Our story
About Our School
A traditional Taekwondo school with deep roots at the Lakewood Link — and a family feel.
Rooted in Lakewood
Our lineage has taught Taekwondo in Lakewood since 1996, when Grand Master John W. Rankin opened the Lakewood school of his Mountain Academy of Martial Arts. Our instructors trained for years under Grand Master Rankin, whose schools taught thousands of students across Lakewood, Evergreen, Idaho Springs and Gilpin County. When Grand Master Rankin retired after 56 years in the martial arts, he left the tradition in capable hands.
The Lakewood Academy of Martial Arts carries that tradition forward: traditional technique, a strong emphasis on forms and self-defense, respect for every student — and the belief that the best way to learn is together, as a family.
✏️ To do: Add the year the Lakewood Academy was founded and any current association/affiliation (for example, Moo Duk Kwan lineage or certifications).
I would like everyone to take a moment and remember the feeling that you had when you tested with the support of your fellow students… I hope my legacy will be that everyone Feels Like a Member of the Family.
Grand Master John W. Rankin
Our instructors
Meet the team
Head Instructor
John Miller
John first stepped onto the mat as an Air Force lieutenant, and came back to Taekwondo years later because of his kids, training right alongside his daughters. He loves forms, asks the questions that stump other black belts, and even created his own shorthand for writing down techniques.
Instructor
Bert Hargrave
Bert began Taekwondo in Lakewood in 1997 and has been teaching since 1999. A quiet guy with lightning-quick kicks, he believes Taekwondo “is not a practice in violence, but a way to discipline the mind and body so that we can control violence, and not let it control us.” Outside the dojang he works in a laboratory, gardens and raises two kids.
Tuesday Guest Instructor
Peter Murray
Master Murray is a certified Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan master instructor with Altitude Martial Arts. He joins us on Tuesday nights to share his deep knowledge of traditional Korean martial arts.
✏️ To do: Confirm each instructor’s current rank/title and add any certifications, years of experience or a favorite quote.
What we value
The five tenets of Taekwondo
These principles guide everything we do — in the dojang and out.
Yelu
Courtesy
Be polite to one another and respect instructors, seniors and juniors alike.
Yom Chi
Integrity
Know right from wrong — and have the conscience to act on it.
Im Nae
Perseverance
Patience leads to merit. Keep going, steadily, especially when it’s hard.
Guk Gi
Self-Control
In sparring and in life, losing control can be disastrous. Stay in command of yourself.
Baekjul Boolgool
Indomitable Spirit
Be modest and honest — and face injustice without fear or hesitation.
Classes at the Link
Our training family
Your first class is free.
No contracts, no pressure, no experience needed. Wear comfortable clothes, bring water, and come meet us on the mat at the Lakewood Link.