The Korean Academy of Taekwondo (KAT) celebrated its 25th year of service to the city of Aurora, Colo. on February 12, 2005. The KAT was founded in February of 1980 by Grandmaster J.K. Chung, one of the world’s foremost martial artists. He served as a US national team coach and led the US to a near sweep in the 1987 Pan Am Games, winning 7 of 8 gold medals. He left the US to serve as head of security for the President of South Korea.

The school has led a storied existence with many state, national, and international champions at the junior and senior levels. They have been very active in the community, with members donating tens of thousands of hours of community service. Developing future leaders has always been a priority of the school. Over the years they have trained thousands of students to be positive role models in the community. Their students have reached many areas of academic and professional success, including serving as police officers, professional athletes, business leaders, teachers, and doctors.

The Korean Academy of Taekwondo has had five different facilities in the quarter century that they have been in business. The newest facility, located in the Timani Center at Mississippi and Buckley, is by far the best. This facility is one of the only martial arts schools in Colorado built from the ground up to be a state of the art martial arts facility. It was completed in July, 2004. Head instructors are Master Bill Pottle and Master Ghassan Timani.