About the founder
Mr. Conway is a long term resident of Ridgeland, Mississippi. He started his training in Taekwondo in 1977 with Mr. Rick Hoadley at the Family Fitness Training Center in Mobile, AL. A member of the American Taekwondo Association (ATA) he received his 1st Degree Black Belt in 1980.
After promoting to 2nd Degree in 1982 he became a Certified Instructor and soon opened his first school in 1984 in West Mobile, AL. In 1986 he was promoted to 3rd Degree Black Belt. In 1989 he sold his school in Mobile and moved to Ridgeland to fulfil his dream.
Mr. Conway opened his present school with the United States Taekwondo Alliance (USTA) and was promoted to 4th Degree Black Belt in 1990. In 1993 Mr. Conway broke away from the USTA and he co-founded Taekwondo America (TA). In 1994 he was promoted to 5th Degree. In 1999, Mr. Conway was promoted to 6th Degree Master Instructor.
Since then he has trained several students to the master rank of 7th Degree Black and Sr. Certified Instructor. In 2011 he co-founded Taekwondo United (TU), a national organization for independent schools.
Over the years Mr. Conway has competed in hundreds of tournaments nationally. He has won National Championships in the ATA, USTA, Taekwondo America, and on the open tournament circuit. He has trained several hundred students to the rank of Black Belt, has hosted Regional and National tournaments, conducted seminars, clinics, and camps. He has participated and performed demonstrations in hundreds of cities and has been instrumental in the opening of new Taekwondo schools across the country.
Mr. Conway has been awarded a citation of merit from the Paralyzed Veterans Administration and is an avid supporter of many community charities. Mr. Conway works hard at promoting the continued success of both his own Taekwondo center and Taekwondo United organization as one of the premier martial arts organizations in the country.
His favorite quote is “Keep reaching for the stars.”
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General ManagerIt all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
General Manager
Mr. Shoemaker has been training in various martial arts since 1989. Receiving his first Black belt in Tang Soo Do in 1992 from Robert “Bubba” Gambrell in Jackson, MS.
He has earned black belts or equivalent rankings in multiple arts, as well as teaching certifications in those arts. He considers his primary arts to be Tang Soo Do, Taekwondo, Hapkido, & Haedong Kumdo. He believes that people should never stop learning and as such he is always training in other things to see if he can use the knowledge to improve himself or his students.
He credits the following individuals for the knowledge they shared with him and admits that any mistakes are his own.
Masters William “Bubba” Gambrell, Derek Wilson, Ray Reed, Danny Bryant (Southern Tang Soo Do Karate Association, Southern Tang Soo Do Association) and Master Chuck Hatch (Traditional Tang Soo Do International) as his primary Tang Soo Do instructors.
Masters Scott Wilkinson (USTF), Chuck Grisco, Sung J Woo (WTF), & Grandmaster Dennis Conway (Taekwondo United) as his primary Taekwondo instructors.
Master/ Professor Chris Holmes (World Ki-do Federation, USJA, Carlos Machado Jiu Jitsu Association) as his primary Hapkido, Judo and BJJ instructor.
Master Robert Frankovich (United World Haedong Kumdo Federation) as his Haedong Kumdo instructor.
Mr. John Borter (Doyle Clan - Dance of the Whiskey Stick Faction) as his Irish Stick instructor.
What Parents Are Saying
“The instructor, Mr. Dennis Conway, is someone you would trust and allow to be in control of your children. Thanks, Ridgeland Taekwondo!”
— Barbara W.
“The environment is as wholesome as you can get.”
— Shaman G.