I know of Apex Tigers Martial Arts, from various competitions over the years at both the state and national levels. I recently looked at the school in consideration of switching taekwondo schools for my son who is a new black belt. I am considering moving from our current school as our contract ends, and enrolling my child into another school to gain more experience in competition sparring. While the Apex school team members are reasonably good, I unfortunately now can't say the same about the Head Master and founder. In my opinion, after a recent incident I witnessed, Master Kwon seems to disappointingly not represent what I'm looking for as a good role model for kids in a program, and for the school itself. I recently attended the 2016 USAT National Championships in July in Richmond, Virginia. I observed a kids 10 y.o. black belt finals competition between two kids, that were both very talented and had won several fights to reach the finals, with more than 28 kids in that division. However, after the child from Apex won in that final competition, (under some controversy with calls by the referees), there were several complaints from the opposing team. I was just an observer of both teams at the event, and just stopped by to watch Apex compete since I was considering enrolling my son in the school. Master Kwon from Apex Tigers is also surprisingly a USA Taekwondo referee, and was a referee at that event as well. Disturbingly, Master Kwon got into a very unprofessional, loud and verbal argument with parents and families from the opposing team. He publicly threatened a parent in the stands, and Kwon's wife (who also works at Apex) was shockingly verbally abusive, and was cursing and using degrading remarks against the children and opponent from the opposing team. Master Kwon then surprisingly said in public (to one parent in the stands that he was arguing with), that he was "a USAT referee and official also, and that he would be refereeing over the next few days at the tournament, and would be "looking for" the children from that particularly TKD school", implying that he would be cheating??? When the parent shockingly asked him if he was threatening him, Master Kwon just smiled. I was shocked and disappointed at this behavior from the master of a school. Both kids are winners for getting there! Then, when the kids were on the mat to receive their medals, Master Kwon vindictively, stood in front of the parents of the opposing team, to block them from taking photos of their kids, and refused to move out of the way. I was disturbed with this display of bad sportsmanship and unfairness to the kids who look up to these masters and all work so hard to reach this level of competition. I found the Master and his wife's behavior to be very unprofessional, dishonorable, and very troubling as a Head Master at a Taekwondo school that we would trust our kids with. This kind of behavior sets a bad example to not only his kids and school reputation. but to all young competitors in the sport, who are supposedly learning about respect to others, morals, and honor. In my opinion, his actions and behavior were unacceptable as a leader of a school, and set the tone of a bad role model, especially given his position of authority at his school and as a USAT refereeing official. There clearly seemed to be in my opinion, a conflict in interest when coaching kids in competition and being a judge and referee as well at that same competition. This requires a certain amount of integrity and fairness in an individual, which I failed to see after witnessing this incident. I was shocked and dismayed with his unprofessional-ism and lack of honor, threatening parents and as a master and supposed role model, verbally disparaging children from other schools. It was shocking and made me very uncomfortable and angry as an outside observer, which is what prompted my review. I expect the master of a school to be professional at all times and to show, and teach good sportsmanship, which is such an important aspect in any sport, as a good role model to our children. This Master's improper and vindictive behavior in front of the children and parents unfortunately reflects badly not only on himself as an individual, but also on his organization, kids and parents who attend the school. In my opinion, this type of behavior is not good or needed in this sport. It was very disappointing to see a Master who is suppose to be teaching kids about not only the physical aspects of the sport and competition, but also about integrity, honor, fairness and good sportsmanship, and the moral aspects of participating not only in sports but applying this to life. After speaking to other parents with kids currently enrolled at Apex Tigers Martial Arts school, who were also uncomfortable and very surprised with their Head Master's actions at this event, I was convinced that this is probably not the right school for my child, and will look elsewhere to enroll my son. read more