About Us

Master Kim's Taekwondo Institute has become a landmark of Rochester martial arts. 

In 1977, Senior Grandmaster Sam Kim opened his first school in the Capital District area. Operating his main school in Schenectady, he was the integral component of building Taekwondo in New York State and beyond as he served as President of the NYS Taekwondo Association for 12 years (1986-1998).

Senior Grandmaster Kim holds an 8th Degree Black Belt certified by Kukkiwon, World Taekwondo Headquarters. He Managed the U.S. Taekwondo Team at the U.S. Olympic Festival (1989, 1990, 1991, 1993 & 1994), World Cup Team (1987 Helsinki, Finland) & World TKD Championships (1999 Edmonton, Canada).

After a brief stint in Watertown (1987-1990), teaching some of the most loyal Taekwondo enthusiasts and military soldiers and their families from Fort Drum it was time for a change.

In 1990, Master Kim’s arrived in Rochester and opened the same day and across the street from the Irondequoit Mall. It was an instant success as they enrolled 100 active members in the first 20 days! In 1992, Grandmaster Sung Kim at the age of 19 opened the Penfield location which has been remodeled twice due to growth. In 1993, Master Kim’s Taekwondo introduced our character building martial arts to the west side of Rochester, in Greece!

Today, Master Kim’s Taekwondo Institute teaches the most martial arts students in Rochester! We are the only martial arts school that offers a direct After School Wrap Around Program and a full day Summer Program. Our staff teaches at all five Doodlebugs Daycares, the Goddard School and a 2 credit Physical Education Taekwondo Class at Monroe Community College. We visit Elementary Schools, we love our towns and libraries and teach our students to “give back” in at least six community service events each year.

Senior Grandmaster Kim’s son, Grandmaster Sung Kim, 8th Degree Black Belt certified by Kukkiwon is President of MKTKD and has earned Junior, Collegiate and National titles in Taekwondo. He has taken the best aspects of the traditional martial arts and created a modern character building education program that enhances the lives of individuals. Grandmaster Kim proudly leads an extremely talented group of home grown instructors to bring you the pinnacle of modern Taekwondo curriculum in award winning facilities. Master Jeff DeWilde and Master Edwin Rivera respectively direct the Greece and Irondequoit locations. Master Kim’s Taekwondo is the area’s only Kukkiwon certified school. We are the only Taekwondo school in the area that has staff at each location with their Master Instructor’s License and International Hanmadang Certification, both certified by Kukkiwon, The World Taekwondo Headquarters.

We are committed to being role models of honesty, customer service and good old fashioned values. You are cordially invited to being a part of our community if you are looking for something that is fun and life enhancing! Get started now and find out how you can be healthier, happier and more successful through training at Master Kim’s Taekwondo Institute!

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO GET STARTED CALL THE LOCATION NEAREST YOU: PENFIELD LOCATION SERVING PITTSFORD, BRIGHTON, WEBSTER, FAIRPORT, EAST ROCHESTER, MACEDON & WALWORTH CALL (585) 377-2000. GREECE LOCATION SERVING HILTON, PARMA, SPENCERPORT & GATES CALL (585) 227-8000. IRONDEQUOIT LOCATION SERVING ROCHESTER CALL (585) 342-5010. EMAIL: INFO@MASTERKIMS.COM