One of the unique opportunities we have in our Villages Taekwon-Do school is to meet and train with people from all walks of life and many places.  Kyosahnim Jason Bates fits this description. 

Jason was born in England.  During his childhood, his family moved to Canada, then to Boston, and “finally” settled in New Zealand, where his father was a professor of electrical engineering.  While living in New Zealand, Jason earned his undergraduate degree in physics, followed by a PhD in medicine at Canterbury University,  Christchurch, New Zealand.

KSN Jason moved “back” to Canada to begin his career as a research scientist.  His career as a medical researcher led him to become a biomedical engineer/physiologist specializing in lung disease. KSN Bates has written hundreds of papers, awarded seven patents, and published a book on lung mechanics. 

In 1999, he moved to the US to join the Vermont Lung Center at the University of Vermont.  Jason is a University of Vermont Professor in the Department of Medicine with a joint appointment in Physiology and Biomedical Engineering. 

Jason and his wife moved to the Villages in July of 2021.  He still works full-time,  remotely, for the University of Vermont.

Jason states, “Throughout this peripatetic existence, I have made a habit of collecting naturized citizenships.  I now have four.  Consequently, when people ask me where I’m from, I’m inclined to say ‘nowhere’.  Although if I had to pick a place, it would be New Zealand because that is where I transitioned from childhood to adulthood.”

Another aspect of Jason’s life travels is his commitment to his Taekwon-Do.  Fifty-one years ago, KSN Jason started his Taekwon-Do training in New Zealand when he was 17.  “I started TKD because one of my close friends – from Malaysia – was a First Dan.  I thought TKD looked really cool as I saw him demonstrate some moves.  I found that I really liked it (TKD). So I kept at it ever since.” 

Jason attended Chan’s Martial Arts in Christchurch.  On occasion, he would also train with Korean Master Young-Ku Yun from Australia. He studied ITF Taekwon-Do for the next ten years, earning his 2^nd Dan (degree) Black Belt.   

When KSN Jason moved to Canada, he continued his martial arts training in other forms.  He mainly studied Shorin-ryu karate, earning his Third Dan.  In 1999, after moving to the US, Jason continued his TKD training regularly on his own.  

Jason knew about our Taekwon-Do dojang and joined within the first week he moved to The Villages.  He “re-started” formal training as a Senior Red Belt in July of 2021 when he was 65.  He earned his First Dan Black Belt in April 2022.  KSN Jason, now 68, earned his Fourth Dan Black Belt in September 2024.  And currently teaches the Green and Blue Belt students.

According to Jason, there are a number of benefits a person can achieve by studying Taekwon-Do.  You can have “a sense of well-being, physical fitness, and overall improved health.  Aside from being great exercise, the TKD techniques can be challenging.  So one can always work to improve them, which keeps the mind active.”

As our other KSNs have said, Jason thinks one is never too old to start TKD.  In TKD training, a person is always learning new skills while getting the benefits of being in good physical shape.  There should be no worries about competition either.  Because “you are competing against yourself” to improve and be a better Taekwon-Do artist.

When he’s not working or training, Jason and his wife enjoy going to the squares in the evening to listen and dance to the bands.