Elite Athletes
International Athletes and Coaches of West Side Taekwondo
The principals of West Side Taekwondo believe firmly that excellence in competitive Taekwondo is just a step in the larger quest of personal achievement and success in all aspects of life. Through their own educational and professional achievement, each of the principals of West Side Taekwondo has set an example applying the principles of martial arts toward achievement outside the Dojang, and have encouraged the development of our elite athletes as more than just Taekwondoin who excel in the sport, but as complete human beings who embody the ideals of Taekwondo. An overview of West Side Taekwondo’s elite athletes throughout the years illustrates this point:
Chinedum Osuji, Ph. D. Dr. Osuji represented Trinidad & Tobago as Welterweight at the 2004 Athens Olympics, having secured a berth for his nation with a Silver Medal at the Pan American Olympic Qualifiers. Master Whang Jr. coached Dr. Osuji at both the competitions. In addition, Dr. Osuji represented Trinidad & Tobago at almost every other elite international Taekwondo competition including the World Championships (2001 Korea, 2003 Germany, 2005 Spain), the Pan Am Games and the Caribbean Games (2006). Dr. Osuji completed his undergraduate degree at Cornell University in 3 years, and received his MA and Ph.D. degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and conducted his Post-Doctoral fellowship at Harvard University. He is currently a professor at Yale University.
Tom Lynn, Jr. Mr. Lynn represented the US as Lightweight at the 1998 World University Taekwondo Championships and at the 2001 World Cup, whereupon he was ranked 8th among Lightweights in the world. Mr. Lynn received his BA from Wichita State University, and his PA (physician’s assistant) degree from the State University of New York, Stony Brook. He is currently a P.A. and Associate Professor in Miami, FL.
Jennifer Huang, M.D. Dr. Huang represented the US as Featherweight at the 1995 World University Games in St. Petersburg, Russia, and was a long-time ranked female Taekwondo athlete. Dr. Huang received her BA from Cornell University, and MD from the Touro College of Medicine in San Francisco. She completed her residency at the prestigious University of San Francisco Emergency Response Center, and has commenced her residency there.
Christina Park Born November 3, 1980. She began her Taekwondo training at age 10 in Alameda, California, and is currently a 4th Dan Black Belt. With Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering from MIT, Ms. Park founded the MIT Sport Taekwondo Club and served as its President, Instructor, Captain and Coach. Christina is a 4-time middleweight champion at the National Collegiates, a 5-time captain of the Collegiate National Team, and a medalist at the World University Championships. Ms. Park is also a 2-time National Champion, and has represented the National Team at the 2004 and 2006 Pan Am Championships, with a bronze in 2004. Christina is currently an Engineer working in Hydro-Mechanical Power Generation. USAT Profile
William Palmieri Mr. Palmieri represented the US as Middleweight at the 1998 World University Taekwondo Championships and at the 2001 World Championships after winning the 2001 US Team Trials. Mr. Palmieri is a gradute of Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey.
James Cadogan, Jr., Esq. Mr. Cadogan represented the US as Middleweight at the 2004 World University Taekwondo Championships in Patras, Greece, and at the 2005 World University Games in Izmir, Turkey. He is a graduate of Princeton University and Columbia Law School, and is an associate at the New York City law firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore.
Dorian L. A. Alexander. Dorian Alexander is a long-time member of the Trinidad and Tobago National Taekwondo Team. He has competed in numerous international competitions representing his country, most recently at the 2008 Pan American Taekwondo Championships in Puerto Rico. He won a Silver at the 2009 AAU Nationals and Gold at the 2009 AAU National Team Trials, making the 2009 AAU National Team. He is currently finishing his medical studies.
Lenn Hypolite. Lenn Hypolite is a member of the Trinidad and Tobago National Taekwondo Team, and moved to New York and began training at West Side Taekwondo in 2008. In October 2008, Mr. Hypolite won a Silver Medal at the prestigious Pan American Taekwondo Championships in Puerto Rico. In 2009, Mr. Hypolite won Gold at the AAU Nationals.
Masters Whang have also devoted considerable time and effort to coaching elite athletes at the national and international levels. Master Whang Sr. has served on the coaching staff for both the US National Team and the US National Collegiate Team. Master Whang Sr. was co-Head Coach for the US National Collegiate Team at the 2004 World University Taekwondo Championships in Patras, Greece. Master Whang Jr. coached at two consecutive World Championships, in Korea in 2001 and in Germany in 2003. One of the highlights of West Side’s history, and of Masters Whangs’ coaching career, was Master Whang Jr.’s participation in the 2004 Athens Olympics as Olympic coach for Trinidad & Tobago, where he coached long-time student and athlete Master Chinedum Osuji.
While competition fighting is not required for West Side students, it is a large part of modern Taekwondo. Students practice their sparring techniques in class, and are encouraged to enter into tournaments. There are a number of annual tournaments held in the New York City area, affording our students the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of our internationally recognized elite Taekwondo athletes!
