Phone: 215-885-3000
1907 Susquahanna Road • Abington, PA
Mon-Fri  10:00am-8:30pm
Saturday 10:00am-12:00pm • Sunday Closed

 

 

 

Learn about our Instructors

Paek’s Taekwondo Instructors

Grandmaster In Ho Kim

Grandmaster Kim is the Head Instructor and Director of Paek’s Martial Arts School
8th degree Black Belt

Grandmaster Kim holds an 8th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. To attain this recognition, candidates are required to write a dissertation and defend it in front of a board of judges at the World Tae Kwon Do Headquarters in Seoul, Korea. Because this process is so challenging, there are only a few Taekwondoists in the world to obtain this rank. Grandmaster Kim’s dissertation analyzed the biomechanical weaknesses that result from traditional methods of teaching students.

He began Tae Kwon Do training at the age of nine as a means of physical rehabilitation, receiving his 1st Degree Black Belt at the age of eleven. Grandmaster Kim is the youngest in the world of the 195 Professional Martial Arts Instructors who are members of the elite Moo Do Kwan Society. 

His versatile background includes:

2012: Awarded Masters of Science (MS) in Physical Physiology at Ameristate University, Graduate School of Martial Arts.

2011-2012: Pennsylvania President of American Taekwondo Association

1999: Instructor by Invitation to the CIA and Korean Secret Service

1996: Receives Korean National Presidential Commendation for “Athletic Achievement and Promotion of Good Will Between the Nations”

1991: Grandmaster Kim receives ownership of Paek’s Tae Kwon Do from his uncle, Nam Suk Paek

1990: Recipient of the “Excellence in Achievement” Award from the Pro Hap Ki Do Association

1982: Became an instructor at Paek’s Tae Kwon Do School

1978-1982: Head Instructor of the Sam Won Tae Kwon Do Academy in Seoul, Korea

1975-1978: Instructor to the Green Berets

1976: Welter Weight Korean National Champion

Adding to his diverse credentials, Grandmaster Kim also holds a 5th Degree Black Belt in Hap Ki Do, and is a Master Instructor in Gumdo.

 

Instructor Sunny Kim

Co-Owner & current Head Master at Paek’s Taekwondo School

5th Degree Black Belt

Master Sunny began his training in Taekwondo at the age of 4, earning his 1st Degree Blackbelt at the age of 10. To date, he has over 25 years of training experience  and 13 years of teaching experience. He is a certified Administrative Judge and instructor through the World Taekwondo Federation of Kukkiwon and an Amateur Athletic Union certified Taekwondo coach for Olympic Sparring, Point Sparring, Poomsae and General Taekwondo. 

In addition to his martial art training, he has earned an A.S. in Business Administration, and is certified in First Aid, CPR AED.

  • The Best of America Small Business Award for Fitness & Wellness Winner 2023
  • The Best of America Small Business Awards 2023 TopList Member 
  • Former Head Master at Dragon Yong-In Martial Arts School in Purcelville, VA (DYMA headquarters)
  •  Has successfully trained a gold medalist in Sparring for AAU/USATKD Taekwondo competitions -Coached multiple athletes into 1st Place in Pennsylvania & New Jersey State championships
  • Cultivated partnerships with Abington Homeschool Community and Abington Friends School
  • Developed and taught multiple self-defense and Taekwondo programs
  • 2021 Joined the National Taekwondo Poomsae team at DYMA under Grandmaster Jo 
  • 2018 Pennsylvania State Heavy weight Champion in Sparring
  • Safesport Certified & Sports 180 certified

 

 

Instructor Joanna Libonati

Joanna joined the Paek’s community in 2001 training in TaeKwonDo for the physically rehabilitative benefits. She specializes in teaching Tae Han Gumdo and weapons in addition to TaeKwondo.

To complement teaching at Paek’s, Joanna competes in regional and local martial art tournaments. She holds a BFA in Communication Design, is an ACE Certified Health Coach, a Life Coach, and operates Ascension Design.