Chief Instructor Kandyce Behnke-Blanco
Ms. Behnke (Blanco) has been training in Taekwondo for over 44 years. She began in 1980 shortly before her 10th Birthday. She began her teaching career at the age of 14 and by the age of 16 was managing a Taekwondo studio. Throughout the years, Ms. Behnke has owned several studios and has trained thousands of students, young and old. She also has experience and compassion with special needs students.
Ms. Behnke is the mother of two grown children, “Mimi” to grandson and 3 bonus “Granddaughters”, and an active member of her church and community. She believes in enriching the lives of others and is passionate about people.
She has won hundreds of awards of which she is very proud, but believes that building one’s character is much more important than winning any competition.
- 2018 UTA Female Instructor of the Year
- UTA National Champion
- Gold Medalist, European Championships Moscow, Russia
- USTF National Champion
- CTF Female Competitor of the Year
- Olympic Trials qualifier 1988 & 1992
- Hundreds of Regional & National Awards
- UTA Weapons Program Director for MN
- 2022 CTF Points leader 3rd Dan & Above Females 45 & older
- Experience working with children with ASD, Down’s Syndrome, ADD/ADHD, OCD, as well as other Special Needs
- 11 Years School Bus Driver
- Studies in Early Childhood Ed, Psychology, & Sociology
- 15+ Years Homeschooling Parent
- Extensive Daycare and Educational Classroom experience
- Combatives Training Level 1 & 2
