Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew McLeod.
Hi Matthew, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I began my martial arts journey in 2011 at age 9. I began training at Greensboro Taekwondo America under the expert guidance of esteemed grandmasters Mr. and Mrs. Warren and Elizabeth Davis, and later under Master Instructor Mr. Chris Penn, who was a student of the Davises. My instructors are close personal mentors of mine who I aspired to be like when I grew up. Most recently, I trained for two years under Mr. and Mrs. Drew and Lauren Catha in Winston-Salem, NC, until I finally realized my dream of operating my own Taekwondo school. Upon taking over the Greensboro Taekwondo America school, I was back to where it all began at the very school in which I began my Taekwondo career. I have 15 years of experience in Taekwondo and am currently a fourth-degree senior black belt. I enjoy sharing my passion and knowledge with my students, and hope that they get what I got out of Taekwondo, such as self-confidence and discipline, while training in a martial art that develops both the mind and body!
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?
While I have always enjoyed Taekwondo, it has not always been a smooth road. When I was 12, I joined the adult class, which was a struggle at first because of having to adjust to a new class with people much older and bigger than myself at the time. Ultimately, it made me into a better martial artist, and I am grateful to my parents who would not let me quit when times were tough! This experience gave me a true understanding of perseverance, which is one of the core tenets of Taekwondo. I have always had very high goals, expectations and standards for myself in Taekwondo, and it is not always easy, but you can achieve personal goals through hard work and perseverance, which are among many lessons that the martial arts teach!
As you know, we’re big fans of Greensboro Taekwondo America. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We offer the finest quality traditional Taekwondo training for ages 4 and up! We teach the Ch’ang Hon style of Taekwondo, which was originally developed by General Choi Hong Hi in 1955. Taekwondo consists of blocking, striking and kicking techniques, and is known as the art of self-defense. We belong to an organization called Taekwondo America, which has a governing body and is managed by a Board of Directors, and has schools all over the United States, with each school being independently owned and operated. We take pride in our brand and reputation, as the business has existed since 1989 when Mr. and Mrs. Davis first opened it. We are proud of the high-quality classes we teach and how we encourage students to become the best martial artists they can be! We offer several different programs for different ages. For ages 4 and 5 we offer a Little Dragons program. For ages 6 through 12 we offer a junior’s program, which is split into a beginner, intermediate and advanced class. For ages 13 and up, we offer a teen/adult program.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I would say luck can be a factor at times. For instance, during the summertime, there tends to be more students signing up, due to the school year being over and parents looking for new activities for their children. However, I like to think that the harder you work, the luckier you get! This is true not only in Taekwondo but also in other aspects of life and business.
Pricing:
- $150 a month for first family member
- $130 a month for second family member
- $105 a month for third family member
- Fourth family member and beyond is free
- Includes an $80 enrollment fee that includes a full uniform
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Greensborotaekwondo.com
- Facebook: Greensboro Taekwondo America
- Youtube: Greensboro Taekwondo
