Grandmaster Eddie Minyard (9th Dan)

Grandmaster Eddie Minyard has been a student of GM Yong Choi since 1976.

Training and Lineage

• 1973: Formal training under Grandmaster Chung Eun Kim (Chang Moo Kwan), a direct student of Grandmaster Nam Suk Lee.
• 1976: Continued training under Grandmasters Yong Duk (YD) Choi and Yong Sung (YS) Choi.
• 1978: Awarded 1st Dan, later progressing to 8th Dan under the Choi Brothers over the next 45 years.
• 1988: Mentored by Supreme Master Kim, Bok Man, one of Taekwon-Do’s original founders.
• 2019: Promoted to 8th Dan by World SunDoSul Federation
• 2021: Promoted to 9th Dan by the Grandmaster Robert Dunn, Founder of the International Jun Tong Federation.
• 2024: Promoted to 9th Dan by Home of ITF
• 2024: Promoted to 9th Dan by Chun Kuhn Taekwondo Federation.

Contributions to Martial Arts

• Charter Member of the American Professional Taekwon-Do Association (1979): A full-contact professional competition organization.
• Charter Member of the World SunDoSul Federation
• Organizer Team of the 11th Annual World Taekwon-Do Championships (1993): Played a key role in the NYC event at Madison Square Garden, which hosted over 700 competitors and was broadcast on ABC’s Wide World of Sports.
• Certified Referee & Judge (1998): Officiated events sanctioned by the World Association of Karate and Kickboxing Organizations – USA (WAKO_USA).
• International Instructor Certification (2024): Home of International Taekwondo.
• Published Author: Tae Kwon Do Times Magazine, Totally Taekwondo Magazine, and four novels.

Recognitions & Honors

• Official Taekwondo Hall of Fame Inductee – Lifetime Achievement Award (2022)
• US Kido Federation Black Belt Hall of Fame (2020): Named Grandmaster of the Year.
• Who's Who in America Martial Arts (2020): Listed alongside GM Chuck Norris and other martial arts luminaries.
• Chun Kuhn Taekwondo Leadership (2021): President of the New Hampshire Chapter and Senior Advisor to the World Chun Kuhn Federation.
• International Taekwon-Do Federation – Korea (2021): Accepted as a member (8th Dan).
• International Jun Tong Federation Leadership (2021): Serves as Northeast Regional Director and Special Advisor.

Current Role

Grandmaster Minyard has operated schools in Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, and New York, training law enforcement officers, first responders, and military personnel. He currently teaches private students in New Hampshire at his Hayan San (White Mountain) Martial Arts Dojang and remains active as a Promotional Board Member, Tournament Judge, Referee, and Coach.

A lifelong martial artist, warrior, and mentor, GM Minyard has embraced martial arts in every aspect of his life—from his service in Vietnam to his work as a law enforcement officer and first responder.

Personal Life

Grandmaster Minyard resides in the mountains of New Hampshire with his wife and two dogs. He is a proud father of a blended family of seven, a grandfather to ten, and a great-grandfather. Outside of martial arts, he enjoys making music and playing his collection of guitars.