Our Instructors

Master Steve Kincade, owner and Master Instructor of Academy of Korean Martial Arts, saw the movie Billy Jack in the early 1970’s and was so impressed with the kicking techniques and philosophy of martial arts presented in the movie that he decided that he wanted to study Hapkido, the martial art used in the movie. For years Master Kincade searched for an instructor who could guide him in learning the mental as well as the physical aspects of Hapkido. In  1981, while working in a photographic supply store, Master Kincade met Dr. He-Young Kimm, who was taking photographs for a book he was writing

Dr. Kimm was known as “Master Kimm” to everyone in the store because the other employees heard that he “knew karate”. Master Kincade asked what style he taught, and Master Kimm replied, “Kuk Sool.” Master Kincade told him that he wanted to study Hapkido. Master Kimm replied, “I have a black belt in Hapkido”. (Master Kincade later found that Dr. Kimm was a seventh degree black belt, one of the first to bring Hapkido to this country, and was a good friend of the man who performed Hapkido in Billy Jack!)

After a year had passed, Master Kincade finally went to Dr. Kimm’s school to observe class. Before he knew it, he was in a uniform and on the mat. He knew that he had found both the style and the instructor that he had been looking for, and has been studying under Dr. Kimm since.

In 1989, Dr. Kimm founded the art of Han Mu Do after over 35 years of study, training, and research. Do Ju Nim Ji, Han Jae, the founder of modern Hapkido, and Kuk Sa Nim In Hyuk Suh, the founder of Kuk Sool Won, encouraged him to form this new art. Do Ju Nim Ji has bestowed upon Dr. Kimm the title of “Do Ju” (founder), so he is now known as “Do Ju Nim He- Young Kimm.”

Master Kincade was one of many students and instructors who supported Do Ju Nim Kimm in his efforts. He taught at the Han Mu Do headquarters school, the Han Do Won, assisted Dr. Kimm in seminars all over the world, and helped with the publication of his books.

While Visiting Korea in 2002, Master Kincade met Grandmaster No Won Park, President of the International Teuk Gong Moo Sool Federation.  Teuk Gong Moo Sool is the martial art of the Korean Special Forces, Presidential body guards, and other elite fighting units of the South Korean government.  Master Kincade has since become of of the few Americans authorized to teach this unique system of martial arts and conducts seminars  throughout the United States for students as well as instructors seeking teaching certification.

For more information on Teuk Gong Moo Sool and its training, please click here.

In 2007, Master Kincade joined the World Kido Federation and The Hanminjok Hapkido Association, having Academy of Korean Martial Arts certified by the government of South Korea as a Hapkido school and providing  himself and his students with a direct link to the land where his beloved art originated.

He currently studies under Grandmaster In Sun Seo.  Grandmaster Seo is the highest ranking Hapkido master in Korea and is the brother of Kuk Sa Nim In Hyuk Suh, the founder of Kuk Sool Won.   

Today, Master Kincade devotes his time to teaching Korean Martial Arts.  He has traveled to Korea, Japan, England, Mexico, and all over the United States to study, train and teach.  He currently holds Black Belt rank in several Korean Martial arts, including Taekwondo, and Kuk Sool Won, and Master's Ranking in Han Mu Do and Hapkido, and Teuk Gong Moo Sool.  Master Kincade continues to train in other styles as well, to enhance his teaching and his martial art skills.  He considers himself a lifetime student with the goal of passing along what he has learned to future generations.