The birth of Hae San Martial Art Association truly occurred in 1974. It was at this time that Grandmaster E.C. Ahn brought Ahn's Tae Kwon-Do to The United States. Grandmaster Ahn was a Master Instructor (and later Executive Vice President) of The American Tae Kwon-Do Association. In 1985, he broke away from Grandmaster Lee and American Tae Kwon-Do due to their differing teaching philosophies and founded Hae San Martial Art Association. Grandmaster Ahn wished to follow the Way of the traditional masters. From that time forward he has helped spread the tradition, discipline, and high moral character

   Grandmaster Ahn is one of the outstanding figures in Tae Kwon-Do in the United States and the world. He is an internationally trained and recognized Master Instructor recently celebrating his forty-ninth year of Martial Art Training/Instruction and his twenty-ninth year with the HMAA National Headquarters in The United States.

   Grandmaster Ahn has had a long and illustrious career in the Martial Arts. He was a close friend and student of Grandmaster Hong Hi Choi, the father of modern Tae Kwon-Do, training with Grandmaster Choi before being reassigned to duty in Vietnam. He was on the Korean National Tae Kwon-do Demonstration Team and later won the Presidential Flag Competition, the Korean National Championship of Tae Kwon-Do. He has trained groups from the Special Forces, F.B.I., C.I.A. and many local law enforcement organizations in this country and similar groups in his homeland, Korea. He was recently inducted into the Karate Hall Of Fame. Still, Grandmaster Ahn is always available to any of his students for consultation or advice.

   Hae San Martial Art Association has thousands of practicing members and hundreds of active Blackbelts. We have schools throughout the United States, from Hawaii to Georgia. The theme of Ahn's instruction is strictly in accordance with the Way of traditional Martial Arts. Etiquette, Modesty, Perseverance, Self-Control, and Indomitable Spirit are stressed at each class and students are expected to always live by the Korean Code Of The Warrior which is known as The Tenets Of Tae Kwon-Do.

   Grandmaster Ahn sponsors two tournaments each year open only to Hae San Martial Art Students. To ensure fairness and safety, only HMAA Blackbelts are allowed to judge these events. Sportsmanship, camaraderie, and a family atmosphere can be found at each HMAA Tournament.