Chief Instructor Kandyce Behnke
Ms. Behnke has been training in Taekwondo for over 46 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 a young grandson and an active member of church and community. She believes in enriching the lives of others and is passionate about people. In addition to Martial Arts, Behnke has taught a variety of different classes in public and private schools, churches, homeschools, and even homeschooled her own children for 15+ years. Ms. Behnke also drove a school bus for 11 years. So, she has decades of experience with a variety of ages.
She has won hundreds of awards of which she is very proud, including PTA Parent of the Year, UTA Female Instructor of the Year, USTF National Champion, CTF Female Competitor of the Year, and a team Bronze and Individual Gold at the 1993 European Championships in Moscow, Russia. However, despite all the accolades and achievements, Ms. Behnke 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
