Master Benjamin R. Thompson

Benjamin Thompson is a V-Dan Black Belt, a certified Master Instructor through the United States Kido Federation (USKF), and manages daily instruction of all skill levels at The Open Space Martial Arts.

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Master Thompson has been involved in the Martial Arts for over 25 years, the last 20+ of which have been spent primarily training in Chung Do Kwan TaeKwon-Do under Grandmaster Jeffrey Helaney (IX-Dan), and Sensei Roy Tittle. Mr. Thompson has also spent time studying several styles of Kung Fu, T'ai Chi Ch'uan, Iaido, Goshin-Ryu Karate, and Hapkido; and has picked up some Jiujitsu, Judo, Poekoelan, and tactical self-defense.

 

Master Thompson came up through the award-winning Kick Drugs Out of Alliance program, earning his black belt at 16, and beginning to teach at 18. He was a volunteer instructor through the KDOA program until its closing in 2022. He has been recognized locally and nationally as a tournament competitor, having held state and national ranking through the Professional Karate Commission, and competed in the Disney Open Tournament circuit, the PKRA, and the USKF series. He is also a member of the 2013 class of the USKF Black Belt Hall of Fame for Instructor of the Year, of the 2018 class for Senior Instructor of the Year, and of the 2023 class for Master Instructor of the Year.