Our Villages’ Kyosanims Taekwon-Do paths come from many directions.   And fourth Dan, KSN Doug Franklin’s pathway doesn’t disappoint.  Doug began his TKD training in Toronto, Canada. 

Our dojang follows the training and pattern instructions as presented by the founder of the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF), General Choi Hung Hi.  In the 1970s, General Choi organized several demonstration world tours to introduce the art of Taekwon-Do.  General Choi selected five top Taekwon-Do experts to tour with him.  One of those experts was Grand Master Park Jong Soo, 7^th Dan.  Master Park later became the leader of all the ITF in Canada.

In 1978, KSN Doug began his TKD training under Grand Master Park.  Doug trained at the national headquarters school in Toronto.  He received his first Dan black belt from Master Park in 1981.  While at the Toronto school, Doug also had the wonderful opportunity to attend many seminars led by Gen Choi.

Before retiring and moving to The Villages in 2016, Doug had a multifaceted career that started in Canada and ended in New Jersey!  He began as a high school teacher which led him to becoming a Red Cross Executive Director.  Continuing his career path as a nonprofit charity executive, he became President and CEO of the Canadian Center for Philanthropy.  For the last sixteen years of his career, Doug was the President and CEO of the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America, headquartered in Cherry Hill, NJ.