About Us

Instructors:    Masters Ed and April Carothers, 7th and 6th degree black belts. Master Ed started in 1985, and Master April started in 1992.

Our Mission: To provide affordable martial arts instruction. We are not-for-profit: martial arts should be for all, and all should be able to benefit as we have from our study of Taekwondo: better health, better confidence, better focus, better life. Ours is a clean, family based, encouraging atmosphere where we all support each other. Some schools measure success through sports success at competitions, some focus instead of development of the whole person (mental, physical and social health). Our school does offer opportunities for competition, but our focus is more on the whole health and potential of each student. 


More about us: 
We are Kim's Taekwondo of McMinnville, a branch school of Kim's United Taekwon-Karate Center of Portland, head of school until his death: 9th Dan Great Grandmaster Hong Sik Kim. Master Kim came to the U.S. in 1971 and established his first school in Astoria. He quickly began building branch schools, seeding instructors where ever he could. He now heads the largest "non-contact" Taekwondo organization in the Pacific Northwest with schools in several different states. We maintain close ties as an organization by holding open tournaments several times a year, by holding promotion tests together, and by taking part in community service events, like the Walk for MS.

All rank is awarded by Grandmaster Hong Sik Kim, 9th dan.

Experience:  Kim's Taekwondo of McMinnville is run by a husband and wife team. Our instructor is 9th degree Grandmaster Doug Tesdal, located in Forest Grove, OR, where we originally trained. Master Ed served in the Army and the National Guard and was a master fitness trainer. He started Taekwondo in 1985 and began instructing by running classes for the Oregon National Guard and teaching at the Forest Grove dojang. Master April started Taekwondo in 1991 and began instructing by running the Vernonia branch of Kim's for Grandmaster Tesdal.

Students: We accept students as young as seven and as old as the individual feels they can participate in any way. We are a family oriented school, family run, and NON JUDGEMENTAL. We emphasize respect for self and others and self-control.


Our style does not use protective gear (which is expensive). Research has shown that full-contact practice with pads actually causes more injuries.


We use control when we spar to avoid injury. We use full contact only on targets such as heavy bags, breaking equipment, kicking targets, etc. Our routine usually includes stretching and warm-up, practice in blocks and punches to develop these techniques as reflex, forms practice (patterns), kicking practice, sparring practice, and breaking. We also teach joint manipulation, throws and falling, which are technically not Taekwondo but are important self-defense skills.

If you are interested, come and watch. The first class is free for you to try. No need to purchase a uniform until you decide you really enjoy the art. Tuition is $50 a month. Uniforms are $38. All promotions in rank take place before the Grandmasters, either Master Tesdal in Forest Grove or Master Kim in Portland and are paid to Master Kim.

If you're enrolled with us, find out how to join our McMinnville facebook group. We're also on facebook under Kim's Taekwondo Hong Sik Kim Dojang.

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