Tae Sun Kang (; born ) is a South Korean-born martial artist and author known for founding several prominent Taekwondo academies in the United States. Kang is a Grandmaster, awarded the 10th Dan Black Belt in 2020.
Early years in South Korea Tae Sun Kang was born in South Korea to Hisoo Kang and Suh Chong Kang. Kang started his martial arts training in 1967 under his father, who himself was awarded a 10th Dan Black Belt and the title of Great Grandmaster. His brothers are Grandmasters Ho-sun Kang and Chung-Sun Kang.
Career in United States In 1969, Kang emigrated to the United States along with his family. Soon after arrival, Kang continued practicing Taekwondo at his father's newly established martial arts school, the New York Taekwondo Academy. In 1973, Kang received his 1st Dan Black Belt. By 1977, he was named Head Instructor of the New York Taekwondo Academy. In 1982 he was appointed Vice-President of the American Black Belt Federation and Director of M.I.T. Taekwondo Program. By 1986, he received his 7th Dan Black Belt.
In 1989, Kang founded the Johns Hopkins Taekwondo Program, in Baltimore, Maryland. A year later, he was declared the Director of the program. In 1992 he Founded the American Black Belt Association. He later became the president of the International Taekwondo Black Belt Association, which he and his brother Grandmaster Ho-Sun Kang operate.
Between 1990 and 2002, Kang established several Taekwondo schools under the 'T. Kang Taekwondo' (TKT) brand in New York City, often teaching at these locations in-person.
By 2004, he had been operating ten affiliated martial arts schools, including a branch in Puerto Rico. In 2007, Actor Michael Imperioli cited Kang's instruction as a significant influence on his personal development. He has been a long-time student of Kang, appearing in several of his later instructional media releases. Kang's father, Suh Chong Kang, promoted Kang to the rank of 10th Dan Black Belt on January 25, 2020.
Kang was inducted into the Official Taekwondo Hall of Fame in 2024. After this induction, he was appointed Vice President of the organization. Kang has individually promoted thousands of Black Belts.
+ Taekwondo Dan History Rank Year Awarding Organization 1st Dan Black Belt 1973 New York Taekwondo Academy 7th Dan Black Belt 1986 — 9th Dan Black Belt 2007 All American Tae Kwon Do Federation 10th Dan Black Belt 2020 All American Tae Kwon Do Federation
Works
Kang, Tae Sun (2006). Traditional Taekwondo Forms Vol 1 [DVD]. Screenstyle. Featuring Michael Imperioli.
Kang, Tae Sun (2006). Traditional Taekwondo Forms Vol 2 [DVD]. Screenstyle. Featuring Michael Imperioli.
Tae Kwon Do Times Issue #158, featuring Michael Imperioli & Tae Sun Kang - July 2007
Tae Kwon Do Times Issue #208, featuring Tae Sun Kang & Je Wook Kim – November 2015
Kang, Tae Sun (2017). Black Belt Fitness for Life: A 7-Week Plan to Achieve Lifelong Wellness. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 0804849129. Foreword by actor Michael Imperioli.
See also Sun Chong Kang - Kang's Teacher and Father List of Taekwondo Grandmasters - Kang can be found under: Other taekwondo systems
References