The instructors and staff at Asheville Sun Soo bring the five principles to life here every day. Get to know more about them here.
Master Tony Morris
Master Tony Morris is the founder, head instructor and co-owner of Asheville Sun Soo Tae Kwon Do. Master Morris is also the founder of the Sun Soo Martial Arts Association, dedicated to the excellent practice, teaching and preservation of traditional martial arts. Master Morris has been a life-long athlete and has practiced martial arts for nearly 35 years, having taught for over 20 of those years. The majority of his practice has focused on traditional Tae Kwon Do, complemented with substantial training in Hapkido, Judo and Jujitsu. He holds a 6th Degree Black Belt in traditional Tae Kwon Do under the tutelage of 9th Degree Black Belt, Grandmaster Suk Jun Kim, Founder and president of TaeKwon-Do International. As a practitioner, Master Morris has placed first in forms, sparring, in-close-self-defense and board-breaking in numerous tournament competitions – including the national level. As a teacher and mentor, Master Morris holds numerous awards for distinction as an instructor and innovator in martial arts. Master Morris’ leadership and teaching style is a mix of high energy, creativity, presence, compassion for students, love of the art, appreciation for excellence, attention to detail, passion for continual progress and a couple of doses of humor for good measure.
Master Morris’ role as Master Instructor is supported by his wide range of experiences and accomplishments. In addition to being a father, husband and friend to many, his professional education includes a B.S. in Chemistry, an M.A. in Architecture, LP PhD certification as a Life and Business Coach/Trainer and certification as a Level II Reiki practitioner. Currently, Master Morris is pursuing certification in the Silva Method as well as NLP and EFT to complement his comprehensive approach to teaching. His professional work experience simultaneous to his martial arts training and teaching includes a twenty-year architecture career (Design Principal for major A&E firm); creation and ownership of a successful advertising agency; university instructor of building structures, presentation graphics and life drawing; private tutor of organic chemistry; published author of numerous articles on subjects including martial arts, parenting and creating results; and acclaim as a nationally renowned commission portrait artist (www.tonymorrisart.com).
While having developed an accomplished and dedicated staff at Asheville Sun Soo, Master Morris teaches all of the “Masters” classes (for black-belts only), the majority of the adult classes, about one-third of the kid classes and about one quarter of the teen classes from a school schedule with more than thirty classes per week, and growing. Additionally, Master Morris offers classes, demonstrations and motivational presentations at a number of area schools, community centers, public events and places of work. When he is not teaching, Master Morris can be found spending time with his family, exploring new knowledge or working on a commissioned portrait.
Master Morris believes that, “Life is an amazing adventure – and we have never ‘arrived.’ Every day is a new beginning!”
Mr. Michael Dickinson
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.”
Mrs. Amy Dexter
Mrs. Amy Dexter is a certified instructor and Director of Mighty Tigers at Asheville Sun Soo Tae Kwon Do. Mrs. Dexter has been an accomplished athlete for her entire life including basketball career at the college level. Mrs. Dexter started her martial arts practice at Asheville Sun Soo in its opening days and has the distinction of being the first Asheville Sun Soo student to have been promoted more than one rank at a single testing as a colored belt. Additionally, she became one of the school’s first “home-grown” black belts. She 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 and was the second woman student in the school to reach 2nd degree. Mrs. Dexter joins the other instructors at the school in additional training in Hapkido and Jujitsu. As a practitioner, Mrs. Dexter has placed first in forms, sparring and board-breaking in tournament competitions – including the regional level. Mrs. Dexter is an accomplished teacher having taught elementary education in with Buncomb County Schools for many years.
Mrs. Dexter is a mother, wife and long-time Asheville resident. Her professional education includes a B.S. in Elementary and Special Education. Mrs. Dexter probably smiles more than most human beings and her smile lights up the dojang. She is excellent technician and practitioner and an excellent example of poise, grace, beauty and power – all at once!
A major instructor presence on staff at Asheville Sun Soo, Mrs. Dexter lead-teaches all of the Mighty-Tiger classes, about half of the adult-beginner classes and about one-third of the kid classes from a school schedule with more than thirty classes per week, and growing. Mrs. Dexter 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 she is not teaching – either in the school system or in the dojang, Mrs. Dexter can be found most otherwise spending time with her family.
Mrs. Dexter is an inspiration to all that have the pleasure of engaging with her each day!
Ms. Elizabeth Goyer
Ms. Elizabeth Goyer is a certified instructor and Director our “Kids Night Out” at Asheville Sun Soo Tae Kwon Do. Ms. Goyer has been an accomplished athlete for most of her life including a successful competitive cross-country, for which she was offered a college scholarship. Ms. Goyer started her martial arts practice at Asheville Sun Soo near the school’s beginning and has the distinction of being the first Asheville Sun Soo woman student to have been promoted to 2nd degree black belt. Her 2nd Degree Black Belt rank in traditional Tae Kwon Do is 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. Ms. Goyer, along with the other instructors at the school complements her training with exposure to Hapkido and Jujitsu. As a practitioner, Ms. Goyer has placed first in forms and board-breaking in tournament competitions – including the regional level.
Ms. Goyer is recent college graduate from UNC-Asheville, a friend to many and a passionate activist. Her professional education includes a B.S. in Environmental Studies. Ms. Goyer understands Tae Kwon Do as a beautiful and rigorous art. She expresses this duality with the same presence and balance at play in her being as an accomplished flautist.
A major instructor presence on staff at Asheville Sun Soo, Ms. Goyer lead-teaches about half of the adult-beginner classes and about one-third of the kid classes and assists with many of the Mighty-Tiger classes from a school schedule with more than thirty classes per week, and growing. Ms. Goyer 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 she is not teaching – either in the school system or in the dojang, Ms. Goyer can be found most otherwise spending time with her friends or organizing for a variety of socially and economically conscious causes.
Ms. Goyer is intelligent, powerful, precise, inspiring and pleasant – all at once!
