ABOUT US
Nothing beats a great foundation which can only come through leadership from excellent instructors.
What sets us apart from other schools
We believe achieving student goals is the key to a successful school. We start with quality instruction, then train our staff in excellence and customer service. The result is a pleasant learning experience for every student at our school.
We offer the best martial arts instruction in the area. Time and time again, we are told by the families of our students how much improvement they have seen in our students in and out of class.
The Concord school serves students from Concord, Kannapolis, Harrisburg, Cabarrus County, Rockwell, Charlotte and surrounding areas.
Meet Our Instructors
Sean Baxter
Chief Instructor
Fifth Degree Black Belt
Mr. Baxter operates the Taekwondo America school in Concord NC, and has been teaching for over 20 years.
He received his black belt and instructor certification under Mr. George Strickland while in Charlotte NC and achieved his fifth degree black belt in 2005. Mr. Baxter started his martial arts training in 1984 and opened his school 11 years later in 1995. This year marks the school’s 14th year in business.
His background includes over 20 years in Information Technology and six years as an anti-armor specialist and expert marksman at Fort Bragg for the US Army with certifications in F.A.S.T. Defense from Bill Kipp of RMCAT in Colorado.
Mr. Baxter enjoys the strength and conditioning aspect of Taekwondo and looks forward to working with the students to achieve their goals in Taekwondo.
Jeff Hoffman
Senior Certified Instructor
Third Degree Black Belt
Jeff Hoffman is from Gastonia, North Carolina. He has been in Concord since 1992, currently a medical doctor who practices Family Medicine since moving to Concord. He has been married for over 20 years and has two daughters.
His first Taekwondo experience was in 1980 in Charlotte, taking classes episodically through medical school and residency. He has been attending the Concord school since it started as a club in 1993 and has enjoyed seeing it grow to its current size and new location. He obtained his black belt in 1996 and has been a Certified Instructor since 1999.
“Many of my patients are quite surprised by my participation in TaeKwonDo. I have always enjoyed the motion and precision of the martial arts. I enjoy the intensity of the exercise and discipline required to attempt to excel in forms, sparring and teaching of Tae Kwon Do.”
Benjamin Price
Senior Certified Instructor
Third Degree Senior Black Belt
Mr. Benjamin Price began his Taekwondo training at the age of 9 in 1997. 2007 marked his 10th year anniversary with Concord Taekwondo America and we look forward to another decade with us as an excellent instructor.
Gerald Ellsmore
Senior Certified Instructor
Second Degree Senior Black Belt
Mr. Ellsmore started taking Taekwondo in 2003 and quickly found that this was a great way to compliment his fitness training regimen as well as work on his public speaking skills.
Jennifer Foster
Senior Certified Instructor
Second Degree Decided Black Belt
Ms. Foster began her Taekwondo training in 2003 and received her black belt in 2005. She later earned her certification as an instructor the following year. As a student, and later as a black belt, Ms. Foster has competed in over 17 tournaments and attended numerous TKD camps and other events.
Recently she has successfully completed her Senior Certified Instructor status through much hard work and training. Congratulations!
Jacque Fike
Senior Certified Instructor
Second Degree Senior Black Belt
Ms. Jacque Fike started in September of 2003. She joined Tae Kwon Do because she needed to get in shape and wanted to broaden her horizons. She wants to major in middle grade education, since it is her passion.
Ms. Fike is currently taking classes at UNCG and we wish her luck as she pursues her teaching degree.
“I enjoy meeting many new people and making friends. In the long run I have made some of my best friends and a new family.”
Dane Hall
Junior Certified Instructor
Third Degree Decided Black Belt
Mr. Dane Hall has been doing TaeKwonDo for over five years. He’s a Junior Certified Instructor, and part of the Demo Team where he had learned to use the nunchackus and the bo staff.
Mr. Hall started TaeKwonDo at the Charlotte Taekwondo America school, and came to Concord Taekwondo America when he was a yellow belt.
“When I was in the color belts, I passed all my tests, however I’ve had a few hurdles on my way to my current rank in the black belts, which just makes me more determined. I have been part of the Full Splits Club since I was a senior red belt.”
“I like being able to teach and I hope to have my senior certified collar one day. I want to do TaeKwonDo for as long as I can.”
Kyle Sunderman
Junior Certified Instructor
Third Degree Black Belt
Mr. Kyle Sunderman’s Tae Kwon Do career started when he was 6 years old in Ohio. Two years went by and Kyle reached his 2nd Degree Black Belt by the time he was 8.
When he was eleven his family moved to North Carolina. In the spring of 2005, Kyle walked through the doors of Concord Tae Kwon Do and met Mr. Baxter. He, his father Chris (1st Degree Senior at the time), and his little brother, Conner, happily signed up again.
Currently, Kyle is a 2nd Degree Senior Black Belt and a Trainee Instructor. He loves Tae Kwon Do and enjoys drumming.
“I love everything about Tae Kwon Do, the mental and physical training that develops me, all the fun things I get to do, but my favorite aspect of it is the people. I have lots of friends and I love my students.
My goal as an instructor is to further myself as a person and martial artist, but my main goal is to develop my students and give them a fun time. If they have a bad day or they’re just bored, I want them to be able to say ‘I wanna go to Tae Kwon Do!’ Even when I’m having a bad day I like to go teach because they can cheer me up like nothing else can.”
Michael Cunningham
Certified Instructor
Second Degree Senior Black Belt
Mr. Cunningham has been training in taekwondo since 2000 and relocated to Concord and has been training under Mr. Baxter since 2007. In addition he's been a nurse for over ten years. "Both arts allow people to overcome challenges they think to be unbeatable. I enjoy teaching because it allows me to be a stepping stone to assist others in reaching their personal goals. My favorite quote is by Christopher Reeves who said " I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles." |
Nicole Mullins
Certified Instructor
Third Degree Decided Black Belt
Ms. Mullins have been training in Taekwondo for about 12 years,
first in Houston, TX, then in Tampa, FL, and now in Concord since 2007.
She is currently a full time student at Rowan Cabarrus community college studying radiology on her way to being a radiographic technologist.
Becoming an instructor has been a goal for her on the path to one day opening her own school.
"It is great to know I can come into Taekwondo, no matter what kind of day that I have had, and can leave it all outside and help people to become better martial artists as well as improving myself."
Anthony Moore
Trainee Instructor
Second Degree Black Belt
Mr. Anthony Moore started Tae Kwon Do when he was 13 in the summer of 2005. In June of 2007 he asked Mr. Baxter if he could help out with some of the classes. After that first day of assisting class he made it his goal to become an instructor.
"Though, teaching does have its advantages such as working with kids, learning new things, and improving your own skill but it was not that easy as he had learned. "
"Sometimes you have to really breakdown techniques for the students to understand. You get to challenge yourself to get students to understand Taekwondo. When they achieve that it is the best feeling as an instructor. That is why I love teaching."
Kieran Todd
Instructor Trainee
Second Degree Black Belt
Mr. Kieran Todd started TKD in 2004 and trained in both Concord and High Point. He is very excited to be back in Concord and part of Mr. Baxter’s school. As soon as Mr. Todd earned his brown belt he began working to earn his instructor certification. He has been part of the instructor team since 2007.
Mr. Todd has recently moved to Richmond VA with his family and we wish him all the best of luck.
"I enjoy helping students learn more about Tae Kwon Do and working with the other instructors to learn more techniques. My next goal is 3rd degree black belt!"
Jeremy Quesada
Instructor Trainee
First Degree Senior Black Belt
Mr. Jeremy Quesada began training in TaeKwonDo in 2005 at the age of 10, where he quickly developed a passion for the art. Since his first class, he has had a desired to perfect his skills and reach the level of Black Belt. While working to achieve his goal he added the aspiration of becoming an Instructor. In February of 2008 he earned his collar as an Instructor Trainee.
“The closer I got to my goal of being a Black Belt the stronger my desire to be an instructor became. I just want to help others achieve their goals and pass on my passion for TaeKwonDo!”
