Meet the UMACA Instructors
Master Brad Chapman
Brad Chapman began training in the martial arts in 1985 under the instruction of Grand Master Soon Uk Kim and Master Vicki Vineyard. After 10 years of focus on personal growth and competition, he began teaching the art of taekwondo to others.
Brad credits Grand Master S.U. Kim for teaching him the many aspects of the art, both technical and cultural, and Master Vicki Vineyard for instilling in him the discipline and drive to be a champion on the mat and in life.
Though taekwondo is his primary art, he has developed a passion for kickboxing and ground fighting that brings another dimension to his style of teaching and training. Brad cross-trains and competes in Jiu-Jitsu tournaments and submission wrestling. He is currently a 6th degree black belt and a certified level-one coach with Olympic-Style USA Taekwondo and a blue belt in RGDA Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.
Linda Milburn
Fourth Dan Black Belt Linda Milburn came to martial arts the way many parents do - through her children
"Raising a 5-year-old boy in the hey-day of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle phenomenon," said Linda, "made martial arts an inevitable part of our life."
Linda's brother was also married to the sister of a Master, so, for her, all roads seemed to lead to taekwondo. A road, she will tell you, she was happy to happen upon.
After both her daughter and son signed up with Master S. U. Kim in 1989, Linda decided to give taekwondo a shot herself. She started teaching as soon as she became in black belt in 1993 and has been teaching for almost 16 years.
"My favorite part of taekwondo is the forms," Linda said. "And then I get to watch the kids compete and do well. They are so proud - it makes me proud.
The kids that participate in martial arts all year long just seem to have an advantage in life. It keeps their minds stimulated all the time, and learning becomes a hunger."
Having started her martial arts journey at 32 and watching her children grow up with the discipline, Linda has a unique perspective and can attest to the benefits of taekwondo for both children and adults.
"The physical and mental stimulation you get participating in this sport is great at any age," she said.
Born in San Antonio, Texas, Linda moved to St. Peters when she was 4-years-old with her parents and 6 brothers and sisters. Now a grandmother, Linda lives in O'Fallon with her husband, Jerry, and delights in her grandson.
"Discipline and respect," said Linda. "Those are two of the areas I really like about martial arts."
Anyone who meets Linda today can attest to the fact that those fundamental aspects of this sport have served her well.
