Meet Our Instructor

Kyosahnim Tom Pugliese

Sometimes our life path comes full circle back to our beginnings in young adulthood. This is the case for Kyosahnim (KSN) Tom (Pug) Pugliese. He began his career as a teacher and has returned to teaching.

After high school, KSN Tom continued his education and his wrestling endeavors at West Liberty State College. While a sophomore, he placed sixth in the NAIA National Wrestling Tournament.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Health/Physical Education, Tom started his career as a teacher and a coach. For four years, he taught seventh-grade physical education and health in West Virginia. He also coached football and track at the junior high school, as well as wrestling at the high school. On top of his coaching duties, Tom scouted for the high school football team.

Tom made a career change and worked at the Dean Foods production facility in Illinois. He was responsible for keeping the facility's production equipment operational through preventative maintenance and handling emergency machine down issues.

Tom and his wife, Peg, moved to The Villages in 2013 from Roscoe, Illinois, to enjoy the active lifestyle. KSN Tom has kept up his physical training throughout his life and into retirement. One day, while playing pickleball, Tom met a black belt from our dojang by chance. His name was Mike McNamara. Mr. McNamara suggested that Tom check out Taekwon-Do (TKD) as a way to stay active and maintain his physicality.

As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “People destined to meet will do so, apparently by chance, at precisely the right moment.” This was the right moment for Tom!

KSN Tom saw that pursuing Taekwon-Do would indeed help him stay in shape. Tom had no previous TKD experience. So, he began his TKD journey as a white belt in January 2013, at the age of 68. His commitment and persistence led to earning his second-degree black belt on April 12, 2024. In October 2024, SBN Drew asked Tom to be an instructor for the beginning students at our school.

Tom says, “I was honored to be elevated to Kyosahnim. It fits well with my educational background. I enjoy this part of Taekwon-Do the most. It is rewarding to see students progress as they develop their skills.”

Now, at 79, KSN Tom’s goal is to keep “the old man out” while staying in shape and improving his execution of the TKD forms (tuls). Adhering to one of the TKD tenets, perseverance, Tom stayed with his training even though “my TKD journey was marked with physical setbacks. I had two separate shoulder surgeries and a double knee replacement. TKD keeps me mentally and physically in shape.”

One of the benefits of becoming a TKD martial artist is that we learn a code of ethics and a life philosophy via the five tenets of Taekwon-Do: Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control, and Indomitable Spirit. These tenets guide us through the life challenges we may face as we get older. Tom states, “I believe I have become a better person as I incorporated the five TKD tenets into my life.”

KSN and his wife have three daughters who live in Illinois and Wisconsin. They also have eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. When he is not at TKD, Tom and Peg enjoy playing golf, pickleball, cards, and board games. They also like to travel.