Martial Arts America Taekwondo University

Our Instructors

Grandmaster Henry W. Giles

Master Giles knows first hand how martial arts training can change your life and get you on the right track. He did not have a childhood dream of becoming a martial artist. After many incidents of delinquent behavior, a New York City policeman gave him a deal he couldn’t refuse. At age 11 he had a choice of going to juvenile hall or karate school. He decided that karate was definitely the lesser of two evils. That policeman followed up and made sure he stuck with the karate. This was in 1957 and children could not earn Black Belts. However, he continued to stay out of trouble and progressed to the highest karate level that a minor could achieve and then was drafted into the Air Force in 1966. He served in Vietnam for two years. This is where he first saw the martial art of Tae Kwon Do. He trained in Vietnam and then in Thailand where he earned his 1st, 2nd and 3rd Degree Black Belts in Tae Kwon Do. He also taught Tae Kwon Do in Thailand.

In 1973 Master Giles was stationed at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa. At that time there was no Tae Kwon Do being taught in Tampa. So, he started an adult class on the base and it was very successful. Then in 1975 he moved the school off base to a larger location and also started teaching some children with discipline and behavioral problems. Between 1975 and 1980, he continued teaching and earned his 4th Degree Black Belt. In 1980 he was transferred to the Philippines. He started another school there at Clark Air Force Base. He earned his 5th Degree Black Belt there. This school was also very popular not only with adults but with many of the children of the GIs stationed at Clark. That school is still in existence today and a few of his students from there are now students in the Tampa school.
In 1985 Master Giles was transferred back to MacDill Air Force Base where he retired from the Air Force in 1986. He started working as a Quality Control Engineer and re-opened his Tae Kwon Do school in the Interbay area of South Tampa. It continued to grow, both children and adult classes were very popular. In 1987 he earned his 6th Degree Black Belt. He moved the school to a facility on Gandy Boulevard in 1988 were it remained until 1999. He earned his 7th Degree Black Belt in 1996. In addition to running the school, Master Giles has also helped with some martial arts programs at the YMCA and started after school programs at various middle schools in the area. He would also run into kids that were starting to become delinquent and he took them under his wing and brought them into the school. Most of them have been tremendous success stories. How great to be able to give back what was given to you.

Master Giles believe that the martial arts aspect of the children’s program adds a dimension that other programs don’t have. The children have belt levels to work towards, they receive strict but fair discipline while still having fun, they work on their regular school homework and they are held accountable for their own behavior and progress. The art of Tae Kwon Do teaches the children to have focus and self-control, make commitments and it gives them structure. They are graded at the Tae Kwon Do school and their parents grade them on their behavior at home. Also, Master Giles reviews their regular school report cards. Then they and the parents can work with the children to improve all aspects of their lives.

MASTER Henry Giles, Jr.

Henry (J.R.) Giles, Jr. was born in Angles, Philippines in 1984. He started Tae Kwon Do at the young age of three under the instruction of his father. J.R. made 1st Degree Black Belt at the age of seven, is three time national champion, an international competitor and not to mention a 4th Degree Black Belt. As a young Master he is following in his father’s footsteps. For a year he was the lead Instructor for our Tae Kwon Do program at the Lifestyle Family Fitness Center in St. Petersburg and in June of 2002 was promoted to Martial Arts America Master Academy’s Chief Instructor. As Chief Instructor Master J.R. now takes responsibility for teaching the children’s and adult programs at the main school in Tampa.

MR. JASON G. GILES
Bio coming soon!!!!!