Reviews of Ken Blackburn's Taekwondo Ltd

Was looking for a place for my kids since I used to practice when I was young. I'm at the Greenboro Community Centre regularly for the gym so I started paying attention to the classes. This guy is borderline verbally abusive. They were once training in a much bigger room, but now they are in this tiny room, because you can see attendance is dropping. How is that good for anyone? You can get injured without the proper mats. The yelling is just awful. I will not be sending my kids there. There are far better trainers out there, who get results without tearing down kids.

Me and my daughters have been with Master Ken for nearly 10 years now, which should say enough on its own. He has been teaching for over 30 years, and his experience and dedication comes through in everything he does. He is a hands-on teacher, rarely handing classes over to underlings. He is always there; I can probably count on one hand the number of classes he has missed over my entire career. He is always engaged; and never fails to be aware of each student, knowing where they are, and where they need to get to. His ability to assess and manage the needs of all kinds of kids, shy or active, yin or yang, is remarkable. I could go on, but just know this. He is an important and positive influence on our family and our community, and we are lucky to have him.

Master Ken has been teaching my son since he was 4. Currently he is 14 and just achieved his Black Belt. Over the years he has learnt much from Master Ken and is fiercely loyal. I have checked in with him time to time to see if he still enjoys the sport and wants to continue. His answer has always be "Yes!".

On my side Master Ken, has taken extra time when needed to work with my son and always be there with feedback and communication. While he was teaching Hapiko, I studied under him for a time and enjoyed the classes, environment, people and time spent learning.

I was "surprised" to see that somebody could right a bad review about Master Ken.

First, it says that "he is not very good with kids from out of town". I have to say, I'm from different country and I never notice that Master Ken treat my son any different way from other children. He's good with every kid. And, if he's a bit strict (in a good way), I think it's for a good reason - Taekwondo is a sport which means a discipline.

Second, he replies to every my and my husband emails.

In the end, when I asked my son What he think about Master Ken? He said: "He is GREAT!!!"

My oldest son has been working with Master Ken for a few years now. He's a docile kid, and it's been great watching him break out of his shell, while teaching him focus and discipline.

I also decided to put my youngest daughter in. She is our wild child. This class has been great at harnessing her wild qualities, instead of subdooing them, while teaching her focus and discipline.

I also decided to join the class. I am a mom with adhd, and this is helping add tools to my ever-growing tool box on dealing with hdhd, as well as getting some good exercise.

My daughter chaimaa has been with him for over 5 years and my son youcef has been with him for 4 years. When I first enrolled my son in kindergarten he did not listen at all he would run away from his teachers and would not stay in one spot for over 5 minutes I have honestly seen a BIG difference since I put him in teakwondo with his sister. Him and my daughter every time they come back home are always excited to show me what master ken has taught them. Not only does he teach teakwondo but after every class he gives them a talk about how they should all be confident believe in them selves and respect your parents and others. I would really recommend master kens teakwondo classes!!

I have enrolled my daughter Camille 2 years ago for therapeutic reasons and because of her interest in Taekwondo. ADHD runs in the family on the fathers side . I figured that she could benefit from the discipline of the martials arts vs possible medical therapies. So far, she has built lots of self confidence, has improved her memory, discipline and is excelling at a very fast rate . She is not a determined little girl at a blue belt level 😊 I would strongly recommend this school to anyone.

Thanks

Mireille Hamel

Master Ken has been teaching my children for over 8 years! When my oldest started, he was extremely shy and bullied at school regularly. To have watched his confidence grow under his guidance has been an amazing and and am thankful to see how much my son has blossomed under Master Ken. I was so inspired that I decided to join myself and recognize the gentleman who wrote this review as I was in the class when he came in to try the class and felt I had to say something as it is crazy to say that Master Ken isn't good with children-he wouldn't still be teaching 30 plus years later if he wasn't. How this gentleman can say that Master Ken is't good with kids after being in one class-he just came fro Korea and his children didn't really speak children and didn't do the class. Participating in the class with this person-witnessing and over hearing the entire exchange-he was constantly advised to slow down and take it easy-when told that his leg was getting sore was told to stop-how to take care of it and to contact Mast Ken to let him know how he was doing. Master Ken doesn't teach full time any more-was told this and was told repeatedly that he didn't teach Hapkido any more. After reading this review it became obvious to me, after seeing Master Ken in action for as long as I have that this person is just venting sour grapes because he is mad because he didn't get what he wanted from Master Ken and I felt that someone that new the situation should say something.

He’s very strict and not very good with kids especially from out of town. He doesn’t reply to my emails and he’s not even located in Lancaster but located inside the heron gate community center. A lot of parents and other tae Kwon do masters tell me not to go to him and I can see why since he’s not very good at replying back to you as well as the fact that I got injured at his school and he didn’t seem to care much. I will not recommended this place at all. Especially the fact that he promised to teach me hapkido but never replied back once. Very disappointed.