Welcome to Hoovers Martial Arts!

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Chief Master Hoover

Chief Master Hoover is an 8th Degree Black Belt with 40 years experience in Martial Arts. He is an active, practicing Martial Artist and a hands-on instructor. His rank and status are certainly rare accomplishments and his knowledge, skill and experience easily put him among the global elite. But it's his committment to people, both student and community, where he truly stands out. Master Hoover has dedicated his life to helping the individual through Martial Arts.

The Student
"I didn't have the greatest self-esteem as a child. My grades were not the best and a school teacher suggested to my Mom that I needed a way to develop and grow that was positive. To do that, I needed to see my progress as I developed so I would continue to do so.".
He began his Martial Arts training in 1971, learning a Japanese style teaching Jhoon Rhee. In 1976, he began training with Chief Master Robert Jager in Spencer, Iowa and in 1978 attained his Black Belt in Omaha, Nebraska.

The Teacher
Master Hoover began teaching in 1979 and opened his first ATA Martial Arts Club in Spirit Lake, Iowa in 1980. By 1983, now a 3rd Degree Black Belt, he took over the Spencer, Iowa Club.
In 1984, he was named National Instructor of the Year and also adopted the Worthington, Minnesota Club.
He moved to San Francisco, California in 1986 to complete an internship for now Chief Master Richard Reed and received his 4th Degree Black Belt in Little Rock, Arkansas. On July 17th of that same year, he opened the full-time Taekwondo center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
He received his 5th Degree Black Belt in 1990 and was named International Instructor of the Year in 1994.

The Master
He received his 6th Degree Black Belt in 1995 and achieved his Mastership in 1996. He received his Senior Mastership in 2002.
In 2008 he earned the rank of 8th Degree Black Belt and was acknowledged by the ATA as the only Instructor to be recognized every year since the inception of their awards.
He received his Chief Mastership in 2009.

Chief Master Hoover's Martial Arts Academy has been named 'School of the Year' 4 times out of over 1,300 ATA schools nationwide. Master Hoover has been recognized for excellence over 35 times.
Of course, when you ask him where the reward is...
"I can not imagine not teaching Taekwondo. The number one motivation is looking into the eyes of students when they accomplish the (impossible). The rewards are endless... Improved self image, self confidence and the rationalization that I can accomplish anything if I just take the steps to try, focus and follow through."

Master Hoover has been an active DARE speaker for the past eleven years and has served on the Character Counts board for the last four years.

Larry and his wife Cheryl celebrate 27 years of marriage this year. Larry and Cheryl also have a son, Lee.

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