Head Instructor
Mr. Doug Johnson 3rd Dan World Taekwondo Federation
1st Dan International Hapkido Federation
Doug’s martial arts journey began in the very late 80’s or early 90’s. The actual year has been lost to history and is still a matter of some debate. He started training in Cobourg, Ontario under Mr. Roy MacFarlane. He later began travelling to Peterborough, Ontario to train under Mr. Thomas F. Locke achieving 1st Dan in 1993. While spending 93 and 94 competing regionally he instructed the Trent University and Fleming College Taekwondo Clubs. During this time Doug successfully promoted to 2nd Dan. After becoming the head instructor at Peterborough Taekwondo in 1994 he was in due time promoted to 3rd Dan while studying under Grandmaster Tae E. Lee in Ottawa, Ontario. Doug closed Peterborough Taekwondo and joined the Moo Gong Kwang Hapkido dojang located in Peterborough in 1996. In 1999 Doug achieved 1st Dan in the International Hapkido Federation under Grandmaster Kwang Suk Choi. In 2000 he left the Hapkido Dojang to restart the Trent and Fleming taekwondo clubs.
When not training in taekwondo or hapkido Doug has spent varying amounts of time studying Shotokan Karate, Kickboxing, Kung Fu and Iaido. Doug currently trains at either of the Colborne or Cobourg Elite Martial Arts Centres on any Saturday he is not watching NCAA or CIS football.
When he is not teaching or training, Doug spends entirely too much time watching hockey and football on TV cheering for the Hamilton Tigercats (CFL), McMaster Marauders (CIS), Seattle Seahawks (NFL), Michigan Wolverines (NCAA) and Montreal Canadiens (NHL) while spending as much time as possible in the Memorial Centre cheering for the Peterborough Petes (OHL). When not doing the above he watches repeats of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel or Highlander and quotes Red Green to anyone he can corner.
In an attempt to act somewhat like an adult, with a real job Doug works as a baker at the Planet Bakery in downtown Peterborough.
Ms. Jamie Zimmerman 2nd Dan WTF- Jamie began training in taekwondo at the age of eight at Master Kim’s Taekwondo in Burlington in 1993. Due to a case of surgically repaired knees she did not make 1st Dan until 2002 with Kicks for Kids in Burlington. She began training at Trent Taekwondo in 2003 and received her 2nd Dan in 2005 from her home school. Jamie graduated with a BA hon from Trent in 2007 and is returning for MA work in anthropology/archeology. Jamie is the senior student returning to the club.
Assistant Instructors
Ms. Heather Macdonald 2nd Dan WTF- Heather began training at the Fleming College club in September of 2002. She joined Trent Taekwondo as an assistant instructor in 2003. With her considerable perseverance and stubbornness she achieved 1st Dan in February of 2006 and her 2nd Dan a year later. She has been involved in every aspect of Trent/Fleming/PSWC Taekwondo throughout her time with the club. Ms. Macdonald is the head assistant instructor for Trent/Fleming/PSWC Taekwondo.
Ms. Janette Buckley 1st Dan WTF- Janette joined Trent Taekwondo in 2001 and became the first black belt student for the club since 1996 in 2005. Janette was an assistant to Doug for a year after that.
Mr. Tran Thanh Tuan 1st Dan WTF- Tuan began training in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in 1995 reaching red belt by 1999. In the summer of 2004 he joined Trent Taekwondo and achieved 1st Dan in 2007.
Ms. Sherry Millions 1st Dan WTF- Sherry began training in taekwondo in 1993 at Peterborough Taekwondo eventually achieving black-stripe belt. She took a twelve-year break before returning to Trent Taekwondo and achieved black belt in 2007.
Mr. Dave Kaushik 1st Dan WTF- Dave joined Trent Taekwondo in fall of 2003 and received his 1st Dan during the summer of 2007. He trained for 4 years with World Championship Karate between 1995 and 1999, and more recently dabbled with Iaido and Jiu Jitsu. Despite being devilishly handsome, Dave continues to pretend he knows everything while resisting wearing uniforms much to the frustration of the head instructor.
Ms. Crystal Provencal 1st Dan WTF- Crystal started training at Trent Taekwondo in the fall of 2004. She made 1st Dan Black Belt in July of 2007 training at Trent and EMAC. In the little spare time she has she enjoys Taekwondo, travelling, and loves anything and everything from politics to sports from the great province of Alberta, the great Canadian West, and the World, as she can proudly say, “I am an Albertan”.
While under Doug Johnson’s instruction ten Trent Taekwondo students have advanced to 1st Dan black belt with the World Taekwondo Federation. The first was Ms. Priscilla Phillips who obtained her black belt in 1994. Mr. Chris Lawrenson achieved 1st Dan in 1995 while Mr. Spencer Scott and Mr. Robert Wark did so in 1996. All tested with Grandmaster Tae E Lee MBA 9th Dan at his Carling or Bank St dojangs in Ottawa.
When Mr. Johnson and Mr. Scott restarted Trent Taekwondo in 2000 their goal was to provide all Trent University students with the opportunity to test for 1st Dan black belt in the time span of their undergraduate degree. It took five years to have the first student obtain 1st Dan but since then the pace has been steady with Janette Buckley, Heather Macdonald, Tran Thanh Tuan, Sherry Millions, Dave Kaushik and Crystal Provencal testing in the last two years. Master Glenn Marian 4th Dan and Master Barbara Marian 4th Dan from the Elite Martial Arts Centre have tested all the black belts from Trent since 2005.