Previous Page

ATA’s 4^th Presiding Grand Master, G.K. Lee, was born in 1957 in Daegu City, South Korea.  As a small child, he discovered martial arts through television and began training when he was in 2^nd grade.  G.K. Lee received his first black belt in Tang Soo Do when he was only 12 years old. He followed in the footsteps of his older cousin, Grand Master H.U. Lee, who ultimately founded the ATA.

As a young man, G.K. Lee served in the Korea Army teaching Taekwondo.  After serving in the Korea Army, G.K. Lee began teaching martial arts at the U.S. 8^th Army Base in Seoul, Korea.  His passion for Taekwondo continued to grow and he knew he ultimately wanted to change lives through its instruction.  In 1984, he moved to Florida to begin teaching at an ATA school in Panama City and continue the spread of Taekwondo across the United States.

In the early 1990s, G.K. moved to Little Rock where he started his journey at the ATA International headquarters.  He immediately began developing the Black Belt Program and weapons systems for the organization.  Under G.K.’s leadership, ATA introduced Protech weapons and specialized defense tactics as part of their curriculum.  This was a monumental addition to the traditional curriculum and was a turning point in ATA’s training division.  Today, he serves as the International Director of Protech at ATA’s Little Rock headquarters.  He is also a member of the organization’s Founder’s Council and Masters’ Council.

Grand Master G.K. Lee is well-renowned in the martial arts industry worldwide as a consummate student and teacher.  In addition to his 9^th Degree Black Belt in Songahm Taekwondo, he is a certified instructor trainer the PPCT Management Systems.  He is a professor of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, is a Master of Tai Chi and a 7^thDegree Master in Kendo.  G.K. Lee has also been recognized for his talent and contributions to martial arts by being named to the Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame, Taekwondo Times Hall of Fame, United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame and ATA Hall of Fame.   He and his wife, Chief Master Kathy Lee, own and operate seven ATA schools in central Arkansas.

Grand Master G.K. Lee’s thirst for knowledge has kept him on a constant journey of self-improvement even as he has improved the lives—and martial arts skills—of the thousands of students along the way.