Meet Our Team
Grandmaster Ki Hong Kim
Grandmaster KH Kim is an active 9th Dan member of the Kukkiwon, World Taekwondo Headquarters, and is certified as a 1st Class International Master, a 1st Class Poom-Dan Examiner, and a 1st Class International Referee. His achievements span more than 50 years, from being a martial art champion in his youth to an international leader of Taekwondo today.
He led and represented the United States in various capacities at the international level, including the Summer Olympic Games in 2000, 2004, and 2016. He was the Tournament Director for the 14th U.S. Junior Olympics in 1994, which had the largest attendance on record, with over 5,000 competitors.
Grandmaster Kim travels worldwide to promote Taekwondo and helps lead Taekwondo schools and organizations in Korea, India, China, Hungary, Philippines, Romania, and Russia, as well as countries in South America, Africa, and the Middle East. He keeps his passion second to none, for his own students, instructors, and staff at his headquarters school in Northbrook, IL, which has over 25 branch locations in the Chicagoland area.
Marianne Puthenmadom
Ms. Marianne is the Chief of Operations and holds a 3rd Dan Kukkiwon Black Belt with over 10 years of Taekwondo experience.
2016 WTMU Taekwondo Cultural Trip, Korea
2014 World Taekwondo Hanmadang, Pohang City, Korea
2014 Seoul World Taekwondo Leaders Forum, Korea
2012 Youth Program, Anti-Bully Certification from the Verbal Judo Institute
2009-2011 Organizing Committee, U.S. Open Taekwondo Hanmadang
Beverly Smith
Master Smith is our Special Team Leader and holds a 5th Dan Kukkiwon Black Belt with over 35 years of Taekwondo experience.
Certified as an International Master, a Poom-Dan Examiner, and a World Taekwondo Hanmadang Referee.
1st Place Poomsae in 2011 U.S. Open Hanmadang Tournament
Certified Antibully Instructor from the Verbal Judo Institute.
Daniel Ruiz
Master Daniel is the Headmaster and holds a 4th Dan Kukkiwon Black Belt with over 20 years of Taekwondo experience.
An international Poomsae Champion for 10 consecutive years, he is certified with the PATU, the Official Pan American Continental Representative of the Kukkiwon, for Standard Poomsae.
He has over 140 Taekwondo medals and awards, speaks both English and Spanish, and was a member of the Colombian National Team for 10 years.
Christian Schuman
Master Christian is a 4th Dan Kukkiwon Black Belt with over 20 years of Taekwondo experience.
Studied abroad in Korea and specializes in traditional weaponry. He serves as our
Martial Arts Demonstration Leader and can speak basic Korean.
He has been with KH Kim Taekwondo since he was 4 years old.
Justin Potvin
Instructor Justin is the School Manager and holds a 3rd Dan Kukkiwon Black Belt with over 10 years of Taekwondo experience.
2014 Illinois State Sparring Gold Medalist
2013 Illinois State Sparring & Poomsae Gold Medalist
2013 USAT National Sparring Gold Medalist
2011 U.S. Hanmadang National Double Gold Medalist
Henry Perkins
Instructor Perkins is a 3rd Dan Kukkiwon Black Belt with over 10 years of Taekwondo experience.
Passed the first level of the Kukkiwon International Master Certification course.
Teaches at our Schiller Park and Lake Forest locations, as well as at the Headquarters.
He is our Audio-Visual expert for our bi-annual school inter-tournaments.
Mohamed Ghzaf
Master Ghzaf is a 6th Dan Kukkiwon Black Belt and has been with KH Kim Taekwondo since 2012.
Frank Salinas
Master Salinas is a 6th Dan Kukkiwon Black Belt and has been with KH Kim Taekwondo since 1984.
Armando Del'Rosario
Master Mandy is a 5th Dan Kukkiwon Black Belt and has been with KH Kim Taekwondo since 2005.
Christina Kim
Master Kim is a 4th Dan Kukkiwon Black Belt. As the elder daughter of GM Kim, she has been with KH Kim Taekwondo all her life!
Joel Dell'Aringa
Master Joel is a 4th Dan Kukkiwon Black Belt and has been with KH Kim Taekwondo since 2010.
Bruce Jones
Master Jones is a 6th Dan Kukkiwon Black Belt and has been with KH Kim Taekwondo since 2018.
Alfred Paloma
Master Paloma is a 6th Dan Kukkiwon Black Belt and has been with KH Kim Taekwondo since 2004.
Azat Gainiakhmetov
Master Azat is a 5th Dan Kukkiwon Black Belt and has been with KH Kim Taekwondo since 2010.
Trevor O'Donnell
Master Trevor is a 4th Dan Kukkiwon Black Belt and has been with KH Kim Taekwondo since 2012.
Edgar Bran
Instructor Bran is a 3rd Dan Kukkiwon Black Belt and has been with KH Kim Taekwondo since 2012.
Christopher Clemente
Master Clemente is a 6th Dan Kukkiwon Black Belt and has been with KH Kim Taekwondo since 2005.
Cristian Porutiu
Master Porutiu is a 5th Dan Kukkiwon Black Belt and has been with KH Kim Taekwondo since 2006.
Moosung Son
Master Son is a 4th Dan Kukkiwon Black Belt and has been with KH Kim Taekwondo since 2008.
Ivan Neri
Master Neri is a 4th Dan Kukkiwon Black Belt and has been with KH Kim Taekwondo since 2012.