"Do you know how lucky you are?"

Area students can expect to hear that question many times during the 37th United States Martial Arts Championship Saturday at University of Charleston's Eddie King Gymnasium.

For 37 years, Sok Ho Kang has officiated over the tournament. Since 1970, he has presided over Grand Master Kang's Taekwondo Academy in South Charleston.

"It really comes home during the tournament," said Carl Laverdiere, one of Kang's students. "When people find out we train under Grand Master Kang in his home academy, they'll stop us and say, 'Do you know how lucky you are, do you understand it?' "  

Kang, who emigrated from Seoul, South Korea in the 1960s, opened up his academy in South Charleston in 1970.

"Everything's still the same," Kang said from his office at the Academy. "We changed the carpet, but all the walls and all the rooms are the same."

There have been many paths to Kang's Academy over the years.

Laverdiere, a father of two, was getting his Jeep serviced across the street from the Academy. It caught his eye, and he went over for a visit. He signed up for classes before he left.

Emily Barnard, a 10-year-old black belt from Charleston, began studying with Kang at the age of 5.

"I got into it because my grandfather was a black belt," she said. Soon she was joined in training with her parents Kim and Don Barnard.

Edward J. George, a Charleston attorney with Robinson & McElwee PLLC, began studying under Kang five years ago, wanting to stay in shape and improve mental discipline.

Ruth Ranson of South Charleston joined after her watching her 10-year-old son Garett participate for a year.

"It was a great thing to do together," Ruth Ranson said. "There aren't a lot of things a mother can do with her 10-year-old son."

Isabella and Alex Sanchez of Charleston have trained under Kang for 16 months.

"I always wanted to do martial arts," Alex Sanchez, 10, said.

"It's really helped with my self-control," Isabella Sanchez, 14, said. "It helps me calm down. Friends of mine will notice when I haven't been to practice for a while, because I am a little more irritable."  

Competitors from 11 states, including members of the United States Naval Academy, will participate in the weekend's events.

"We have been at UC for every event," Kang said. "We are very fortunate to have the event here."

The walls of Kang's office and lobby are covered with pictures and different articles documenting his lifelong passion. He has coached Olympic teams, been honored by the city and currently serves as the president of the United States Taekwondo Won, a non-profit organization created to organize and promote Taekwondo as a martial art in the United States.

"There's Jay Rockefeller," he said pointing out to a picture taken at UC in 1987, in Rockefeller's first term as U.S. Senator from West Virginia. "We gave him an honorary black belt."

Former West Virginia Gov. Bob Wise earned a black belt while training under Kang.

"It's an honor working with him," George said. "He and some others came to America decades ago and brought their sport here. We're training with an Olympic coach, not many people get a chance to say that, and we have him here in Charleston."

"I have a 4-year-old daughter and a 2-year-old son," Laverdiere said. "When I'm with them I'm constantly planning for the next thing we're doing that day, you have to. You have to plan all the options.

"When I am here, though, it's all about being in the moment. Is this guy going to punch me in the face or kick me? Is he going left or right? That's what important."  

Saturday's event begins at 11 a.m. Tickets are $10.

Reach Michael Polak at mpola...@gmail.com