Montgomery TaeKwonDo Academy Website

The room is filled with kneeling children in white uniforms. Eyes closed tightly, they are breathing deeply and in unison. After one last meditative breath the tall towheaded man at the front of the room sounds off, “Stand Up. Cha-Ryot. Kyung-Nae.” Obediently, every body in the room snaps to attention and bows to the man.

Another class has started and John Kanabay, the new owner and chief instructor of the Montgomery TaeKwonDo Academy, is in his element. Standing in front of a room full of children he calls out warm up drills while planning his course of action for today’s class.

On April 26, 2005, Kanabay finalized his purchase of the school, formerly known as Montgomery’s United TaeKwonDo Academy. Located on Route 206 in the Village Shopper strip mall, this is the only martial arts school in the town of Montgomery and its popularity is apparent when taking a head count at any given class.

At the age of 27, Kanabay may sound too young to be the owner of his own business but this has been a long-term goal realized.

“I’ve been working towards purchasing this school for 2 years,” says Kanabay. “I started teaching in Montgomery in September of 1997 and for the past few years I have been the chief instructor here.

“I started training in martial arts when I was 9-years-old,” he says. “On the ride home, after finishing my first class, I told my dad that was going to own my own school someday.

“I remember he said ‘Why don’t you focus on earning your white belt first.’

“Recently I called him up and reminded him of the goal I had set for myself as a child. I have finally accomplished it!”

Tamara Lee of Hopewell is proud to call herself a member of the academy. Lee has two children attending classes here

Her daughter Pam, 14, is a second-degree black belt and her son Norm, 8, is a brown belt. Lee credits Kanabay with helping Norm become more focused and less “fidgety,” and with helping Pam to become the independent, self-assured teenager she is today.

“If you are serious about TaeKwonDo, or think you want to be, this is the school for you,” says Lee. “John has a fabulous teaching style. It is a wonderful balance between nurturing and expectations that match the abilities of each child. I marvel that a man so young could have such an understanding of the psyche of children.

“At the same time, his youth helps him relate to the kids…. His classes have a perfect balance of humor and authority.”

New student and white belt John Owen, of Princeton Township, drives past other schools in order to train at the Montgomery TaeKwonDo Academy. Owen decided to start training earlier this year and chose Kanabay’s academy over others in the area.

“The quality of instruction,” says Owen, “is uniformly excellent. The personalities and teaching styles is what makes all the work so much fun.

Kanabay prides himself on setting high standards for his students as well as himself. He promotes students based on merit and the students’ individual improvements. Kanabay himself continues to train with other instructors and is currently taking classes in Haidong Gumdo, the study of Korean swordsmanship, so that he may later bring his knowledge of the weapon to the students.

It is this attention to the curriculum and the high level instruction that form the foundation for the business, according to Kanabay.

“I feel that the business will be successful because of the quality students I turn out,” says Kanabay. “There is a delicate balance between business and martial arts. You can compromise the martial arts and make it easier for your students, passing everyone at belt testings, or you can take a true martial arts approach.

“I believe in holding my students to a higher standard so that I know they are achieving what they set out to accomplish and working at the highest level of their ability.”

The change in ownership has only made the school a better place to train. Kanabay says he feels like the school is a family with all of its members sharing an earned respect.

Lee shares this sentiment, stating “Since John bought the school there’s a whole new and obvious energy. It’s like here is somebody running the place that actually cares about it from every perspective.”

If you would like more information on the school, or training opportunities at the Montgomery TaeKwonDo Academy, please call 609-430-0513 or email MontgomeryTKD@patmedia.net

Employee turns Employer

-There is a new owner at Montgomery’s only TaeKwonDo academy-



	Written by Meghan Barry As seen in The Montgomery News, June 2005 Employee turns Employer -There is a new owner at Montgomery’s only TaeKwonDo academy- The room is filled with kneeling children in white uniforms. Eyes closed tightly, they are breathing deeply and in unison. After one last meditative breath the tall towheaded man at the front of the room sounds off, “Stand Up. Cha-Ryot. Kyung-Nae.” Obediently, every body in the room snaps to attention and bows to the man. Another class has started and John Kanabay, the new owner and chief instructor of the Montgomery TaeKwonDo Academy, is in his element. Standing in front of a room full of children he calls out warm up drills while planning his course of action for today’s class. On April 26, 2005, Kanabay finalized his purchase of the school, formerly known as Montgomery’s United TaeKwonDo Academy. Located on Route 206 in the Village Shopper strip mall, this is the only martial arts school in the town of Montgomery and its popularity is apparent when taking a head count at any given class. At the age of 27, Kanabay may sound too young to be the owner of his own business but this has been a long-term goal realized. “I’ve been working towards purchasing this school for 2 years,” says Kanabay. “I started teaching in Montgomery in September of 1997 and for the past few years I have been the chief instructor here. “I started training in martial arts when I was 9-years-old,” he says. “On the ride home, after finishing my first class, I told my dad that was going to own my own school someday. “I remember he said ‘Why don’t you focus on earning your white belt first.’ “Recently I called him up and reminded him of the goal I had set for myself as a child. I have finally accomplished it!” Tamara Lee of Hopewell is proud to call herself a member of the academy. Lee has two children attending classes here Her daughter Pam, 14, is a second-degree black belt and her son Norm, 8, is a brown belt. Lee credits Kanabay with helping Norm become more focused and less “fidgety,” and with helping Pam to become the independent, self-assured teenager she is today. “If you are serious about TaeKwonDo, or think you want to be, this is the school for you,” says Lee. “John has a fabulous teaching style. It is a wonderful balance between nurturing and expectations that match the abilities of each child. I marvel that a man so young could have such an understanding of the psyche of children. “At the same time, his youth helps him relate to the kids…. His classes have a perfect balance of humor and authority.” New student and white belt John Owen, of Princeton Township, drives past other schools in order to train at the Montgomery TaeKwonDo Academy. Owen decided to start training earlier this year and chose Kanabay’s academy over others in the area. “The quality of instruction,” says Owen, “is uniformly excellent. The personalities and teaching styles is what makes all the work so much fun. Kanabay prides himself on setting high standards for his students as well as himself. He promotes students based on merit and the students’ individual improvements. Kanabay himself continues to train with other instructors and is currently taking classes in Haidong Gumdo, the study of Korean swordsmanship, so that he may later bring his knowledge of the weapon to the students. It is this attention to the curriculum and the high level instruction that form the foundation for the business, according to Kanabay. “I feel that the business will be successful because of the quality students I turn out,” says Kanabay. “There is a delicate balance between business and martial arts. You can compromise the martial arts and make it easier for your students, passing everyone at belt testings, or you can take a true martial arts approach. “I believe in holding my students to a higher standard so that I know they are achieving what they set out to accomplish and working at the highest level of their ability.” The change in ownership has only made the school a better place to train. Kanabay says he feels like the school is a family with all of its members sharing an earned respect. Lee shares this sentiment, stating “Since John bought the school there’s a whole new and obvious energy. It’s like here is somebody running the place that actually cares about it from every perspective.” If you would like more information on the school, or training opportunities at the Montgomery TaeKwonDo Academy, please call 609-430-0513 or email MontgomeryTKD@patmedia.net