Do you remember the TV series “Kung Fu”?  While watching “Kung Fu” or Bruce Lee movies, did you ever have an inkling to learn a martial art?  Well, that’s what spurred Kyosahnim Jim Ockington to launch his Taekwon-Do “adventure”.

Jim started his training in 1991, studying the WTF Taekwon-Do at the World Martial Arts Center/American Martial Arts Association in Mentor, OH.  In 1995, he earned his first Dan black belt.  Jim continued his training at the center, earning his WTF 5^th Dan black belt in 2020.  While in Ohio, Jim also learned Hapkido and kickboxing.  He was inducted into the Cleveland Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2022.

Jim retired as a Senior Director in Information Solutions for The Lubrizol Corporation.  Jim and his wife, April, moved to The Villages in March 2021.  After moving here, KSN Jim was “shocked and excited to see that The Villages had Taekwon-Do!  Of all the martial arts, I did not think they would have TKD.  I also liked that it was ITF, not WTF TKD.  It was a whole new learning experience as all the forms are different.” 

In August 2021, Jim began his ITF Taekwon-Do training as a 59-year-old white belt.  “I felt that keeping a blackbelt and not knowing the forms would be a detriment to me and the school. If people asked me questions and I could not answer them, then it would make me and the school look bad. With my background, I was able to pick things up quickly and advance quickly, so it was the right decision.“  KSN Jim is now an ITF 4th  Dan black belt, which he earned in  2024.

Learning Taekwon-Do as a self-defense and a way of life has many benefits.  Central are the aims of TKD:  courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit.  KSN Jim states the tenets will always be the foundation for his life.  He feels the friendships he has developed over his 30 years in TKD have been incredible.  So, Jim sees our students as another part of his family.

The Villages Taekwon-Do training is one way to maintain an active lifestyle.  So, you’re never too old to start.  KSN Jim says, “We have people here in The Villages TKD school of all ages who had never trained before or started when they were younger and never achieved a blackbelt, and those who trained before and achieved their blackbelt.  Also, at our age, we may have some sort of injury or ailment. We just work around them as we cannot do everything we try in class. That is okay. The important thing is to keep active and keep trying.”

Jim became the Kyosahnim for the beginning students  - white and yellow belts – in 2023.  He had been a head instructor at his school in Ohio.  So, he volunteered as a substitute teacher in our dojang when one was needed.  Jim has always enjoyed teaching.  Witnessing the ongoing development of his students is very satisfying.  “Each person is on their own journey, and it is a pleasure to help them achieve it.”   Jim is currently teaching the red belt class.

Jim and his wife are “fitness and health fanatics”, so they train and work out a lot.