Mr. Michael Dickinson is the associate head instructor and also now a co-owner of Asheville Sun Soo Tae Kwon Do. Mr. Dickinson assisted Master Morris in the founding of the Sun Soo Martial Arts Association, dedicated to the excellent practice, teaching and preservation of traditional martial arts. Mr. Dickinson has been an accomplished athlete for his entire life including many years of tenure as a wrestling champion and a football career at the college level. Mr. Dickinson started his martial arts practice at Asheville Sun Soo in its opening days and has the distinction of having become the school’s first “home-grown” black belt. He holds a 2nd Degree Black Belt in traditional Tae Kwon Do under the direct tutelage of 6th Degree Black Belt, Master Tony Morris with additional tutelage from 9th Degree Black Belt, Grandmaster Suk Jun Kim, Founder and president of TaeKwon-Do International. Mr. Dickinson’s Tae Kwon Do practice is complemented at the school with additional training in Hapkido and Jujitsu. As a practitioner, Mr. Dickinson has placed first in forms, sparring and board-breaking in tournament competitions – including the regional level. Mr. Dickinson is a natural teacher, able to connect with a variety of students in a way that is comfortable and powerful at the same time.
Mr. Dickinson is a father, husband and long-time Asheville resident. His professional education includes a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Education – Early Childhood Development. His professional work experience has included ten years as a licensed general contractor and business owner. His sense of composition and integration is reflected in his skills as an accomplished, creative and self-taught – musician.
The second-lead instructor on staff at Asheville Sun Soo, Mr. Dickinson lead-teaches about a fourth of the adult classes and about one-third of the kid classes from a school schedule with more than thirty classes per week, and growing. Mr. Dickinson also teaches some classes off-site at some area schools in addition to assisting Master Morris with a numerous demonstrations and motivational presentations in various public venues. When he is not teaching, Mr. Dickinson can be found spending time with his family, coaching kids soccer or helping a neighbor with the latest project.
Mr. Dickinson is thrilled to be living the life he is living and looks forward to every day with the enthusiasm of a kid on the first day of summer! “We have a magical school where amazing things happen to everyday people — every day.”
