School Spotlight: The Journey That Built Our Kung Fu School in Bellevue

Every student at AAMA knows that our school is built on more than forms and self-defense. It’s built on heart, perseverance, and purpose. This week’s spotlight looks back on how our Kung Fu school in Bellevue began, and the vision that continues to guide it today.

The Spark That Started It All

Long before there was a school on Cornhusker Road, a young boy sat in front of a television in the 1970’s watching a show called Kung Fu. The main character, Caine, was peaceful yet powerful, courageous yet calm. Everything young Mark Goblowsky longed to be.

Growing up in a home marked by chaos and fear, he saw in Caine’s quiet strength a path to peace and confidence. That seed of inspiration stayed with him through his teenage years and into the military. But it wasn’t until 1987, while stationed in Korea, that he finally walked through the door of a Kung Fu school and changed his life forever.

“The thought of living the rest of my life afraid,” he recalls, “was far worse than anything that could happen on the other side of that door.”

That day, January 14, 1987, would mark the beginning of the lifelong journey that became American Academies of Martial Arts.

From Part-Time Teaching to a Full-Time Calling

Later that same year, while still serving in the U.S. Air Force, Mark’s instructor encouraged him to open a school of his own. It began part-time in Old Town Bellevue in October 1987, with classes held three days a week.

“When I left Korea, my instructor asked me if I’d open a school,” Mark remembers. “At first I said, ‘I can’t,  I’ve only been training for a few months.’ But he believed I could, and that faith made all the difference.”

By July 1990, Mark had completed his service and committed full-time to teaching. From that small beginning grew the community that is now our Kung Fu school in Bellevue, a place where students of every age and background come to strengthen not just their bodies, but their character.

The Roots of Our Style

The system we practice at AAMA is called Teoul Moon Kung Fu, a rare system with roots in both Chinese and Korean martial arts.

After the communist takeover of China in 1949, several Chinese masters fled to Korea. Among them were masters of Northern Shaolin, Praying Mantis, and Baguazhang. Their teachings blended into a system that combined the fluidity of Kung Fu with the power and discipline of Korean martial arts.

Mark’s instructor Master Lim was a direct student of that lineage. Through decades of training, teaching, and refinement, our Kung Fu school in Bellevue continues to preserve that heritage while adapting to the needs of modern students, from traditional forms to practical self-defense and ground skills.

Growing Through Every Generation

Over the years, the school has evolved without ever losing its heart. What began as one man’s pursuit of confidence and peace has become a community where hundreds have found the same. Parents bring their children to learn focus and discipline. Adults train for balance and confidence. Seniors stay active and connected.

And every student, from Little Dragons to advanced black sashes, adds a new chapter to the same story. Kung Fu is not just about fighting; it’s about living with integrity, courage, and calm.

Continuing the Legacy

Today, nearly four decades later, the lessons that inspired a young airman in Korea continue to shape every class inside our Kung Fu school in Bellevue. The methods have modernized, new training tools, safety standards, and even ground-fighting techniques have been added. Still, the purpose remains unchanged. We are here to help each student become stronger in body, mind, and spirit.

“I teach what I learned,” Sifu Mark often says, “but I also teach what life has taught me – that perseverance and compassion can change everything.”

Join the Tradition

Every time you step onto the mat, you’re part of this living history. The story of courage, discipline, and transformation that began in 1987 and still grows today.

Want more History?

To learn more about the philosophy behind our training, read Yang Sheng: Nourishing Life Through Martial Arts.

Watch Mark and Josh tell their story from the beginning to current day in this post, How a Kung Fu School in Bellevue Builds Character and Confidence.