Sunny Woo Park, Co-Founder of Master Park’s Black Belt America and President of Kombat Taekwondo USA, shares his remarkable journey of building an empire of 10 martial arts studios across the tri-state area. With over 3,000 students training under his guidance, Sunny reflects on his path from humble beginnings to achieving the American Dream through martial arts.
A Journey of Growth and Family Values
Born to immigrant parents from South Korea who arrived in the U.S. with little English and resources, Sunny learned the importance of hard work early on. Despite language barriers, his father opened their first martial arts studio in 1989, driven by a passion for Tae Kwon Do. Growing up in this environment and influence, Sunny began managing one of his father’s martial arts studios in Oradell, New Jersey, by the age of 10. These formative experiences are what shaped his work ethic and passion to keep going even when times get hard, core values that continue to guide his business today.
From Rock Bottom to Champion
Life took a difficult turn in 1998 when Sunny’s family faced bankruptcy, losing their home and business. Despite facing financial hardships and loss, Sunny rebuilt the family business from the ground up in 2004, rebranding it as Master Park’s Black Belt America. This marked a turning point for Sunny and his family. With the support of his wife and brother, the rebranded business quickly scaled to a thriving enterprise, generating $3M in revenue and training countless future martial arts champions.
“Through every challenge, I learned that if you want change, you must make it happen with your own two hands,” says Sunny. “No one is coming to rescue you; it’s all on you.”
Sunny’s leadership and vision have extended beyond the dojo. He is the President of Kombat Taekwondo USA, which provides athletes with opportunities to compete in a professional league. Under his leadership, Kombat Taekwondo has expanded to 110 countries, training over 1,000 clubs worldwide and hosting international events. This has been alongside building his own personal rapport, including being a 2024 USA National Team member and holding a 5th Dan Kukkiwon Certified Black Belt.
Looking Ahead | A New Era Of Martial Arts
The future holds exciting prospects for Sunny Woo Park, with a roadmap towards expanding his empire to 50 locations by the time he turns 50 to support the community. Along with those sights, his immediate goal is to see his daughters compete in the L.A. Olympics in 2028, representing the values and skills learned through martial arts.
Overall, Sunny is committed to mentoring the next generation of martial artist superstars and expanding opportunities within Kombat Taekwondo USA. In addition, aims to continue growing his team of passionate individuals and encouraging others to never give up regardless of the odds. “When things don’t go as planned, it’s okay to regroup and then get back into the fight,” he advises. “As long as you don’t give up, you’re still in the fight!”
For more insights and updates, follow Sunny Woo Park on social media:
Facebook – Master Park’s Black Belt America