About Walker Taekwondo Academy
Who We Are
Walker Taekwondo Academy has been proudly serving the Lansing-area community since 2016. The school began with a desire of Walker Bible Baptist Church to reach families with the Gospel through the many benefits that martial arts has to offer. The school has been tremendously blessed and many students have found themselves enriched mentally, physically, and spiritually through their training.
Our school is part of the United States Chung Do Kwan Association, one of the oldest and most-renowned Taekwondo associations in America and the World. The organization was started in 1967 by the late Sr. Grand Master Edward B. Sell and his wife Sr. Grand Master Brenda Sell. Sr. Grand Master Brenda Sell currently heads the organization and is the first non-Korean female to be awarded 9th Dan by the Kukkiwon. She also provides mentorship to the instructors at our school.
Our Instructors
The expert instructors at Walker Taekwondo Academy not only have a passion for martial arts, but a love of helping others and inspiring people to be their very best. In addition to their years of experience, our instructors have gone through rigorous training, testing, and examinations to ensure their quality and expertise. All U.S Chung Do Kwan Association instructors must pass a background-check as well. Learn more about our excellent instructors below:
7th Degree Black Belt
Grand Master Ray DeVito is a certified 8th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, Chung Do Kwon with over 40 years of martial arts experience. His formal martial arts experience covers Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido and two styles of Okinawan Karate. With a strong interest in bringing the benefits of martial arts to others he has founded and operated Chung Do Kwon schools in Illinois, Florida, Utah and Michigan. He regularly participates as a lead instructor at national training events of the US Chung Do Kwon Association. His favorite weapon is the unassuming short stick.
Sr. Instructor Garver is the Pastor at Walker Bible Baptist Church and a third degree black belt. His Taekwondo journey started with one of his sons in 2009. He made it to purple belt then quite for a time. Eventually, he started again with his wife, grandson and son-in-law in 2015 and is still going strong. He is the lead instructor for the schools homeschool-focused classes that meet every Tuesday and Friday at 10 am. Pastor Garver's motto is, "Don't Quit!"
Sr. Instructor Jami Garver is a second degree black belt. Her Taekwondo journey started with her joining shortly after watching her grandson’s first class. He was scared and she joined a class to support him, but she immediately found herself hooked. She went home and told her husband it was the same instructor her husband and son had previsouly trained under. A few weeks later her husband joined class along with her Son-in-law. Since then she has another grandson that started doing Taekwondo. Her favorite saying is, "Taekwondo is not just for kids it's for families."