A Legacy of Leadership
Tukong Austin has been shaped by several generations of leadership. Grandmaster Wonik Yi opened the first Tukong Austin location in the early 1980s, and the school moved a few times over the years. When Grandmaster Yi returned to Korea around 2012, Headmaster Ali Brown took ownership of our current location. In 2021, ownership passed to Master Janell Smith when Master Ali moved to Leander to open the Tiger Mountain Center.
A Community-Led School
Following Master Janell’s retirement in March 2025, the school began operating as a non-profit. In February 2026, our board established a new non-profit charter, and Tukong Austin is now a registered Texas non-profit organization.
A four-member board of certified World Tukong Moosul Federation masters leads the school:
- Master Chris Hunter, President
- Master Lynn Keeling, Vice President
- Master Nell Newton, Secretary
- Master Vikram Doddi, Treasurer
Rooted in One Lineage
Each of these masters trained under Grandmaster Yi and earned their black belts and master-level certifications from him. They still stay in regular contact with him and travel to Korea to see him, most recently in October of 2023. Headmaster Ali Brown, President of the World Tukong Moosul Federation, continues to teach black belts at Tukong Austin.
Shared Leadership, Stronger School
Our board model lets each member take ownership of a part of the school, which keeps the workload balanced and the school healthy:
- Master Chris: Kids Program
- Master Nell: Ip Seon Program
- Master Lynn: Adult Program
- Master Vikram: Marketing Initiatives
Every board member also teaches at least one class each week, so the people running the school are also on the mat with our students. This joint leadership has opened new doors for the school’s growth, and our next goal is to secure federal non-profit (501(c)(3)) status.