Community Highlights: Meet Salim Oden of Progressive Taekwondo Academy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Salim Oden.

Hi Salim, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My father taught Taekwondo. I guess you can say my story starts with my birth in Cleveland, OH. Growing up with a dad who teaches Taekwondo gave me a different childhood than all of my friends. For me, Taekwondo was my main hobby.

I never saw it as a family business even though I spent a lot of time at our dojang (martial arts school) and traveling around the country competing in different tournaments. My father was a Taekwondo instructor and my coach, my mother was a middle school teacher and my siblings and I were his my father’s students just like hundreds of other people had been.

In 2003, while training for some upcoming tournaments I was given the opportunity to teach Taekwondo at a local community center. I was close to graduating from North Carolina State University with a degree in Secondary Education with the intent to be a High School Social Studies teacher. The community center was close to where I was staying and it was a nice part-time job a couple of hours a week.

As the years passed my program at the community center grew and my passion and love for teaching Taekwondo grew with it. After 10 years at the community center, I decided to start my own Taekwondo school and call it Progressive Taekwondo Academy. The name of his father’s first martial arts school was Progressive Arts College so the school name is a tribute and a continuation of what he started.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Moving from teaching at a community center gave me a strong foundation on how to manage a quality martial arts program. Moving out of the community center and becoming an official business meant that I was gonna have to strengthen my business acumen.

I gave myself time to learn on the fly by working full time at NC State University to alleviate the pressure of having the business support, my family. In the fall of 2019, I left NC State to focus on the business full time. In 2020, the entire world got hit with a pandemic.

Having to close down for several months was a struggle but I was able to adapt and provide virtual and outdoor classes to keep the business and my students progressing.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The definition of “Progressive” is moving forward, advancing; promoting, or favoring progress towards better conditions. At Progressive Taekwondo Academy it is our objective to make sure that each person that walks through our doors is progressing not only as a martial artist but also as an individual and a member of society. The five tenets of Taekwondo: courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit will provide the foundation for our teachings and character development.

Our mission is to provide a safe and comfortable environment for students of all ages and skill levels to build confidence, gain life skills, and have fun while getting in shape and learning the martial art of Taekwondo. Throughout our teachings, we will be respectful to the history of Taekwondo and remember that Taekwondo is more than just kicking and punching but a way of life.

Progressive Taekwondo Academy offers programs for youth and adults age 4 years and up. Headlined by or youth and Family Taekwondo programs. With Taekwondo being an Olympic Sport we have a Sport Taekwondo program for students who want to pursue the competition aspect of Taekwondo.

Additional programs we offer are DefenseFit which is our Women’s Self Defense program. After School Taekwondo program with school pick up and homework support. We also have Summer and Teacher Work Day camps for youth when they are out of school.

How do you define success?
I define success as accomplishing one’s goal or goals.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.ProgressiveTaekwondo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ProgressiveTKD
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProgressiveTKD
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLlROThkGokYKIo5Twk9OrQ

Image Credits
Jenny Midgley, Nathan Olmscheid, and Madison Haines