01/13/2026
20 years ago today, Grandmaster Ki Jin Chang passed away at 44 years old. I took over Chang Brothers Taekwondo Academy at 20, so this date also marks that half of my life has been spent as a school owner and coach.
When I think back on him, a few things always come to mind.
Outside of his love for golf, what many masters remember most about him was how open he was to other coaches. It didn’t matter where you came from or what background you had. If you were part of the Taekwondo community and willing to learn, his door was open. I’ve heard countless stories over the years of him helping people simply because they loved the art.
Many also remember him as the man on the mic at Illinois tournaments in the 90s. He came to America as a teenager, so his English was strong, and he moved comfortably between two cultures. He was deeply Korean in his roots, but also very American in how he thought. That showed at home too. He was one of the few Korean fathers of his generation who openly showed affection to his kids. He talked openly about how he grew up and made a conscious choice to raise me differently. He understood that honoring where you come from doesn’t mean repeating everything exactly the same.
Above all, my father genuinely enjoyed life. He loved his friends, his hobbies, and doing the things that made him happy. We express that in different ways, but watching him taught me how short life really is. He never carried the idea that life was meant to be endured. It was meant to be lived.
Twenty years later, his memory reminds me of the important role Masters and Coaches have in our community to lead by example.
