The floor

Instructors

Kukkiwon-certified masters and assistants. Master Christopher Ballard is the owner and head instructor.

Owner, head instructor

Master Christopher Ballard

Master Christopher Ballard, head instructor, has over 50 years of Taekwondo experience and is a Fifth Dan Kukkiwon certified master with World Taekwondo. He owned Champion Martial Arts in Albuquerque, NM, for 27 years, and has been teaching at Korean Academy since 2020.

Assistant instructor

Master Janel Ballard

Master Janel Ballard has over 31 years of Taekwondo and 29 years of elementary school teaching experience. She is a Fourth Dan Kukkiwon certified master with World Taekwondo. She co-founded Champion Martial Arts in Albuquerque, NM, and teaches at Korean Academy of Taekwondo.

Assistant instructor

Master Briana Ballard

Briana Ballard has 20 years of Taekwondo experience and a Fourth Dan Kukkiwon certification from World Taekwondo. She began training at age two at her parents’ school in Albuquerque, Champion Martial Arts. She earned All-American status and now assists at the Korean Academy while working as a nurse in labor and delivery.

Assistant instructor

Master Monica Ballard

Monica Ballard is a Fourth Dan Kukkiwon-certified Taekwondo practitioner with 18 years of experience. She excelled in competition, earning All-American status. She balances nursing degree studies and work at an urgent care with mentoring at the Korean Academy.

Assistant instructor

Master Mariana Conder

Mariana Conder has 20 years of Taekwondo experience and a Fourth Dan Kukkiwon certification from World Taekwondo. She began training at age two at her parents’ school in New Mexico. She excelled internationally as a competitor and now teaches and trains at the Korean Academy.

Assistant instructor

John Ballard

John Ballard has 15 years of Taekwondo experience and is a Third Dan Kukkiwon certified by World Taekwondo. He represented Colorado on the state team and continues to train and assist at the Korean Academy of Taekwondo while attending college.