Today we’d like to introduce you to Grand Master David L Reed.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I began martial arts training in 1970 in Judo and Jujitsu. I was bullied in school, so I wanted to take Martial Arts to learn to protect myself. I saw a film with Bruce Lee that influenced me. My friend trained with Ron Marchinie and Leo Fong in Stockton and Chuck Norris, so he started teaching me a little then.
In 1974 to 1978, I studied Tae Kwon Do, Kung Fu and Jeet Kune Do. In 1979, I started Tang Soo Do with Master Jeff Scott and Master James Edwards. I tested for 1st Dan under Chuck Norris in 1984, and Grand Master Jeong Sook Lee in 1985 and 2nd Dan in 1987. I ran Lee’s Tang Soo Do / Jeong Jin Kwon in Hollywood Ca for GM Lee in 1987 to 88.
In 1979, I met and began teaching part-time for Grand Master Ho Sik Pak at Paks Tang Soo Do. Re-tested and promoted to 1st and 2nd Dan in US Tang Soo Do Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan (29476), (re-testing required with Federation membership).
I was in Black Belt Magazine in May 1989 “Tang Soo Do: It Can Sweep You Off Your Feet” and Tae Kwon Do Times in March, 1990 “How To Handle Multiple Attacks”. In 1989, 1990, 1992, I also competed in multiple tournaments winning championships.
In 1993, I started training with Chris Kent at the Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do and was promoted to advanced level. In 1994, I also cross trained in Tai Chi Chuan and Qi Gong under Randy Lyons and Dale Chen.
In 2000, I co-founded United American Tang Soo Do Association with Master Mike McPherson but after 3 years we dissolved it . In 2005 I helped co-write “Complete Tang Soo Do Master Manual: From 2nd Dan to 6th Dan Vol 2 With Master Jack Pistella and Grandmaster Ho Sik Pak.
In 2010, I co-founded and opened Reed’s Active Martial Arts and Wellness Club in Germany and in California with Kyosa Lady L. Reed. She’s a 2nd Degree Black Belt, owner of our school and my wife.
I was appointed Vice-President to the newly formed Universal Martial Arts Alliance in 2014. I was promoted to a 7th Degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do and was assigned President of the West Coast International Tang Soo Do Federation of Korea by GM In Do Nam and a 6th Dan in World Dang Soo Do Union under S. K. Kim.
In 2015, I was inducted to Masters Hall of Fame. Then together with my wife, we got inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall Of Fame in 2016.
We are currently training under Grand Master Leo Fong in Wei Kuen Do. We also just did an article with Leo Fong and Jeff Jeds, Paul Pinckard in Tae Kwon Do Times Magazine November 2016.
With my 36 years of teaching and 47 years in Martial Arts experience, I share my specialties i.e. Tang Soo Do, Jeong Jin Kwon, Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido, Judo, Jeet Kune Do principles and concepts, Wei Kuen Do, Kickboxing, Wing Chun, and Tai Chi Chuan Kung Fu, 24 and 108, Qi Gong, Escrima/Kali, Energy and Aura Balancing, Reiki at Reed’s Active Martial Arts & Wellness Club LLC in Northridge.
Has it been a smooth road?
When I was teaching in 1988, Grand Master J S Lee decided to retire and closed his school. I was left without a job and had to look for work as well as find a place to train. That was when I met Grand Master Ho Sik Pak. I trained with him off and on for over 25 years but unfortunately, we had different ideas about teaching and so I left and opened R.A.M.A.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Reed’s Active Martial Arts and Wellness Club story. Tell us more about the business.
We teach people of all ages from 5 years old up to people in their 70’s. We start them in Tang Soo Do, then we start adding boxing, Wei Kuen Do and Jeet Kune Do, Hapkido, Escrima. We also offer Wing Chun and Tai Chi classes.
My wife, Kyosa Lady L Reed teaches kids class and Qi Gong classes as well as filling in when I can’t teach. We also have Kyosa Chuck Yarbrough, James Behtash and Skee Goedhart as instructors. Without their help, R.A.M.A. would not be here.
Our focus is to bridge the gap in Martial Arts and we also offer healing through Reiki and massage therapy.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I think you will see that Traditional Martial Arts are here to stay and that Sport Martial Arts will fade like Judo did in the 1960’s.
Contact Info:
- Address: We are located at 8801 Unit E Reseda Blvd. Northridge Ca 91324.
- Website: reedsactivemartialarts.com
- Phone: 818-488-0256
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Reedsactivemartialarts/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/rama-reeds-active-martial-arts-and-wellness-club-northridge-3
- Other: http://dlreed1.wixsite.com/rama
Image Credit:
Kyo Sa Lady Lallaine Reed, Grandmaster Leo Fong, Master Jeff Jeds, Grandmaster Don Baird, Grandmaster Alfred Urquidez, Master James Edwards, Master David Kmiecik, Master Clark Tang, Grandmaster In Do Nam, Sifu Mike Eskilson, True Martial Arts group, Master Eric Gold. Master Ben Brown.
