John Bussard, president and founder of Kicks Karate

Master John Bussard (7th DAN Black Belt) began training in the martial arts in 1979. He trained directly under the late Grandmaster Ki Whang Kim (10th DAN Black Belt) at Kim Studio in Silver Spring, MD. Grandmaster Kim was one of the first Korean pioneers to bring the martial arts to the United States in the early 1960's. In addition, Grandmaster Kim was a student of the late Grandmaster Kanken Toyama, who was the founder of Shudokan Karate.

Grandmaster Kim taught a blended style of martial arts that included Shudokan karate, Korean Tang Soo Do and Aikido. Besides Grandmaster Kim, Master Bussard had the privilege of training under a group of phenomenal senior instructors, notably Grandmaster James Roberts, Jr., Master John Critzos, Master Gregory Battle, Master Marcella Byrd and others. These exceptional martial arts masters pushed, inspired and helped lead Master Bussard to where he is today.

As a student, young Master Bussard competed in regional and national martial arts competitions. By the early 1990's he had won an amazing 18 Grand Championships in both forms and fighting. He was the first student of Grandmaster Kim to win both Grand Championship titles at the same competition, a feat that he accomplished twice!

Master Bussard also attended the University of Maryland and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiological Sciences (the science of human movement). His formal education would prove to be invaluable in the creation and design of the Kicks Karate programs and curriculum. Upon graduation from college, Master Bussard went to work full-time for Grandmaster Kim as the Head Instructor of his Rockville, MD location. Through his experience and education as a student, an instructor and an apprentice, Master Bussard was preparing himself for the future.

Unfortunately, Grandmaster Kim passed away in September of 1993 and one year later Kicks Karate was established by Master Bussard. Over the last decade and a half Master Bussard has created and implemented many innovative programs that continue to help his students reach new heights. For example, he was one of the first to use a multi-classroom approach allowing students to be separated by both age and skill levels. He also wrote and established a life skills and safety manual to standardize and teach his students valuable life lessons each day in classes. Master Bussard has been featured in several Martial Arts Magazines including a cover story in Martial Arts Professional Magazine. He's been a featured speaker at national industry conventions and served as a Regional Director for the National Association for Professional Martial Artists.

Kicks Karate has grown to several locations and Master Bussard is now responsible for the training and development of his staff of top notch black belt instructors, many of them masters in their own right. He governs the over 2,000 Kicks Karate students with just one premise... "Let's always do what's in the best long-term interest of our students."