentina, GM Barriga is traveling from Florida USA to assist with as many as he can! Please feel free to reach out to him.

05/17/2026