07/01/2019
Taekwondo has always been my life. Since the beginning. My father, Grand Master Chan Hak Park, introduced me to this Martial Art as an infant as I spent time in the Dojang that he started in 1977. As a 3 year old, I began officially training by starting classes under my father's tutelage. From that point on, Taekwondo has been my journey of over 40 years taking me from no belt to black belt, beginner to master, athlete to coach, student to mentor, life changed to life changer. I am grateful to have come across the thousands of people who came through the front doors of the school. I am appreciative to everyone who allowed us to build something at this school that created a livelihood and a beacon in this city and community. I am honored to have been part of that.
I have retired from Taekwondo and Park's Taekwondo Academy effective June 30, 2019.
To be clear, this is entirely my choice. I am in good health and have the blessing of my family but my time in Taekwondo has come to an end and with that I have made this decision.
To the many students and parents who over the decades have entrusted in my father, the dojang, and myself to be trained in the martial arts in the methods and the structure given here, Thank You. Through the relationship of student and master, we have been gifted the opportunity to build many deep and fulfilling relationships that we will remember for the rest of our lives. We have created and shared a bond unlike any other in our lives and for that reason, we are truly blessed to have found each other.
To my Team Park Sport Taekwondo Athletes, thank you for giving me something so precious as your trust. I am honored that you all allowed me to be the conduit to your goals and dreams. I never took that for granted as your coach and put all my efforts into making you CHAMPIONS while offering a little wisdom and guidance along the way. Together, our small school and program built one of the best teams in the nation, and no one could ever doubt that or take that away from us. Coaching was some of the best times of my life. I thank you for letting me be a part of that. Thank you all for being WARRIORS for me.
To the students who are continuing on, you are the ones who will carry on the legacy for Grand Master Park and myself. Please take that responsibly seriously in your training. You will always be a reflection of our teachings, our style, our mentality, our dojang. Thank you for picking up where I left off.
Life is a path full of hills and valleys, winding roads, and unexpected turns. I believe that a fulfilled life is more like this instead of like a straight road. I love each and every one of you. May we one day have the paths of our lives cross again. I look forward to seeing how far we have come.
- Master Charles Park
Park's Taekwondo Academy
