ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The moment you meet Grandmaster Tony Morris, founder of Asheville Sun Soo Martial Arts, you know he’s all about helping people unlock their full potential. Morris believes everyone is full of untapped potential, and the mission of his martial arts studio is to, “make the greatest positive difference for the greatest number of people.”
“We do this through a whole-person-approach by helping each of our students develop into their best selves. We use a traditional martial arts practice as the toolbox for this development and, in the process, and over time, develop amazing martial artists who become happy, healthy, and successful contributors in their circles of influence,” Morris said.
A 9th Dan Grandmaster instructor, Morris started Asheville Sun Soo Martial Arts because of his many life experiences, including having been bullied as a child. He began practicing martial arts at age 10, which helped him learn the value of focusing on a goal, which has also contributed to his success as an entrepreneur.
After practicing as an architect for 20 years and learning the value of integrated design and human development and psychology as well as having a family and being a parent, Morris said he was motivated to create an extraordinary environment in which people work together to make progress, measured by structure, amplified by community and inspired to propagate out into the world kindness and contribution. This goal led him to start Asheville Sun Soo Martial Arts in January 2007.
“We have an amazing community of several hundred families with a wide range of diversity — and in all the ways that you can measure that. We value excellence, cooperation, self and mutual respect, rigor, intelligence, compassion and kindness and ever increasing capability and we stay committed to all of these values in everything we do,” he said.
“In addition to all the progress that happens within our walls, we also support the community at large in a number of different ways, including teaching classes in the local schools, donating our time and energy to several public events each year, as well as donating gift certificates to schools, churches, civic organizations and nonprofits in the area.”
Asheville Sun Soo Martial Arts has been voted the No. 1 martial arts program for kids and adults for 17 years straight and in 2021 was selected Martial Arts School of the Year in the country.
Asheville Sun Soo’s primary areas of service include:
- Martial arts for youths
- Martial arts for adults
- After school program (with pick-up from 25 area schools)
- Kids summer camp program
- Kids night out program
- Professional speaking
- Seminars (self-defense and team-building)
- Demonstrations
All programs are year-round (except for the after school program, which is just during the school year, and the kids summer camp program, which is just during the summer).
Asheville Sun Soo also offers “Self-Protection, Self Awareness Seminars” every quarter and hosts an annual invitational tournament.
But the best part?
“Making a positive difference for hundreds of people every day!” Morris said.