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Instructor Profile Meet our instructors and learn more about them! Ms Lonnie Matthews
Age: 46 (As of March, 2008) In 2004 Ms. Matthews was diagnosed with a rare cancer called Leiomyosarcoma and Tae Kwon Do was the first place she turned to build herself back to health -physically and mentally. Struggling to find a school with high ethical standards and quality teaching in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa City area was a challenge. After interviewing and conversing with several local schools Kangs Martial Arts Under the instruction of Master Min-Seok Kang was definitely where she wanted to continue her martial arts study. Ms Matthews began her training with Kangs Martial Arts family January 4, 2006 obtained her 1rst Dan June10, 2006 and 2nd Dan December 19, 2006 3rd Dan April 2008 WTF World Tae Kwon Do Federation style. Ms. Matthews is certified Class B referee she has attended and participated in numerous seminars, tournaments and demonstrations throughout the United States and World. Made History: Competitor 2008 World Hamadang Games - Anhiem California Broke 2 granite slabs knife hand - men's division. Ms Matthews currently holds the Battle of Iowa power board breaking record for women eight boards 1 inch thick no spacers. 2009 International/National 1rst in the US Hanmadang Chicago Gold Medal winner Knife hand, fist and turning kick. National Hanmadang certified referee. Trained by Kukkiwon -1rst classes/seminars ever offered in the US- 2009 Poomsae seminar, 2009 referee and 2009 Kukkiwon Instructors certification. 2009 awarded Kukkiwon Commendation for conduct and contributions to the Tae Kwon Do world. INVITATION FROM 2010 Obtained Kukkiwon p-2 assistant instructor license . Recognized as an Professional International License 2010 International Coach and Gold Medal Winner US Hanmadang Chicago - 1rst place power fist breaking, 1rst place power side kick, 3rd place Poomsae Ms. Matthews is a Community Employment
specialist working for Options of Linn County
in Cedar Rapids, 24 years- advocating and providing job placement and
support for individuals with disabilities. She's a devote Christian and is
very involved in her church. Ms. Matthews balances her dedication and love
for Tae Kwon Do with her work, raising her sons Jason 23, Justin and
Jonathan 17 year old twins. Ms Matthews continues her battle with Cancer and
with the skills of perseverance and indomitable spirit that Tae Kwon do
teaches she is able to fight against the cancer and devotes herself to
Kangs Martial Arts training, teaching - giving back to Tae Kwon Do what is
has given her. Additional Photos:
Ms.Lonnie made history competing in the 2008 World Hamadang Games Anahiem California (First time ever held outside of Korea). Ms Lonnie competed in knife hand breaking men's division breaking 2 granite bricks.    
Taekwondo: 'It's a way of life'
Press - Citizen - Iowa City, Iowa
Document Text
Iowa City Press-Citizen Lonnie Matthews said her interest in the Korean martial art of Taekwondo began when she was a 19-year-old student at Kirkwood Community College. She said she watched her then-husband's nephew taking a lesson and she immediately became interested. "At that time, it was exercise and self-defense," said Matthews, 47, of North Liberty. "It was fun watching the people do the techniques." Today, Matthews, a job placement counselor for Linn County, owns her own Taekwondo studio, Kang's Martial Arts in Coralville. She is rising through the ranks of the sport, winning several tournaments and attaining junior master status at the same time she battles cancer. She said she is working on rising to the rank of master, a point attained by few Americans, particularly women. She recently received a commendation award from the Kukkiwon, the governing body of the World Taekwondo Federation in South Korea that regulates Olympic-style competition. "To me, it's been fun to be at the forefront ... to be (among the first Americans) to be certified by the Kukkiwon. That makes me proud," Matthews said. She had spent most of her career in the International Taekwondo Federation, which is considered more of the "old-style" martial art. She decided to switch five years ago to the World Taekwondo Federation to participate in more competitions, which include sparring, board and brick breaking, and forms. That has led to increased honors and recognition, especially during the last year. She competed at the first World Taekwondo Hanmadang held in the United States in 2008 in Anaheim, Calif., where she was among a select few to break two granite bricks. "They didn't have a women's division, so I competed in the men's division," she said. Matthews continued competing and succeeding, winning three gold medals in power breaking of wood and bricks with her fist, a knife and a turning kick in June in Chicago. She also has recently been certified a national referee for the Hanmadang, one of the few Americans to achieve the status. On Saturday, she heads to South Korea as one of 100 masters and grandmasters picked by the United States Taekwondo Committee, where she continues to learn the martial art as she moves up to a fourth-degree black belt. She has achieved all of this while battling cancer. Five years ago, she was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma, a cancer of the soft tissue that is resistant to chemotherapy and other treatments. She has had four surgeries to remove one of her kidneys and parts of her lungs and stomach, with the most recent operation taking place earlier this year. She credits her training in Taekwondo with allowing her to recover and return to her training in six weeks. "It definitely helped me," Matthews said. "It's allowed me to fight through the cancer." For the future, after her return from South Korea on Nov. 19, she said she plans to continue teaching Taekwondo at Kang's Martial Arts, which she bought from original owner Min Seok Kang last year, and continue training. "When we were younger, we were training two to three hours a night, six days a week," Matthews said. "It's a sport, but it's also a way of life." Reach Rob Daniel at 339-7360 or rdaniel@press-citizen.com.
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