New martial arts studio on Sullivan

A martial arts master whose reputation stretches from coast to coast recently opened his third Spokane area studio, this one in Spokane Valley.

Jung Kim opened his most recent tae kwon do studio, also called a Dojang, in November in a shopping center along Sullivan Road, and joining an already competitive Valley market for martial arts training.

Kim is a Korean native who moved to New York in 1986 and taught the ancient martial art that originated from his homeland to New York Jets football players and those training at the Big Apple’s police academy.

He decided to bring his talent across the country in 1996 for a change of pace and to bring greater emphasis to teaching youth. Kim has studios on the South Hill and in North Spokane and has about 600 students from age 5 to 65-plus.

“This is not just school,” Kim says. “This is Jung Kim’s tae kwon do family.”

Tae kwon do means “kick, punch, the way of life,” but Kim says the teachings go beyond the