About Master Park
 |
Grand Master Park started Park’s Martial Arts Academy 38 years ago after a storied career as a world class Judo competitor for South Korea and a brief time as the Olympic Judo coach for the Netherlands. After his competitive career was over Master Park’s next goal was to come to the United States. He had visited the US while on an exhibition Judo Competition tour with South Korea and knew at that time his ultimate goal was to be here in the United States.
He carried that dream with him and persevered through all the obstacles until finally arriving her for good in 1978. That dream, drive, desire, and dedication are what he instills in his students everyday, every class hour and at every opportunity. For his students, both young and old, Master Park has a passion to make a positive impact on their lives. He and his wife Mrs. Park have dedicated themselves to the community, their students and the schools to give everyone involved the best experience possible. |
Because of this, Master Park (and Mrs. Park) have created a long legacy of dedicated instructors, students and friends that have been impacted in all aspects of their lives. That impact and influence to make each person, young or old, the best person they can be is what draws people to Master Park and Park’s Martial Arts.
What was written some 21 years ago in the Billings Gazette (April 20, 1997) still holds true today for Master Park. Now in his 38th year in Billings, Master Park is the founder of Park’s Martial Arts Academy.
Graceful, gentle martial artist
Billings judo master shows the power of control and humility
One of the world's top martial-arts instructors, the hard-bodied Master Suk Byung Park, preaches - not the skills of punishing kicks or darting body punches - but about the art of loving his opponent during a judo match.
To Master Park, martial arts is more about morality and spirituality, respect and honor, and humility and love, than sport.
Graceful, gentle martial artist
Billings judo master shows the power of control and humility
One of the world's top martial-arts instructors, the hard-bodied Master Suk Byung Park, preaches - not the skills of punishing kicks or darting body punches - but about the art of loving his opponent during a judo match.
To Master Park, martial arts is more about morality and spirituality, respect and honor, and humility and love, than sport.
|
In heavily accented English, the black belt worked hard to explain his life and philosophy. Despite an office filled with plaques and trophies, Park announced, "I am not better than you.''
"Physical exercise and mental discipline is more important'' than kicking and punching, Park said. Jung-Do is a philosophy that teaches students "right-looking, right-listening, right-thinking and right-talking,'' which means living every aspect of life morally. His black-shouldered uniform sports two pairs of chest and arm patches, including Park's school patch and the American Jung-Do Federation patch. In 1970, he graduated from the world's first martial-arts college, a school that flunked half of his 85-member class. The Korea Judo College hired Park as an instructor, one of two graduates honored with a teaching position. Among other honors, Park captured the Korea National Championship for six consecutive years from 1969 to 1974, placed second in the World Championships and served as Olympic Head Coach in the Netherlands. In 1977, a Billings college professor invited Park to Montana, and he stayed. The American Jung Do Federation voted Park the 1993 Black Belt Man of The Year. His former students have spread out, operating 11 martial-arts schools from Sheridan, Wyo., to Oklahoma. Park's message is simple, if ironic for today's world: Martial-arts students should respect their education, respect their parents, respect their country. Master Park's Achievements:
|
 Grand Master Park was a 5 time Korean National Judo Champion on his way to the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich when his arm was broken in a Judo match.
Since that time, Grand Master Park has devoted his time and talents to teaching the martial arts; first as a professor at Yongin University in Seoul Korea, then as head coach of the Netherlands Judo Team and for the last thirty plus years in Billings, MT. Master Park was bestowed the honor of being one of the torch-bearers for the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002. |
Frank Park, Instructor
|
Frank Park, Master Park’s son, is the head instructor at 1920 Central Avenue. His accomplishments include:
|
 Frank Park |