About

Master Roger Laitan


Master Roger has been studying martial arts since he was 8 years old. He has trained in Judo, Karate, Aikido and Taekwondo. Before moving to Michigan in the 1970′s, he studied Taekwondo in Hawaii. After moving to Michigan, Master Roger studied Taekwondo under the guidance of Grand Master Sang Sop Kil. He opened his own school in 2005 while continuing education with Grand Master.

Master Roger has competed over the years in many local, state and national tournaments which have earned him numerous medals, trophies, plaques and awards. The most recent achievement was in July 2008, competing in the National and Olympic Tryouts held in Detroit at Ford Field. At the age of 58, Master Roger took Silver in sparring and Bronze in poomses.

At the State and Governor’s Cup tournaments, Master Roger took Gold in sparring, poomses and board breaking. Not only does Master Roger compete, he is also a coach for local and national tournaments.

Master Roger is a World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) and USA Taekwondo (USAT) certified instructor. His school is an official member of USAT. In addition, he is trained in simple, effective self-defense techniques and has taught basic self-defense to girl scouts to earn their merit badges. He participates in many self-defense seminars taught by Grand Master.

Grand Master Sang Sop Kil


Grand Master Sang Sop Kil is one of the highest ranked black belts in the world of Tae Kwon Do. His credentials and reputation are world renowned. He is a 10th degree black belt, certified by the World Tae Kwon Do Federation. Grand Master Kil has more than 40 years of experience in teaching, studying and researching Tae Kwon Do. He is an International Master, Instructor, Coach and Certified Referee. He was the Korean National Champion between the years of 1965 and 1968. He was also a U.S. Army combative instructor from the years 1962 to 1980.

He has promoted thousands of black belts in his career, and has taught many U.S. soldiers stationed in South Korea. Master Abraham Ahmed, who is now living in Michigan, was one of Grand Master Kil’s students while stationed in the U.S. Army in South Korea. Following his military service, Master Abraham Ahmed invited him to the United States. It was after moving to Michigan that Grand Master Kil became the founding President of the United States Han Mu Kwan Federation and Kil’s Tae Kwon Do Center, in 1980. Grand Master Kil has also been the President of the Michigan Tae Kwon Do Association, a division of the United States Tae Kwon Do Union, since 1993.

In the United States he has trained thousands of students in his beloved art. He has also coached several students to the coveted title of U.S. National Champion. In 1982, Grand Master Kyo Yoon Lee, who has been the founding President of the World Han Mu Kwan Headquarters since 1953, appointed Grand Master Sang Sop Kil to become the President of the Pan Am Tae Kwon Do Han Mu Kwan Regional Headquarters. It is because of Grand Master Kil’s tremendous foresight and relentless determination that the world Tae Kwon Do Movement is at unparalleled heights today. Grand Master Kil’s continuous outpouring of knowledge, and steadfast desire to popularize Tae Kwon Do, has culminated with the prestigious status of the Olympic Games in 2000. Grand Master Sang Sop Kil is one of the highest ranked black belts in the world.

Master Yong Sup Kil

  • Master Kil is currently a Seventh Dan Black Belt.
  • Official Delegate to the 2003 US Summer Games Universiad(University and Olympiad)in Korea.
  • Official Delegate to the 2000 US. Summer Olympics. Best coach of the Year US. National collegiate Association, 2000.
  • World Champion–World Tae Kwon Do Championships in Seoul, Korea 1973
    Korean National Champion Four-time national champion between 1973 and 1981.
  • U.S. National Team Coach 1994–present
  • U.S. Olympic Sport Festival Team Coach 1994–1996
  • U.S. Junior Olympic Team Coach Junior National World Tae Kwon Do Championships in Spain, 1996–present
  • U.S. National Team Manager International Olympic Committee Centenary, International Tae Kwon Do Championships, Seoul Korea 1994
  • U.S. National College Tae Kwon Do Team Coach 1995–present International Referee and Referee Chairman U.S. National Collegiate Tae Kwon Do Association 1995–present Referee Instructor and Committee Member of Technical Contest Rules and Referee Certification Committee 1993–present
  • Professor, Credit Class Program at Wayne State University
  • Advisor to Special Law Enforcement Agents
  • Awarded Coaching Level 5 Certificate
  • Author of Tae Kwon Do Preparatory Book for Children: A Parents Guide to their Child’s Success
  • Producer and Director of 2 Poomse Videos Formula for Gold Medal Forms. Author of Sports Taekwondo book about Olympic Style sparring.