March 27, 2017

Meet Paul Yoon of Tsunami Mixed Martial Arts in Decatur

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Paul Yoon.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Paul. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started with Taekwondo when I was 5 but didn’t get serious with it until middle school. It was then I started competing in local, state, regional, and international tournaments which culminated in me becoming a two-time silver medalist in the Junior Olympics.

I started teaching Martial Arts around age 15 and it was then I knew that one day I wanted to own my own Martial Arts academy. Working for various organizations in different Martial Arts disciplines helped me gain the knowledge and confidence needed. I still went the traditional route in life: graduated college, had a good career in the IT field but I found myself at peace and my happiest when I was able to find time to teach or was in-between jobs and had to teach.

Complacency was becoming my new normalcy in life until I awoke from my 3-week coma from a motorcycle accident. From my recovery I found a new set of toughness and strength that added to my martial arts upbringing– which brings us to today. I want to leave my positive mark on the world. What will be my legacy when I’m gone? What is my real calling? I’ll tell you what it is: To do my part for a better future and to be a positive influence to those around me today.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road was definitely not smooth but I’m thankful for that. The struggle is real, ya’ll. Having to struggle to pay rent, for food, and for gas all in the name of doing something you love is real. That internal struggle you have with yourself when you thought making enough money doing something else would make you happy but it doesn’t is real. The external struggle with life when you’re not even sure you’ll be able to walk again much less do martial arts again is real. But, struggles are just opportunities for growth and for lessons. I’ve grown from my struggles. I’ve learned from my struggles. I hate struggling but I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am without them. I don’t thank God for my struggles but I do thank Him for making me into who I am because of what I’ve been through.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Tsunami Mixed Martial Arts story. Tell us more about the business.
Tsunami Mixed Martial Arts is a family friendly environment where we teach kids, adults, and have family classes. We specialize in bully prevention and confidence for kids. For adults we specialize in self-defense and getting in or staying in shape. We teach Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Taekwondo, and Fitness Cardio Kickboxing. Our coaches are outstanding athletes and very well respected in their martial art. I handpicked all my coaches not only based on their skill but most importantly, who they are as a person. Everyone at Tsunami has a great heart and great spirit and that is what I’m most proud of. I love my staff because they are my friends and I love my friends because they are my staff.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
There is no such thing as luck, right? Just actions, events, response, and consequences. No two paths are the same because everyone has a different work ethic, everyone has a different response to an event, and everyone will have their own consequence. I can say it was bad luck that turned into good luck when I had my accident. Truthfully though, the event (motorcycle accident) caused my response which led to where we are now (consequence).

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