Alex W. Spears III Family YMCA

 

                      About the Greensboro Black Belt Academy

Dr Jin Bang Yang founded the Greensboro Black Belt Academy (GBBA) in 1991 when he came to the US from Seoul, Korea to pursue his PhD in Exercise and Sport Science at UNCG. In Korea, he was head of research and education at the Kukkiwon (the World Tae Kwon Do Federation Headquarters).

While in NC, he was Head Coach of the State team. Over 15 of his players earned a National Championship and four went on to make the US National Team. After finishing his PhD, Dr. Yang was called back to Korea where he is involved in the further development of Tae Kwon Do internationally.

Head instructor Michael King began his martial arts training in high school and at UNCG, in Master Yang's Tae Kwon Do class. While earning a teaching degree in Exercise and Sport Science, Master King trained to become an instructor under Master Yang.

In 1993 he took over as instructor of GBBA. After 6 years of instructing, Master King and Master Bob Martin united both of the Greensboro locations into one school.

The Greensboro Black Belt Academy came to the Spears Family YMCA in July, 2002 as a small program and in September, 2003 moved the entire program here. Now the GBBA has programs at the Spears, Bryan, and Ragsdale YMCA as well as running UNCG’s classes.

Our instructors and students have had many local, state, national, and international accomplishments in and out of competition. We have had State and National champions, we serve on the North Carolina Tae Kwon Do Association, but one of our best accolades is our family atmosphere.