ABOUT- VISIONS OF A MASTER MENTOR

J.D. Olford began hisTaekwondo journey in 1978 as a white belt in Little Rock, Arkansas, training under Mr. Jim Bottin and Mr. Jim Robinson with the American Taekwondo Association (ATA). He quickly progressed through the ranks, earning his 1st Degree Black Belt on November 11, 1979. Following this achievement, 

Mr. Olford became an instructor, assisting his mentors in teaching beginner classes.

In February 1980, he moved with his family to his hometown of Lufkin, Texas. There he founded the first ATA Club in the state, offering classes at Brandon Park through the Lufkin Parks and Recreation Department. Driven by his love for community, Taekwondo, and youth development, Mr.Olford aimed to instill life skills 

such as discipline, respect, honor, integrity, loyalty, self-esteem, perseverance , self-control, belief, and goal-setting in his students.

Mr. Olford continued his own training earning his 2nd Degree Black Belt and ATA Instructor Certification in 1982. He then opened a commercial school under the ATA franchise. Over the years, his dedication to both his students and his craft led him to earn his 3rd Degree Black Belt in 1984, 4th Degree in 1988, 5th Degree in 1992, and 6th Degree in 1997.

In 1988, Mr. Olford participated in the inaugural Master's Training Program in Las Vegas. On June 12 of that year, he was formally awarded the title Master J.D. Olford at the Master's Ceremony in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Throughout his career, Master Olford held several key positions within the ATA, including Regional Vice-President, Regional Chief of Instruction for Texas Region 112, Regional and National Judge at tournament competitions, Regional Advisor, and Rank Testing Specialist. His contributions to ATA were significant and far-reaching.

At his funeral on June 6, 2015, Grand Master In Ho Lee, 9th Degree Black Belt, posthumously honored him with the title of Sr. Master J.D. Olford, 7th Degree Black Belt, in recognition of his instrumental role in developing Texas Region 112 and his numerous contributions to the ATA organization.

During his leadership, Sr. Master Olford trained over 20 ATA Certified Instructors and 4 Master Instructors. His passion for working with children was evident, as he consistently emphasized the importance of education. He helped many students achieve their college goals by offering part-time employment at his Taekwondo school after they earned their Black Belts. He lived by the philosophy, shared by the ATA, "Every child is a winner," and he firmly believed that "Children are always the only future the human race has; teach them well.