Sr. Master J.D. Olford

Mr. J.D. Olford was a 1971 graduate of Lufkin High School, in Lufkin, Texas. He started his Taekwondo training as a white belt in 1978, in Little Rock, Arkansas with the largest martial arts organization in the world, the American Taekwondo Association (ATA) under the instruction of Mr. Jim Bottin and Mr. Jim Robinson. He received his yellow belt on July 9, 1978, 5^th grade green belt decided on November 12, 1978, 4^th grade blue belt decided on January 14, 1979, 3^rd grade blue belt decided on March 11, 1979, 2^nd grade red belt recommended on May 6, 1979, and 1^st grade red belt decided on July 8, 1979. Mr. Olford received his 1st Degree Black Belt on November 11, 1979 and became an instructor assisting Mr. Bottin and Mr. Robinson with classes. He moved back to his hometown, Lufkin, Texas in February, 1980. In June of 1980 he started the first ATA club in the state of Texas, teaching for the Parks and Recreation Department at Brandon Park. He loved his community and had a deep concern for the youth. He wanted to teach them life skills such as discipline, respect, honor, integrity, loyalty, perseverance, self-esteem, self-control, self-confidence, belief, and goal setting. He continued his Taekwondo training receiving his 2nd Degree Black Belt and Instructor certification in 1982. He then relocated and started a commercial (ATA) Taekwondo School. In 1984 he received his 3^rd Degree Black Belt. In 1988 he received his 4th Degree Black Belt, 5^th Degree in 1992, and 6^th Degree Black Belt in 1997. Mr. Olford participated in the first ever Master’s Training Program which was held in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1998. The Master’s ceremony was held on June 12, 1998 in Little Rock, Arkansas, where he was granted the title of Master J.D. Olford. He held several positions in the ATA, Regional Vice-President and Regional Chief of Instructions for Texas Region 112, Regional and National Judge at Tournament competitions, Regional Advisor, and Belt Rank Testing Specialist. During Master Olford’s Leadership as an Instructor numerous certified instructors and 4 Master instructors came through his Taekwondo program.

At his funeral on June 6, 2015, Master J.D. Olford was granted the honorary title of Sr. Master J.D. Olford, 7^th Degree Black Belt. This honor was bestowed upon him because of his major role in the development of Texas Region 112 and his many contributions to the American Taekwondo Association as a whole. He attributed his success as a blessing from God.

Senior Master Olford’s passion was children and education. He assisted Taekwondo students with their college goals through the trainee program by offering parttime employment in his school. His philosophy as well as the ATA’s was “Every child is a Winner.” He also believed that   “Children are always the only future the human race has; teach them well.”