The Greats of Tae Kwon Do
Fred Absher

Mr. Absher began his martial arts study in 1960. His initial training was in Kempo Karate under
Sensei Joseph Gorecki in Albuquerque New Mexico. Mr. Absher attended the Army Corps
of Engineers School in Ft. Belvoir, VA where he began the study of Judo. His subsequent
transfer to Europe with the US Army provided Mr. Absher the opportunity to study Karate
and Tae Kwon Do, receiving his 1st Degree Black Belt from the Tae Won Do Assn. of
Seoul Korea, 1964. The following year he opened his first Karate school in Las Cruces,
New Mexico. Today this organization has twenty-seven clubs located primarily in the
western United States and representatives in fourteen countries.

Between 1960 and 1974 Mr. Absher maintained an active competitive Martial Arts
career, participated as a judge, and organized Martial Arts competitions. During
Mr. Absher's competitive career he won state, regional and national championships
culminating in 1973 when he was named Captain of the United States team to the
First World Tae Kwon Do Championships in Seoul, Korea. (See above photo)
Additional background info is available at TAEKWONDO HALL OF FAME.

Fred Absher attributes much of his success as a competitor to his former instructor
Kim Soo whom he says....

"No aspect of Tae Kwon Do experience would have been possible without
his help."

In 1975 Mr. Absher was named Chief Instructor for the International Kojosho Karate
Federation. He has been the State Director for AAU Karate and the New Mexico
Karate Association, President of the New Mexico Karate Black Belt Association,
and is currently the Regional Director for the United States Karate Alliance. Mr. Absher
has developed curriculum for and instructed at St. Johns College, The University of
New Mexico and New Mexico State University. He has authored and co-authored
several books and articles about the Martial Arts and the Kojosho System.

Mr. Absher's Kyu Dan, 9th Degree Black Belt, is certified by the Zen Bei Butokukai
Hanshi Richard Kim and the United States Karate Alliance Hanshi James Hawkes.
He also holds a 4th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo which was awarded to him by
Master Kim Chong Soo in August of 1973.

                                    Mr. Absher may be contacted by letter at:

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