Pouncing Tigers, New York

Ken Gibson began training in martial arts 20 years ago and has practiced hapkido, russian sambo, brazilian jujitsu, and escrima, to name a few styles. He thought he was prepared for any martial-arts challenge, but he describes his first attempt to teach the tradition to children as "shocking" because of how difficult it was. But he stuck with it and learned that engaging his youthful students was as much about entertaining as educating them. He grew to love the challenge of taking on young and adult students, and eventually he opened the Pouncing Tigers school as a way to impart lessons of fitness, discipline, and self-confidence to students of all education levels full time.

In his children or adult classes, he draws from techniques of longtime trainer Bill Schettino's estacada and farang mu sul, an art adapted from the fighting style of ancient Korean special forces known as the Farang Knights and the Sulsa Warriors. Regardless of the physical techniques he covers, he always emphasizes the values of self-control, indomitable spirit, and respect, which can be demonstrated by swiftly kicking doors open for your elders.