Past Instructors

The following instructors have contributed to the wonderful trainings we have had during past Retreats.



Grand Master Dr. He-Young Kimm

Grandmaster Dr. He-Young Kimm was our featured instructor for the 2019 Retreat. He is a world renowned Korean Martial Arts historian and Grandmaster of Hapkido, Kuk Sool, Taekwondo and Yudo. Dr He-Young Kimm is the Founder and President of The World Han Mu Do Association.


​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Grand Master Kang / Tae Won​​ Snim

Grand Master Kang / Tae Won Snim was a featured instructor for the 2017 Rocky Mountain Taekwondo Retreat. He is a Zen Master and the Grand Master in the traditional Korean Martial Art of Poong Ryu Do in Daejeon, South Korea. He is an instructor in the practice and philosophy of Poong Ryu Do and Integrative Zen Practice, which strengthens the body and mind. 


​​​​Grand Master Richard Hodder​
​9th Dan - Taekwondo 
9th Dan - World Weapons Federation
2nd Dan - Hapkido
1st Dan - Judo • 1st Dan - Shorin Ryu
1st Dan - Shin Goju Ryu • Instructor Level - Kali

Grand Master Hodder currently is the Executive Director of Taekwondo for the United States Korean Martial Arts Federation and the President of the World Weapons Federation. GM Hodder travels throughout the US teaching Martial Arts Seminars.


​​Grand Master Sean Cavins
8th Dan - Taekwondo
Additional Training in:
Han Mu Do
Hapkido
Arnis
Krav Maga

Grand Master Cavins currently is the founder and primary instructor of multiple Taekwondo schools in Summit County, with branch locations in Leadville, Aspen, and Carbondale Colorado. 


Grand Master Mike Newby​
​8th Dan - Taekwondo
7th Dan - World Weapons Federation
Instructor Level - Kali

Grand Master Mike Newby currently is Chief Master for Delgado's Taekwondo with Master Instructor Nico Delgado and the Colorado State Taekwondo Association President.


Grand Master Andre DeOliveira
​8th Dan - Taekwondo 

GM DeOliveira was the previous Colorado State Taekwondo president, he currently owns and operates Champion TaeKwonDo Academy in Aurora, CO. GM DeOliveira came to the United Stated from Brazil having had a successful TKD career in Brazil, he brought his refined skills and expertise to the US and has developed an impressive group of competitors and been an important contributor to Taekwondo.


​​​​​​Master Joe Borucki
​7th Dan - Hapkido
Additional Training:
Tae Kwon Do
Yudo (Judo)
Aikido
Brazilian Ju Jitsu

Master Joe Borucki is the Chief Instructor and Founder of Global Martial Arts Academy. Master Borucki regularly instructs at International Seminars with over 300 participants consisting primarily of Black Belts. He trains FBI agents, Secret Service agents, as well as State and County police officers. Master Borucki also heads up the East coast region of the United States Korean Martial Arts Federation.​​​


Master Greg Everhart​
​7th Dan - Taekwondo 
Additional Training in:
    Han Mu Do

Master Everhart is the owner and chief instructor of Pilsung Tactics LLC. He teaches Teakwon Do, personal and home defense tactics, as well as law enforcement tactics. He is a 15 year veteran of a Denver area Police Department. As a senior firearms instructor there, he teaches law enforcement handgun, tactical shotgun, tactical rifle, and active shooter tactics.


Master Don Kirsch
​6th Dan - HapKiDo 
4th Dan - Taekwondo
​1st Dan - Han Mu Do
Student and practitioner of Qi Gong

Master Kirsch currently is studying Traditional Chinese Medicine and Sheng Zhen Healing Qi Gong in the Medical Qi Gong Program at the Academy of Oriental Medicine at Austin under the instruction of Master Li Jun Feng. He is also currently teaching Hapkido at the Texas Hapkido Academy.


Master William Sanders
​6th Dan - Taekwondo
3rd Dan - Hapkido

Master William Sanders has been studying martial arts since 1988 and has been teaching since 2002. Master Sanders spent over ten years in Korea studying Taekwondo and Hapkido during his 21 year military career. Master Sanders holds instructor certifications from the World Taekwondo Federation and the United States Korean Martial Arts Federation, and was a recipient of the JidoKwan Exemplary Instructor Award in 2013.


Sensei Edgar Johansson
​Yondan - Aikido 

Edgar Johansson Sensei has been practicing aikido since the summer of 1990. His commitment to studying aikido has afforded him the opportunity to meet and train with some of the world’s finest aikidoka and instructors all across the United States as well as in Japan. Johansson Sensei is chief instructor & dojo cho at Denver Aikikai and currently holds the rank of Yondan.


Master Linda Kimmich
​6th Dan - Taekwondo

Master Kimmich currently is active as an International Taekwondo Referee and in Referee Training Seminars. She works as a Physical Therapist and has combined her knowledge of the muscular skeletal system and body mechanics as well as her own practice as a martial artist into practical application of injury prevention.


Master April Rose
​5th Dan - Taekwondo
​1st Dan - Hapkido

Master Instructor Rose currently is the head instructor at Kinetic Evolutions. She is continuing her research on how movement impacts the brain, and is developing a system focused on how Martial Arts improves the functionality of the brain and develops academic success.


Mike Jones Sensei​
Yondan (4th Dan - Aikido)
Additional Training In:
Judo
Karate

Mike Jones, Chief Instructor at Roaring Fork Aikikai, has been training and teaching Aikido full time for more than 12 years and currently holds the rank of Yondan (4th Degree Black Belt). Jones Sensei began his martial arts training as a teenager in Judo and Karate.  He later began Aikido training under George Kennedy Sensei at the Atlanta Aikido Center in 2002.  Through the Aikido Center, he was introduced to Yoshimitsu Yamada Sensei, head instructor of the New York Aikikai and President of the United States Aikido Federation.  Jones Sensei joined the New York Aikikai in 2004 as an Uchi-Deshi (live-in student) and trained intensely under Yamada shihan and the late Seiichi Sugano shihan, both direct students of the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba.  Later Mike became Head Uchi-Deshi, Dojo Manager, and Instructor. 


Master Instructor John Kimmich

​4th Dan - Taekwondo

Master Instructor John Kimmich is an exceptional athlete with an impressive Taekwondo career as a fighter. In addition to his TKD experience he has a Master's Degree in the field of exercise science, is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and Muscle Activation Techniques Specialist (MAT-S). Master Kimmich currently works as a martial arts instructor, personal trainer and teacher, he teaches at the National Personal Training Institute of Colorado where he trains trainers. His expertise includes nutrition planning, program design, speed and agility training and exercise technique. He owns and operates Kimmich Strength & Conditioning in Denver, CO.


Mr. Sage Petersen
​2nd Dan - Arnis
1st Dan -  Gung FU
1st Dan - Kun Tao
Additional Training in:
    Taekwondo • Silat
    Jui Jitsu • Tai Chi • Chi Gung​​​

Mr Petersen is the owner and developer of Primal Movement and Martial Arts classes in Durango, CO. He specializes in Natural Movement and Martial Arts as a means to optimize brain and body performance, using natural movement that speaks directly to the brain, resulting in better results, faster. Developing a strong, supple and very capable body. Mr Petersen teaches Vipassana meditation technique, Tai Chi, Chi Gung, Arnis, Tae Kwon Do, kettlebells, bodyweight strength training, as well as Transformational Life Coaching and Body Transformation Food Based Healing programs. 


Mr. Rick Starks
​1st Dan - Tae Kwon Do
Red Sash - Kajukenbo
​Additional Training in:
    Kenpo Karate
    Tai Chi - Yang & Chen styles

Rick Starks, a student of Tai Chi now, currently is one of only three indoor students under Master David-Dorian Ross. He is an instructor in TaiJiFit: Mindfulness in Motion and he is the owner of Meditation in Motion, located in Haigler, Nebraska. Mr Starks leads sessions and speaks nationally on Tai   Chi, meditation, pain management and as a proponent of Tai Chi and the martial arts in hemophilia.  


Mr. Gus Petersen

Gus Petersen is the owner of ProEdge Kettlebells, in Denver, Colorado. ProEdge Kettlebells provides customized instruction in weight-bearing exercise and training techniques for achieving athleticism for life—functional strength, strength endurance, cardiovascular conditioning, core strength, dynamic balance, agility, mobility, quickness, and mental focus. 

Gus has been a personal trainer in the Denver metro area for more than 30 years. He became an RKC-certified instructor in 2004 and has since used kettlebells with all of his students, male and female, ranging in age from 16 to 78. In September 2010, Gus produced a series of five instructional DVDs featuring the Kettlebell Athletic Training (K.A.T.) Fitness System, an innovative system of original kettlebell juggling techniques that he developed.


John Bruna (Jangchub Chophel)

John Bruna (Jangchub Chophel) is an author, counselor, educator, mindfulness and Dharma teacher. After living in different cultural and economic environments, along with educational and spiritual training, John has become an accessible, authentic teacher and role model for people who want positive change and progress in their life.
John is the director of The Way of Compassion Foundation and co-founder of the Mindful Life Program. John's books include, The Wisdom of a Meaningful Life and The Essential Guidebook to Mindfulness in Recovery.


Andrea Orrego

Fitness Instructor Extraordinaire!

Andrea found dance to be natural for her at a very young age. As a trained dancer, she has now combined her love for dance and her fitness training into a total workout, combining all elements of fitness – cardio, muscle conditioning, balance and flexibility, boosted energy and a serious dose of awesome each time you leave a class.


Aaron Taylor

Aaron Taylor is currently the Director for The Way of Compassion Center in Carbondale CO, as well as a certified Mindful Life Program instructor. The Mindful Life Program offerings empower you to engage in the moments of your life with attention and intention, creating a meaningful life according to your values.