Grandmaster Eddie Minyard was introduced to Martial Arts (Judo), in 1965. His step-
father was a soldier, who had trained while on active duty and then trained his two
stepsons. Eddie then began training in Judo and Shorei Ryu Karate, in Moline, Il
taking a bus for 45 minutes each way to the school.
While in the US Army in Vietnam, GM Minyard saw a demonstration of Taekwon-Do,
presented by the ROK White Horse Division, at the RECONDO School in Nha Trang. It
became clear that Taekwon-Do was what he wanted to study. After returning home from
overseas duty, he began training informally with Master Roger Dorethy, beginning in
1970.
He began formal training in 1973, under GM Chung En Kim (RIP) (Chang Moo Kwan),
a direct student of The Founder of Chang Moo Kwan, Grand Master Nam Suk Lee. GM
Lee was also an Executive Council Member of the World Taekwondo Federation, in its
early days. GM Kim was also the Founder of the American Taekwondo Federation, of
which GM Minyard was a member.
In 1976, GM Minyard was relocated due to work, and began training with the Choi
Brothers, where his primary instructors were GM Yong Duk (YD) Choi and GM Yong
Sung (YS) Choi - both also former students of GM Nam Suk Lee. Under their tutelage,
Minyard was awarded his 1st Dan, in 1978. He has maintained his status as a student of
the Choi Brothers, for the past 45 years, progressively earning rank up to 8th Dan.
In 1979, in association with the Choi Brothers, GM Minyard was instrumental in the
formation of the American Professional Taekwon-Do Association, a full-contact
professional competition organization. He is also a contributor to GM YD Choi's book:
Practical Tae Kwon Do.
Ed is a Charter Member and highest ranked student of the World Sun Do Sul
Federation, where he assisted GM YS Choi in developing the martial art known as Sun
Do Sul. The art is based on Sunmudo - a Korean Buddhist Zen-based martial art,
combined with elements of Taekwon-Do and Hapkido.
In 1988, Minyard was introduced to Supreme Master Kim, Bok Man - one of the Original
Founders of Taekwon-Do. They maintained a close friendship / mentorship
relationship, from that time, through the time of SGM Kim's passing, in 2021. GM
Minyard was awarded 8th Dan in SGM Kim's system, Chun Kuhn Taekwondo, currently
serves as the President of the New Hampshire Chapter of The World Chun Kuhn
Federation and is a Special Advisor to the President of The World Chun Kuhn
Federation.
In 1993, while training in New York under GM Yeon Hwan Park, former coach of the
U.S. Olympic and Pan-American Tae Kwon Do teams and former vice president of the
United States Tae Kwon Do Union, Ed was involved in organizing the 11th Annual World
Tae Kwon Do Championships, in NYC at Madison Square Garden. He was responsible
for ensuring a memorable and comfortable experience for worldwide dignitaries, including the President of the WTF, Head of the US Olympic Committee and Head of
USA Taekwondo. The event had over 700 competitors and was broadcast on ABC
Wide World of Sports. For his contribution, Ed was awarded a plaque consisting of
three Gold Medals from the Championship.
In 1998, GM Minyard was Certified to Officiate in events sanctioned by the World
Association of Karate and Kickboxing Organizations - USA (WAKO_USA), authorized
by then-President GM Don Rodriques, Vice President, GM Tom Festa and Chief
International Referee, GMT. Rondo VanClief.
In 2019, GM Minyard was certified by Deepak Chopra and the Chopra Center, as a
Primordial Sound Meditation Teacher. He incorporates this meditation practice into his
Taekwon-Do regimen, and teaches it to others.
In 2020, Grand Master Minyard was inducted into the US Kido Federation Black Belt
Hall of Fame, as Grand Master of the Year, and is a Lifetime Member of the USKIDO
Federation.
Also in 2020, he was included in the Who's Who in America Martial Arts book, along
with GM Chuck Norris and other notable Martial Arts luminaries.
In 2021, GM Minyard was promoted to 9th Dan, by the International Jun Tong
Federation, for which he also serves as Northeast Regional Director and Special
Advisor to the Founder and the President of the Federation.
Also in 2021, GM Minyard was accepted into the International Taekwon-Do Federation
in Korea (ITF-HQ Korea).
GM Minyard has operated schools in Illinois, lowa, Nebraska and New York. Has
provided instruction to as many as 100 first responders, in disaster response base
camps, law enforcement officers and members of the military. He currently teaches
private students in NH, at his Hayan San (White Mountain) Martial Arts Dojang. He also
enjoys participating as a Promotional Board Member, Tournament Judge, Referee and
Coach, for events across the United States.
Throughout his life, Martial Arts have been a part of GM Minyard's foundation. He has
chosen the life of a warrior in every aspect. As a soldier in Vietnam, a competitor in
tournaments, law enforcement officer and a First Responder - he has always fallen
back on his martial arts training.
Grand Master Eddie Minyard lives in the mountains of New Hampshire, with his wife
and two dogs, and is the proud father of a blended family of seven children, Grandfather
to eight, and a great-grandfather. Along with his daily practice of Taekwon-Do, Eddie
also loves to spend as much time as possible, surrounded by and making music with his
collection of guitars!