DEVELOPING MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT
ACADEMIC AND MARTIAL ARTS EXCELLENCE…OUR TOP PRIORITIES
No contract or initiation (joining) fee
In April of 2002 owner and Chief Instructor, Gil Woodside, at the age of 57 earned his TKD Black Belt. Mr. Woodside had been teaching TKD at a local YMCA under a well respected 5th degree Black Belt since 1995.
In February of 2003 his best friend Shane Mello, Co-Chief Instructor suggested that they take over a school that was all but closed. Woodside was a bit hesitant but with encouragement from both Mello and the former owner, Woodside relented.
As Mello and Woodside contemplated their grand re-opening scheduled for March 1, 2003 they needed a new name for the school. Both of them are Marine combat veterans, Woodside in Vietnam and Mello in Desert Storm. Both agreed that the new name should reflect their love of the Marine Corps and pride at being Marines. They also agreed that the Corps and the martial arts teach essentially the same things. Each inculcates a love of and loyalty to God, country and family. Both demand moral, physical and spiritual strength and integrity...the new name was a no-brainer...SEMPER FI
"Semper Fi" is the way many Marines greet or say goodbye to one another. It is a shortened version of the Latin Semper Fidelis which means always faithful.
The grand re-opening took place as scheduled and Semper Fi opened for classes on March 3, 2003 with 14 students. The highest ranking returning student was a 13 year old red belt who a year and a half later became SFTKD's first Black Belt.
Currently in its 5th year SFTKD is a small but financially sound, actively
growing, community active school with a wonderful reputation.