In Memory of Our Founder

On July 14th, 2002, we lost our teacher and friend, Master Frederick O. McNab, Jr. Master Fred was a pillar in our community. A beloved friend, teacher, father, and husband, he will be honored and cherished in our memories forever.

Master Fred began training in the martial arts in the early 1970’s. He received his first black belt under Korean Master Charles McParks. In the late 1980’s he began teaching on his own. For the next decade, Master Fred taught children with special needs and spent several years teaching at the YMCA. Master Fred finally established his own school, the Southern Tae Kwon Do Academy, where his students continue to train in his tradition.

A dedicated martial artist, Master Fred studied many styles of martial arts as part of his constant effort to grow, learn and teach. He was a Master of Tae Kwon Do, but also held the rank of third degree black belt in Tang Soo Do Mu Duk Kwan.

His goal was to teach and practice the martial arts as a way of life, not as a profit generating business. He was committed to teaching the martial arts because he felt it had done so much to improve the quality of his own life.

Master Fred truly cared about what he taught. That caring and commitment will be carried on through his students who will continue to teach and learn in his tradition.