Meet Our Instructor

Kyosahnim Robin Warren, 4th Dan

For all you ladies, in The Villages, wondering if you could start Taekwon-Do at this stage of your life, the answer is a definite yes.  Robin Warren is an excellent example of how we women can achieve new physical skills and capabilities in our 50s, 60s and 70s.

Robin, a 4th Dan blackbelt and Kyosahnim (KSN) in our Dojang, started her Taekwon-Do training in The Villages seven years ago when she was 55. 

She and her husband, Jeff, had taken Taekwon-Do (TKD) 20 years earlier at Ft. Rucker, Alabama.  First, their two sons went to Taekwon-Do when they were in grade school.  Robin and Jeff watched from the sidelines in the beginning.  “Then, one day, I thought, why am I sitting here?” Robin asked herself. So the whole family took Taekwon-Do and earned their 1st Dan black belts together. 

Robin and Jeff had their sons start TKD to help their youngest gain better focus because he had ADD.  They discovered that TKD not only improved their son’s focus, it also helped him improve his grades, well-being, and strength.  Robin says, “There is no question that the rest of the family benefited tremendously (from TKD).”

When Robin and Jeff moved to The Villages in 2015, they couldn’t wait to start training again.  Robin says, “Taekwon-Do was still in our blood even after a 20-year absence.”  But, in 2015, they weren’t full-time Villagers. 

They visited as much as possible until Robin retired from The Department of the Army in December 2016.  She worked as a civilian Registered Nurse.  She has maintained her license as a Registered Nurse in her retirement through continuing education.  Robin stated, “Occasionally, I take a short-term contract position with the military to support our Soldiers, Airmen, and family members.”

Robin and Jeff restarted their training when they joined The Villages Taekwon-Do Dojang in January 2017.  They both had the option to wear their Black Belts from their original school.  But, because they had over a 20-year break from the art, they felt it would be best to start from the beginning – as white belts.


  Another factor was that  The Villages Taekwon-Do Dojang teaches the traditional International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) form of the art.  As such, the differences between what they previously learned and what is taught in our Dojang almost required “relearning” Taekwon-Do all over again.

Robin’s concerted effort to learn her “new” martial art led to her earning her 1st Dan Black Belt in May 2018 at age 57.   Sixteen months to reach a 1st Dan Black Belt is a fast pace.  However, because of Robin’s previous TKD training, she progressed quickly through the required series of belt promotions that led to a Black Belt.

Kyosanim (KSN) Robin tested for her 4th Dan in 2022 when she was 62.  For the test, Robin, her husband, Jeff, and Elizabeth Huxford were tasked with creating a new Form #15.  Sahbumnim (SBN) Drew gave them the freedom to create whatever they wanted.  It took them several months to develop and perfect the new form.  It’s called Ma-Eul, meaning “Village” in Korean.  They incorporated moves from various martial arts to represent their and other Dojang students’ past TKD experiences, i.e., ATA, WTF, ITF, and Kimoodo.  The new form has 55 moves, representing our 55 and older community.  Also, the Ma-Eul pattern forms a T and a V, The Villages initials.

What KSN Robin likes best about TKD is “our Taekwon-Do family.  The bonds we form in our [Dojang] are exceptional.  When we train together, teach one another, and attend social events with each other, the bond is more than one will ever get in any other Villages group.  We are there for each other with no judgments.  We come from the same values and uphold our Taekwon-Do Tenets:  Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control,  and Indomitable Spirit.  For me, Taekwon-Do is a lifestyle. I enjoy the structure, discipline, and holistic health benefits.”

Robin was honored to be selected as a Kyosanim by SBN Drew.  Being an instructor gives Robin a lot of gratification.  Teaching others and assisting them with their martial arts journey is fulfilling.  Helping others gain mastery of a new technique or a pattern creates a sense of achievement for both the student and the teacher.

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