For over 50 years, Korea Taekwondo Academy has brought elite-level Taekwondo to Indiana. KTA has taught thousands of students not only martial arts, but courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit. KTA has been an integral part of the community, helping children, teens, and adults grow into more confident and capable individuals in everyday life.

Founded by Grandmaster Chul Koo Yoon in 1974, KTA has produced strong, mindful, capable adults, as well as many outstanding athletes and instructors.

Grandmaster Garth Cooley was both a world-class athlete and a world-class instructor. He embodied the teachings of Taekwondo under Grandmaster Yoon and endeavored to apply them in his sport, his life, and in passing them on to future students and athletes. For over 30 years, Grandmaster Cooley pursued excellence in training, competition, and martial education. He helped Grandmaster Yoon expand Taekwondo in the United States and throughout the world, and he taught students and instructors to do the same. He trained thousands of students and pushed them to exceed their own expectations of what they could do with both their body and their mind. He consistently pushed students to keep going when they wanted to quit and helped them learn to excel in all areas of life.

One year ago, KTA suffered an immense loss with the passing of Grandmaster Cooley. We lost our leader, our teacher, our mentor, and our friend, but he left us with a legacy. We endeavor to remember Grandmaster Cooley by living out the values that he taught us. We honor his memory by learning and following the tenets of Taekwondo, by always pushing ourselves beyond what we ever thought possible, and by passing that standard on to others. We continue to train, to compete, and to never quit.

Written in remembrance of Grandmaster Garth Cooley on the first anniversary of his passing.