Interview with Grand Master Eddie Minyard

Grandmaster Eddie Minyard was introduced to Martial Arts (Judo), in 1965. His step-father was a soldier, who had trained while on active duty and then trained his twostepsons. Eddie then began training in Judo and Shorei Ryu Karate, in Moline, Iltaking a bus for 45 minutes each way to the school.While in the US Army in Vietnam, GM Minyard saw a demonstration of Taekwon-Do,presented by the ROK White Horse Division, at the RECONDO School in Nha Trang. Itbecame clear that Taekwon-Do was what he wanted to study. After returning home fromoverseas duty, he began training informally with Master Roger Dorethy, beginning in1970.He began formal training in 1973, under GM Chung En Kim (RIP) (Chang Moo Kwan),a direct student of The Founder of Chang Moo Kwan, Grand Master Nam Suk Lee. GMLee was also an Executive Council Member of the World Taekwondo Federation, in itsearly days. GM Kim was also the Founder of the American Taekwondo Federation, ofwhich GM Minyard was a member.In 1976, GM Minyard was relocated due to work, and began training with the ChoiBrothers, where his primary instructors were GM Yong Duk (YD) Choi and GM YongSung (YS) Choi - both also former students of GM Nam Suk Lee. Under their tutelage,Minyard was awarded his 1st Dan, in 1978. He has maintained his status as a student ofthe Choi Brothers, for the past 45 years, progressively earning rank up to 8th Dan.In 1979, in association with the Choi Brothers, GM Minyard was instrumental in theformation of the American Professional Taekwon-Do Association, a full-contactprofessional competition organization. He is also a contributor to GM YD Choi's book:Practical Tae Kwon Do.Ed is a Charter Member and highest ranked student of the World Sun Do SulFederation, where he assisted GM YS Choi in developing the martial art known as SunDo Sul. The art is based on Sunmudo - a Korean Buddhist Zen-based martial art,combined with elements of Taekwon-Do and Hapkido.In 1988, Minyard was introduced to Supreme Master Kim, Bok Man - one of the OriginalFounders of Taekwon-Do. They maintained a close friendship / mentorshiprelationship, from that time, through the time of SGM Kim's passing, in 2021. GMMinyard was awarded 8th Dan in SGM Kim's system, Chun Kuhn Taekwondo, currentlyserves as the President of the New Hampshire Chapter of The World Chun KuhnFederation and is a Special Advisor to the President of The World Chun KuhnFederation.In 1993, while training in New York under GM Yeon Hwan Park, former coach of theU.S. Olympic and Pan-American Tae Kwon Do teams and former vice president of theUnited States Tae Kwon Do Union, Ed was involved in organizing the 11th Annual WorldTae Kwon Do Championships, in NYC at Madison Square Garden. He was responsiblefor ensuring a memorable and comfortable experience for worldwide dignitaries, including the President of the WTF, Head of the US Olympic Committee and Head ofUSA Taekwondo. The event had over 700 competitors and was broadcast on ABCWide World of Sports. For his contribution, Ed was awarded a plaque consisting ofthree Gold Medals from the Championship.In 1998, GM Minyard was Certified to Officiate in events sanctioned by the WorldAssociation of Karate and Kickboxing Organizations - USA (WAKO_USA), authorizedby then-President GM Don Rodriques, Vice President, GM Tom Festa and ChiefInternational Referee, GMT. Rondo VanClief.In 2019, GM Minyard was certified by Deepak Chopra and the Chopra Center, as aPrimordial Sound Meditation Teacher. He incorporates this meditation practice into hisTaekwon-Do regimen, and teaches it to others.In 2020, Grand Master Minyard was inducted into the US Kido Federation Black BeltHall of Fame, as Grand Master of the Year, and is a Lifetime Member of the USKIDOFederation.Also in 2020, he was included in the Who's Who in America Martial Arts book, alongwith GM Chuck Norris and other notable Martial Arts luminaries.In 2021, GM Minyard was promoted to 9th Dan, by the International Jun TongFederation, for which he also serves as Northeast Regional Director and SpecialAdvisor to the Founder and the President of the Federation.Also in 2021, GM Minyard was accepted into the International Taekwon-Do Federationin Korea (ITF-HQ Korea).GM Minyard has operated schools in Illinois, lowa, Nebraska and New York. Hasprovided instruction to as many as 100 first responders, in disaster response basecamps, law enforcement officers and members of the military. He currently teachesprivate students in NH, at his Hayan San (White Mountain) Martial Arts Dojang. He alsoenjoys participating as a Promotional Board Member, Tournament Judge, Referee andCoach, for events across the United States.Throughout his life, Martial Arts have been a part of GM Minyard's foundation. He haschosen the life of a warrior in every aspect. As a soldier in Vietnam, a competitor intournaments, law enforcement officer and a First Responder - he has always fallenback on his martial arts training.Grand Master Eddie Minyard lives in the mountains of New Hampshire, with his wifeand two dogs, and is the proud father of a blended family of seven children, Grandfatherto eight, and a great-grandfather. Along with his daily practice of Taekwon-Do, Eddiealso loves to spend as much time as possible, surrounded by and making music with hiscollection of guitars!