Tae Kwon Do
Portland, Oregon
503-292-7887
Portland, Oregon
503-292-7887
This information is out of date, very out of date. We will have the current info as soon as possible.
Name: Stefee Knudsen
Rank: Fourth Dan (Degree)
How long have you been doing Taekwondo: 16 yrs.
Have you worked out at other schools: Yes. I started in college at Cornell University, earning my first dan there. After
returning to Portland, I worked out at several schools on the west side of Portland in the first two years I was here. Finally, I
found Master Ha!
Why did you pick Yong-In Taekwondo: I picked Yong-In Taekwondo because I could see that Master Ha was passionate
about Taekwondo. He wants this to be a successful dojang, as well as a successful profession. In the time I've been with
Master Ha, he has also proven to be a person of integrity and respect.
Favorite thing about tkd: It depends on when you ask me! I love doing poomses because it's like meditation to me. But
sometimes, I just love kicking targets and doing target sparring. Mostly, though, it's the community of people that I like the
most.
Available for private lessons: Yes. On weekends.
Name: Jack Walsh
Rank: Third Degree
How long have you been doing Taekwondo: 7 yrs.
Have you worked out at other schools: Yes
Favorite thing about tkd: Studying curriculum and assisting. It’s fun to get to know the kids and teach them.
Available for private lessons: Yes, mostly Sundays (11 AM) and Thursdays (After 3:00 PM)
Name: Krystyna Owens
Rank: 3rd Degree
How long been doing tkd: 9 years
Have you worked out at other schools?: yes, for the state Junior Elite Team at Master Choi's
Why did you pick Yong In Taekwondo?: It was close to my home and had friends that really liked Yong In.
Favorite thing about tkd: Sparring. Even though it can be painful, it's fun if you can get over the fear.
Are you available to teach private lessons? Yes, Saturdays and Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday (not Thursday) after 3:
00
Name: Heidi Lewis
Rank: Second Degree
How long have you been doing Taekwondo: 9 yrs.
Have you worked out at other schools: No but I have assisted many testings and tournaments with other schools.
Why did you pick Yong-In Taekwondo: I picked Taekwondo because of all the schools Master Ha's looked the safest and
friendliest and Master Ha was so incredibly nice.
Favorite thing about tkd: My favorite thing is assisting classes and helping other people.
Available for private lessons: Yes
Anything else?: Master Ha is a great role model and teacher I'm very thankful for him and many other black belts.
Name: Scott Hutchins
Rank: 1st Dan
How long been doing tkd: 3 years
Have you worked out at other schools?: Yes, I went to the United States Karate Academy International since I was 2 years
old, and trained there for 21 years.
Why did you pick Yong In Taekwondo?: Because of out of all the Taekwondo masters, Master Ha was the most traditional.
When I first came in, there was something about him that told me that he really had a sense of tradition, respect, culture,
family...so many things that are important qualities of being a master.
Favorite thing about tkd: The kicks. My favorite to practice over and over would be the round house kick.
Are you available to teach private lessons? Yes, please ask me at the dojang in order to schedule one.
Name: Sue Moote
Rank: 3rd Dan
How long been doing tkd: 6 years
Have you worked out at other schools?: Some ITF training in Detroit MI
Why did you pick Yong In Taekwondo?: good balance between mind and body (didn't hurt that its 5 min from my house),
Master Ha works very well with children
Favorite thing about tkd: ability to participate as a family
Are you available to teach private lessons? Not generally
Name: Jihan Lee
Rank: 3rd Degree
How long been doing tkd: 5 Years
Have you worked out at other schools?: Yes
Why did you pick Yong In Taekwondo?: I picked this school because it was right next to my neighborhood
Favorite things about tkd: Sparring and Tournaments
Are you available to teach private lessons? Yes, I am available after 3:15 Monday through Thursday.
Anything else you want to say about Taekwondo, Yong-In Taekwondo, or yourself?: Taekwondo is the best sport I have
ever done. Hopefully I continue Taekwondo until at least 80.
Name: Paul Polratana
Rank: 3rd Dan WTF (and 2nd Dan ITF)
How long been doing tkd: Since 1982
Have you worked out at other schools?: Kim's Tae Kwon-Do, US West Coast, Choi's Martial Arts, Portland State TKD
Club, Dacascos Kung-Fu Academy
Why did you pick Yong In Taekwondo?: After watching many shows on Kung Fu Theater I bugged my mother for years to
put me in martial arts. She finally took me to the only martial arts school in Astoria. I ended up doing my first intro class in
my Boy Scout uniform.
Favorite thing about tkd: My favorite thing about TKD is forms. Forms allows a person to take his or her time to perfect. So
much can be demonstrated and viewed. I broke it down to be: Focus, Power, Technique, and Balance. Discipline above all
empowers one to tie all four together.
Are you available to teach private lessons? Yes, only during the weekends.
Anything else you want to say about Taekwondo, Yong-In Taekwondo, or yourself?: I'll hear the question pop up every once
in a while, "What is the best form of martial arts or style?" I tell them to keep in mind that it's not all about self-defense. To
me it is more about challenging one self, mentally and physically. It helps me build and strengthen self-discipline and
confidence to take on challenges whether short-term or long-term. Also, the word 'art' to me means self-expression. Therefore,
there are a couple things a person needs to look for when they want to begin training. One is, a form or style they feel
comfortable with and two is an instructor who is challenging and inspiring. Master Ha upholds all that I believe Tae Kwon-Do
represents. He is a true leader through and through!
This is why I find Yong-In TKD to be the perfect school for me and one that I can be proud of.
Name: Gretchen McNeely
Rank: 2nd degree black belt
How long been doing tkd: 4 years, two months
Have you worked out at other schools?: No
Why did you pick Yong In Taekwondo?: Location, and Master Ha was recommended to me by a first-degree black belt I
knew who had trained there.
Favorite thing about tkd: Increased physical fitness. I also like learning forms!
Are you available to teach private lessons? No
Anything else you want to say about Taekwondo, Yong-In Taekwondo, or yourself?: TKD has been a great learning
experience. I pick up something new every day. I still get frustrated sometimes, but I look to Master Ha and the higher black
belts to help keep me on track.
Name: Stefee Knudsen
Rank: Fourth Dan (Degree)
How long have you been doing Taekwondo: 16 yrs.
Have you worked out at other schools: Yes. I started in college at Cornell University, earning my first dan there. After
returning to Portland, I worked out at several schools on the west side of Portland in the first two years I was here. Finally, I
found Master Ha!
Why did you pick Yong-In Taekwondo: I picked Yong-In Taekwondo because I could see that Master Ha was passionate
about Taekwondo. He wants this to be a successful dojang, as well as a successful profession. In the time I've been with
Master Ha, he has also proven to be a person of integrity and respect.
Favorite thing about tkd: It depends on when you ask me! I love doing poomses because it's like meditation to me. But
sometimes, I just love kicking targets and doing target sparring. Mostly, though, it's the community of people that I like the
most.
Available for private lessons: Yes. On weekends.
Name: Jack Walsh
Rank: Third Degree
How long have you been doing Taekwondo: 7 yrs.
Have you worked out at other schools: Yes
Favorite thing about tkd: Studying curriculum and assisting. It’s fun to get to know the kids and teach them.
Available for private lessons: Yes, mostly Sundays (11 AM) and Thursdays (After 3:00 PM)
Name: Krystyna Owens
Rank: 3rd Degree
How long been doing tkd: 9 years
Have you worked out at other schools?: yes, for the state Junior Elite Team at Master Choi's
Why did you pick Yong In Taekwondo?: It was close to my home and had friends that really liked Yong In.
Favorite thing about tkd: Sparring. Even though it can be painful, it's fun if you can get over the fear.
Are you available to teach private lessons? Yes, Saturdays and Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday (not Thursday) after 3:
00
Name: Heidi Lewis
Rank: Second Degree
How long have you been doing Taekwondo: 9 yrs.
Have you worked out at other schools: No but I have assisted many testings and tournaments with other schools.
Why did you pick Yong-In Taekwondo: I picked Taekwondo because of all the schools Master Ha's looked the safest and
friendliest and Master Ha was so incredibly nice.
Favorite thing about tkd: My favorite thing is assisting classes and helping other people.
Available for private lessons: Yes
Anything else?: Master Ha is a great role model and teacher I'm very thankful for him and many other black belts.
Name: Scott Hutchins
Rank: 1st Dan
How long been doing tkd: 3 years
Have you worked out at other schools?: Yes, I went to the United States Karate Academy International since I was 2 years
old, and trained there for 21 years.
Why did you pick Yong In Taekwondo?: Because of out of all the Taekwondo masters, Master Ha was the most traditional.
When I first came in, there was something about him that told me that he really had a sense of tradition, respect, culture,
family...so many things that are important qualities of being a master.
Favorite thing about tkd: The kicks. My favorite to practice over and over would be the round house kick.
Are you available to teach private lessons? Yes, please ask me at the dojang in order to schedule one.
Name: Sue Moote
Rank: 3rd Dan
How long been doing tkd: 6 years
Have you worked out at other schools?: Some ITF training in Detroit MI
Why did you pick Yong In Taekwondo?: good balance between mind and body (didn't hurt that its 5 min from my house),
Master Ha works very well with children
Favorite thing about tkd: ability to participate as a family
Are you available to teach private lessons? Not generally
Name: Jihan Lee
Rank: 3rd Degree
How long been doing tkd: 5 Years
Have you worked out at other schools?: Yes
Why did you pick Yong In Taekwondo?: I picked this school because it was right next to my neighborhood
Favorite things about tkd: Sparring and Tournaments
Are you available to teach private lessons? Yes, I am available after 3:15 Monday through Thursday.
Anything else you want to say about Taekwondo, Yong-In Taekwondo, or yourself?: Taekwondo is the best sport I have
ever done. Hopefully I continue Taekwondo until at least 80.
Name: Paul Polratana
Rank: 3rd Dan WTF (and 2nd Dan ITF)
How long been doing tkd: Since 1982
Have you worked out at other schools?: Kim's Tae Kwon-Do, US West Coast, Choi's Martial Arts, Portland State TKD
Club, Dacascos Kung-Fu Academy
Why did you pick Yong In Taekwondo?: After watching many shows on Kung Fu Theater I bugged my mother for years to
put me in martial arts. She finally took me to the only martial arts school in Astoria. I ended up doing my first intro class in
my Boy Scout uniform.
Favorite thing about tkd: My favorite thing about TKD is forms. Forms allows a person to take his or her time to perfect. So
much can be demonstrated and viewed. I broke it down to be: Focus, Power, Technique, and Balance. Discipline above all
empowers one to tie all four together.
Are you available to teach private lessons? Yes, only during the weekends.
Anything else you want to say about Taekwondo, Yong-In Taekwondo, or yourself?: I'll hear the question pop up every once
in a while, "What is the best form of martial arts or style?" I tell them to keep in mind that it's not all about self-defense. To
me it is more about challenging one self, mentally and physically. It helps me build and strengthen self-discipline and
confidence to take on challenges whether short-term or long-term. Also, the word 'art' to me means self-expression. Therefore,
there are a couple things a person needs to look for when they want to begin training. One is, a form or style they feel
comfortable with and two is an instructor who is challenging and inspiring. Master Ha upholds all that I believe Tae Kwon-Do
represents. He is a true leader through and through!
This is why I find Yong-In TKD to be the perfect school for me and one that I can be proud of.
Name: Gretchen McNeely
Rank: 2nd degree black belt
How long been doing tkd: 4 years, two months
Have you worked out at other schools?: No
Why did you pick Yong In Taekwondo?: Location, and Master Ha was recommended to me by a first-degree black belt I
knew who had trained there.
Favorite thing about tkd: Increased physical fitness. I also like learning forms!
Are you available to teach private lessons? No
Anything else you want to say about Taekwondo, Yong-In Taekwondo, or yourself?: TKD has been a great learning
experience. I pick up something new every day. I still get frustrated sometimes, but I look to Master Ha and the higher black
belts to help keep me on track.
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