Inspiring Growth in All Ages: ITFA Taekwon-Do Oklahoma Launches Expanded Facility with SBA Funding Through TEDC Creative Capital
Table of Contents:
More Than a Fighting Technique
An Unlikely Arrival in Oklahoma
Outgrowing Studio Space Leads to a Bigger Vision
Working with a Community-Minded Lender Opens Doors
An Eye Toward the Future
Offer Value—and Find Value with Community Partners
Scotland-born Kris Morrison owns and runs ITFA Taekwon-Do Oklahoma in Broken Arrow, where students of all ages can take part in learning the empowering Korean martial art and self-discipline practice of Taekwon-Do. His new, state-of-the-art, spacious facility is now open to serve the community, thanks to an infusion of SBA-backed funding from TEDC Creative Capital.
More Than a Fighting Technique
When people think of martial arts, they may think of movies like Karate Kid and its spinoff series Cobra Kai or classic fighters like Bruce Lee. But Kris Morrison knows the art is much deeper than that. “The word do means the ‘art’ or ‘way,’” says Morrison. “It is the spiritual component of what we practice.”
In other words, Taekwon-Do is a discipline through which people can build confidence, gain inner strength, and grow, as well as a method of self-defense. And it’s a practice Morrison is passionate about. He found his way into the world of Taekwon-Do as an eleven-year-old growing up in Scotland, and he’s continued to practice it ever since—personally, as an instructor, and now as a business owner of ITFA Taekwon-Do Oklahoma in Broken Arrow.
Like any form of martial arts, Taekwon-Do incorporates fighting techniques, including punching, kicking, and breaking boards. But it also embraces a code of ethics, tenets such as courtesy, integrity, perseverance, and self-control, and the promotion of one’s well-being and personal safety.
“We have a very strong lineage for our studio,” Morrison says. “My instructor’s father was the first person promoted to the ninth degree, which is the terminal (highest) degree in Taekwon-Do.” Morrison continues training with his mentor, a lifelong dedication to learning and self-growth that Taekwon-Do encourages. However, he didn’t always plan to build a business out of it.
An Unlikely Arrival in Oklahoma
After graduating from college in Scotland, Morrison moved to Greece for a while. There, he met and married his American wife. They lived in places such as New York, London, and California before he received a job opportunity with a software company based in Tulsa.
Though a move to the middle of the country seemed unlikely, the couple decided to check out the job. Their visit to Tulsa won them over. When Morrison was offered the role, he accepted it—and he and his wife settled in Broken Arrow.
Morrison still works full-time as a software executive, yet his passion for Taekwon-Do has never wavered. Soon, he decided to teach classes on the side, something he’d done on and off since he was 14.
“I really enjoyed teaching it, and I figured I could make a difference,” he explains. “And we have. We’ve affected in a positive way so many folks.”
Morrison offered classes at a school in Sapulpa, but he lived in Broken Arrow, and the trek back and forth left him with a lengthy commute. Eventually, he sought a change that would keep him closer to home.
Outgrowing Studio Space Leads to a Bigger Vision
Morrison moved his classes to a small facility he opened in the heart of Broken Arrow. It was satisfying to be there, but getting started wasn’t easy. On a lean budget, Morrison borrowed mats from a fellow instructor in Arkansas. He painted the studio himself to get it ready for students. He didn’t have mirrors, bags, paddles, or any other equipment you’d expect in a studio.
“That’s the thing about Taekwon-Do,” he says. “You actually don’t need a ton of equipment. You just need a little bit of space. It can be performed anywhere, anytime, anyplace.”
ITFA Taekwon-Do Oklahoma was officially open for business. The growth happened fast as students doubled down on training. They wanted additional classes, more room to practice, and opportunities to spar and enter competitions. It was a good problem for a business owner to have. He had more demand than ever. Now, he just needed a bigger location to meet the demand.
“That’s why we partnered with TEDC Creative Capital to get funded,” says Morrison. The new, larger studio, just a few doors down from the original location, opened a year ago to great success.
Working with a Community-Minded Lender Opens Doors
Morrison heard about TEDC Creative Capital through a friend of a friend. “They recommended I chat with TEDC’s team,” he says. “So we did. We came in and had an initial conversation. They were super supportive and asked a lot of questions in order to understand what we were trying to achieve.”
Once Morrison provided documentation and a solid business plan for his bigger and better facility, TEDC made it simple to take the next steps. With their help, his business obtained an SBA 504 loan to help renovate the building he was renting. The funding also enabled Morrison to acquire new mats, equipment, and audiovisual fixtures.
“It’s basically a state-of-the-art facility at this point,” he says. “I am biased, but it’s one of the nicest martial arts facilities in the state of Oklahoma and actually in the wider Midwest.”
Extra Room and Cash Flow Means More Ways to Serve the Community
The spacious new studio allows Morrison and his staff to offer a wide range of classes to suit everyone who walks in. For students who enjoy competing and earning accolades, the new space makes it easier and safer for them to train without risking injuries from trying to spar in tight quarters. In fact, the dojang is home to several national champions, and visitors can peruse their medals and displays anytime.
“We do very well at competition, but it’s not our primary focus,” Morrison says. “We focus on self-defense and self-discipline—on the personal growth side of Taekwon-Do. But we offer the competition side of it for those who want it.”
For those who prefer a non-competitive approach, the spacious new facility is a great place to practice Taekwon-Do’s complex patterns—a different series of movements performed against an imaginary opponent. Some patterns can have 70-plus movements, requiring extra room for students to perform them.
A classroom also serves as a place for parents to wait while their children train. There’s room to accommodate the studio’s after-school programming and the new fitness boxing program for adults. The new facility offers classes for children as young as three years old and up to senior citizens. Morrison can offer all these things now that they are in a larger building. “We have students of all ages, and we have something for everyone of all ages,” he says.
An Eye Toward the Future
Because martial arts is predominantly an evening and weekend activity, Morrison has been planning ways to expand their offerings into other parts of the day. “We have such a beautiful facility, in large part thanks to the loan we have with TEDC,” he says. And he wants to make full use of it.
To propel the business forward, Morrison has launched a new camp in Broken Arrow, which runs through the summer. Once school starts, students can attend an after-school program.
“We’re trying to develop the next generation of leaders,” Morrison says. “And it’s not just kids. We have some folks in our program that are in their sixties and seventies. We really just want to offer something for all of them.” In the next twelve months, he plans to add a homeschool class during the week and lower-impact classes for senior citizens, communicating fundamentals of self-defense, self-confidence, and maintaining fitness for people as they age.
ITFA Taekwon-Do Oklahoma has numerous success stories among its many students, who gain greater focus, confidence, and self-control through Taekwon-Do’s discipline. “It’s a pretty phenomenal transformation,” Morrison says.
Offer Value—and Find Value with Community Partners
As Morrison reflects on becoming a business owner, he has a few tips he’d offer others—such as maintaining your passion for what you do and finding ways to provide value. “We constantly work to provide value, every single class, every single week, every single month,” he says. “We believe that’s the right way to do business, and your business will thrive as a result.”
And if you’re in need of a way to expand, he recommends talking with TEDC Creative Capital to see what they have to offer.
“They want to help you,” Morrison says. “They want to lend you the money. They want to see businesses grow. They want to see the economy thrive. You just have to be confident in your plan and think it through. Talk to other business owners and get input. TEDC will work with you also to give you input into your plan. Adjust your plan, and move forward from there.”
TEDC Creative Capital is a community-focused lender committed to supporting the growth of small businesses and startups in Oklahoma. From micro-loans and SBA-backed funding to business classes and educational tools for entrepreneurs, TEDC simplifies the process of growing your small local business. Learn more about how our experienced, collaborative team can help your company thrive.