In 1977, and after graduating from EMC (now MSU-B) and from UM in Missoula, Bill Walters, Jr, newly promoted to black belt by GM Jae Ho Park, returned to Williston to practice law and work in the family oil business. He taught an adult education class through UND-Williston, now Williston State College that fall.
In the spring of 1978, Randy Waitman, also promoted to 1st dan black belt in 1977 by GM Park and (now) GM Karlo Fujiwara, moved back to Williston to work in the family business. Mr. Waitman, who graduated from Rocky Mountain College in 1976, had been teaching and training in taekwondo in Billings at Rocky under the tutelage of GM Fujiwara.
In the fall of 1978, both gentlemen started what was to become the Williston Taekwondo and Judo Academy, LLC. In the early years, the club, later to become a limited liability corporation,(LLC) met and held classes at UND-Williston, McVay Elementary, the New Williston Armory, and at what was then known as the Walters Building. In 1980, the WTJA as it is known, remodeled and moved into the east shop area of Jerry's Weed Control where classes were held until 1986. In the spring of 1986, WTJA leased the old UPS Building in north Williston where classes were held until 2007 when the owners sold the building. Construction on the new dojang began in the fall of 2007, and classes were again held in the small gym at WSC, thus completing a full circle of 30 years, beginning at Williston State College and ending at Williston State College. Our 30 Year Anniversary and Open House were held at the end of the year.
Mstrs Waitman and Walters have promoted almost 50 students to at least first dan black belt. Almost twenty of those are still active and many have promoted their own students to black belt. Over the years, more than 20 students have won or placed in national taekwondo championships. Mstrs Waitman and Walters are among the very few Daemyung Master Instructors who can claim an unbroken string of certification from yellow belt to 6th Dan Black belt under the auspices of Grandmaster Jae Ho Park and Grandmaster Karlo Fujiwara.
WTJA was instrumental in the successful achievement of creating the first varsity lettering program in the State of North Dakota and the nation. We have awarded varsity letters in the sport of taekwondo since 1999. Numerous other schools throughout the US have followed suit since that time.
Mstr Waitman holds the rank of 6th Dan (IDMF), promoted in 2000. He holds the corresponding rank of 6th Dan (issued by Kukkiwon and recognized by the WTF) also issued in 2000. He is a 3rd dan in judo, and is a member of a very small group of active International US Referees holding the rank of 1st Class. He has refereed at many prestigious International Taekwondo competitions including the World Championships in Germany in 2003.
Mstr Walters holds the rankof 6th Dan (IDMF), and the corresponding rank of 5th Dan (KKW).
We look forward to many continued years of success in sharing the traditions of, the way of life of, and the goals, aims, and tenets of taekwondo.
April 4, 2009
