East Tennessee School of Taekwondo / Karate

The East Tennessee School of Taekwondo/Karate held its 57th Anniversary Promotional Testing on November 16 and 17, 2023 during which many students earned new belt ranks. Among those earning new ranks was Aiden Foulk, who was promoted to 2nd Degree Black Belt, a rank that requires 6 years of training. The school's founder and chief instructor, Prof. L. C. Collins, said, "Aiden is very dedicated and a hard working young man. I am very proud of all our students for the effort and dedication they put forth in making their new belt. This type of mind set will benefit them for the rest of their life."

Aiden Foulk earned the 2nd Degree Black Belt rank at the 57th Anniversary Promotional Testing at East Tennessee School of Taekwondo/Karate November 16-17, 2023. Aiden is shown with Chief Instructor Prof. L. C. Collins at the testing.

Black Belt Club members at the 57th Anniversary Testing held November 16-17, 2023.

Chief instructor L. C. Collins, instructors and students at the school's 57th Anniversary Testing held November 16 and 17, 2023

Kingsport's Prof. L. C. Collins Still Making History.
East Tennessee School of Taekwondo/Karate Founder and Chief Instructor Prof. L. C. Collins is celebrating 57 years of teaching martial arts.
"God has brought Prof. Collins through a lot of trials over the years. He is very blessed to be able to still teach students who want to learn.
Our school's Mission Statement is "To make each student successful in life through the practice of martial arts."
The school's 57th Anniversary Promotional Testing was held July 13, 2023. Below are instructors and students our our school.

Paris Flanigan was promoted to the rank of 1st Degree Black Belt following the July 13, 2023 testing. Paris is shown below with Prof. L. C. Collins, 10th Degree Black Belt and the school's founder and chief instructor.

Angela Grevelle was promoted to 2nd Degree Black Belt following the July 14 and 15 Promotional Testing at East Tennessee School of Taekwondo/Karate. Angela is pictured with Prof. L. C. Collins, founder and chief instructor. Six years of training at the school is required before a student may test for 2nd Degree Black Belt. Congratulations to Angela!

East Tennessee School of Taekwondo/Karate held its Promotional Testing on July 14 and 15th. Pictured here are students along with L. C. Collins, founder and chief instructor and school instructors. Congratulations to all who earned their new belt ranks.

Students and instructors with Prof. L. C. Collins at the November 2021 testing.

Prof. L.C. Collins continues to make history. East Tenn. School of Taekwondo/Karate, founder and chief instructor. USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame Awards and a Promotion.

Sept. 18, 2021, Prof. Collins was inducted for the 2nd time into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame as "Multi-Disciplined Man of the Year". In 1969, Prof. Collins combined Taekwondo and Kempo Karate, with this system evolving over the years, it's an excellent form of self defense and still serves us well today.

Oct. 1, 2021, Prof. Collins was promoted by the USA Martial Arts Alliance Board of Directors to the rank of "Sokeship 10th Degree Black Belt". Officially, he is the Grandmaster and Head of his organization. This is the highest rank that a Black Belt can receive in the Martial Arts.

Prof. Collins has been active in the Martial Arts for 56 years (53 of those years teaching in Kingsport). He has held the rank of 9th Degree Black Belt since May 1995, under the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame.

Prof. Collins is honored to receive these awards and feels very blessed. He thanks his wife, Delilah, for her love and support over the years. She has always been there for him. She is the love of his life.

He also thanks God for all the trials He has brought him through. Especially for being a COVID survivor. On Oct. 15, 2020, "I got COVID and almost died. My wife took care of me 24/7 for weeks. This virus was the worst experience I have ever had in my life. It damaged my lungs permanently. I use oxygen 24 hours a day. Thank the Lord I am still able to teach every class with the help of my oxygen and my Black Belts. God is so good to me."

"I am a very blessed man. Lord willing, I will continue to teach as long as students want to learn and work for what they want. We are here to make each student successful in life through the practice of Martial Arts. I am grateful for all the students I have taught over the years and glad to have been a part of their life."
- Prof. L. C. Collins

Prof. L. C. Collins continues to make history. East Tenn. School of Taekwondo/Karate, founder and chief instructor. USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame Awards and a Promotion.

Sept. 18, 2021, Prof. Collins was inducted for the 2nd time into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame as "Multi-Disciplined Man of the Year". In 1969, Prof. Collins combined Taekwondo and Kempo Karate and with this system continuing to evolve over the years, it's an excellent form of self defense and still serves us well today.

Oct. 1, 2021, Prof. Collins was promoted by the USA Martial Arts Alliance Board of Directors to the rank of "Sokeship 10th Degree Black Belt". Officially, he is the Grandmaster and Head of his organization. This is the highest rank that a Black Belt can receive in the Martial Arts.

Prof. Collins has been active in the Martial Arts for 56 years (53 of those years teaching in Kingsport). He has held the rank of 9th Degree Black Belt since May 1995, under the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame.

Prof. Collins is honored to receive these awards and feels very blessed. He thanks his wife, Delilah, for her love and support over the years. She has always been there for him. She is the love of his life.

He also thanks God for all the trials he has brought him through. Especially for being a COVID survivor. On Oct. 15, 2020, "I got COVID and almost died. My wife took care of me 24/7 for weeks. This virus was the worst experience I have ever had in my life. It damaged my lungs permanently. I use oxygen 24 hours a day. Thank the Lord, I am still able to teach every class with the help of my oxygen and my Black Belts. God is good to me."

"I am a very blessed man. Lord willing, I will continue to teach, as long as students want to learn and work form what they want. We are here to make each student successful in life through the practice of Martial Arts. I am grateful for all the students I have taught over the years and glad to have been a part of their life."
- Prof. L. C. Collins

Our school's "Storm Team" (Super team of role models) pictured below at the March 2021 testing.

We test differently that most schools. Since March 1969, our students test in multi-style system of Taekwondo and Kempo Karate. They train very hard, attending classes three times a week. Our test covers the basics, forms, 1-step sparring, self-defenses, free sparring, board breaking and weapons training. The students are judged by our board of Black Belts. The belt system is the key to building esteem. When students earn their belts it gives them a great sense of accomplishment that really improves the way they feel about themselves.
Personal Note: Prof. Collins is a COVID survivor, October of 2020. He is blessed that God brought him through this most trying time of his life. He is thankful for his wife, Delilah, for taking care of him 24/7. His lungs are permanently damaged but he continues to teach every class with the help of oxygen. Prof. Collins is 75 years young.

East Tennessee School of Taekwondo/Karate's 52nd Anniversary Promotional Testing announces rank advancements held March 19, 2021. Students who earned new belt ranks are pictured below along with instructors and Chief Instructor L. C. Collins.

The Grevelle family is shown (front row, left to right) Lauren - 2nd Degree, the mother, Angela - 1st Degree and Ashlynn -1st Degree. Back row left to right, Noah - 3rd Degree, Prof. Collins, and Zachary - 1st Degree.

The East Tennessee School of Taekwondo/Karate held its promotional testing on December 10 and 11. The Grevelle family made history for our karate school by being the first family of 5 to receive the rank of Black Belt in 51 years that Prof. L. C. Collins has been teaching in Kingsport. The children enrolled first and made their Black Belt in 4 years. Then the mother, Angela, decided to earn her Black Belt. We are very proud of our instructors and students for their hard work and dedication. We teach if you want something you work for it. Our school's mission statement is "to make each student successful in life through the practice of martial arts."

Congratulations to all students who earned new belt ranks at our December promotional testing. Students and instructors are pictured with Prof. L. C. Collins, founder and chief instructor.

Blaine Healy earned the coveted rank of First Degree Black Belt at our August 6th and 7th testing. Blaine is pictured with Prof. L. C. Collins, founder and chief instructor.

Board breaking at the August 2020 testing. Students are required to break boards with the hand and with the foot.

Congratulations to all students who earned new belt ranks at our August 6th and 7th testing. Pictured are students and instructors attending the testing.

It's now easier to contact East Tennessee School of Taekwondo / Karate.

Instructors and assistants at the March 14, 2020 testing.

Our 51st Promotional Testing was held March 14, 2020. Following the 4-hour testing, students earned new belt ranks. Below are students who tested along with instructors and assistants.

Our November testing

Scenes from or March 16 testing. Congratulations to all students who earned new belt ranks.

Senior instructors with Prof. L. C. Collins at the March 16 testing.

Black Belts and Brown Belts with Prof. L. C. Collins at the March 16 testing.

Many students earned new belt ranks at our Promotional Testing held March 16. Below are students and instructors with Chief Instructor L. C. Collins.