Master Jack Kittinger and Instructor Hilda Kittinger

Jack is a 4th Dan Black Belt and certified instructor. He runs the Farmington branch along with his wife Hilda. He competed many times through the years earning numerous trophies, medals, plaques and awards. He was named outstanding student of the year in 1993. He has trained for many years and continues to train under Grand Master Kil and Master Kil. He is the treasurer of the Michigan Taekwondo Association. Hilda is a two-time National champion as well as a registered nurse at the VA hospital in Detroit. Their son, Paul, a 2005 University of Michigan graduate and third year law student at Wayne State University is also a 2nd degree black belt.

Grandmaster Sang Sop Kil

Grand Master Sang Sop Kil is one of the highest ranked black belts in the world of Tae Kwon Do. His credentials and reputation are world renowned. He is a 10th degree black belt, certified by the World Tae Kwon Do Federation. Grand Master Kil has more than 40 years of experience in teaching, studying and researching Tae Kwon Do. He is an International Master, Instructor, Coach and Certified Referee. He was the Korean National Champion between the years of 1965 and 1968. He was also a U.S. Army combative instructor from the years 1962 to 1980.

He has promoted thousands of black belts in his career, and has taught many U.S. soldiers stationed in South Korea. Master Abraham Ahmed, who is now living in Michigan, was one of Grand Master Kil’s students while stationed in the U.S. Army in South Korea. Following his military service, Master Abraham Ahmed invited him to the United States. It was after moving to Michigan that Grand Master Kil became the founding President of the United States Han Mu Kwan Federation and Kil’s Tae Kwon Do Center, in 1980. Grand Master Kil has also been the President of the Michigan Tae Kwon Do Association, a division of the United States Tae Kwon Do Union, since 1993.

In the United States he has trained thousands of students in his beloved art. He has also coached several students to the coveted title of U.S. National Champion. In 1982, Grand Master Kyo Yoon Lee, who has been the founding President of the World Han Mu Kwan Headquarters since 1953, appointed Grand Master Sang Sop Kil to become the President of the Pan Am Tae Kwon Do Han Mu Kwan Regional Headquarters. It is because of Grand Master Kil’s tremendous foresight and relentless determination that the world Tae Kwon Do Movement is at unparalleled heights today. Grand Master Kil’s continuous outpouring of knowledge, and steadfast desire to popularize Tae Kwon Do, has culminated with the prestigious status of the Olympic Games in 2000. Grand Master Sang Sop Kil is one of the highest ranked black belts in the world.