Testimonials

My sons love Tae Kwon Do and it is my hope that they will continue to study under Master Lewis for years to come.  Master Lewis is a natural with children.  He effectively teaches them what some may consider difficult skills.  He insists on discipline during his classes.  The children have the utmost respect for him because of his good example.  I see character development in the making.

Hallett S. Ward

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My children and I study Tae Kwon Do at Elite Martial Arts.  I strongly recommend it to anyone who wants a great place for themselves or a family member to study martial arts.  When I moved to Carteret County I was searching for somewhere for my then 9 year old son to continue his martial arts education.  Russ Lewis, the owner/instructor of Elite Martial Arts came highly recommended from many Tae Kwon Do fighters with decades of experience in the art.  My son is now 12 and continues to learn under Mr. Lewis. 

As a matter of fact, I and 2 more of my children are now studying Tae Kwon Do with Mr. Lewis as well.  Mr. Lewis keeps students interested by teaching them about all the aspects of Tae Kwon Do.  As a parent, it's great to see that my children not only learn to fight and defend themselves, but learn about the history and culture of an art that has been around for so long.  They also develop confidence in themselves in a way that carries through to the other things that they do on a day to day basis. 

As a student myself, I benefit from the physical fitness aspects of Tae Kwon Do while learning an art that I can share with my children as they grow older.  One of the best things you'll find about the school is that Mr. Lewis has a teaching style that works for adults and kids alike.  Students are expected and required to behave in a respectful manner but the class is a very relaxed atmosphere. 

Students are judged on their own abilities and not how they perform in comparison to others.  This leads to a collegial atmosphere where students often help and encourage each other in their practice of Tae Kwon Do.  Students are not required to fight in competitions but usually do well when they choose to participate in those events.  Mr. Lewis even brings in black belts in other art forms such as Judo and Karate to teach his students different styles or forms of martial arts from time to time. 

All in all, these things, combined with Mr. Lewis' outstanding record of National and International Titles and both Olympic and Traditional Tae Kwon Do Training make Elite Martial Arts a great place for any person (or family) to study martial arts.  Hope to see you in class!
 
-Chris Beacham, JD

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Master Lewis is excellent with kids and you can really feel that when he talks to them. He motivates my son and helps him in every way he can.  Master Lewis’ direction and motivation as an instructor and as a caring mentor has improved my son’s attitude, self-esteem and has made him a respectable young man, both in and out of class.  We as parents appreciate everything that Master Lewis has done and continues to do for our son.  We look forward to having him as a family friend for many years to come.

-Stacy

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Master Lewis ~

Cris and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all you have done for Nathan in the past nine years.  You truly have made a tremendous impact on his life.  It’s hard to believe that he started at age four as one of your Lil’ Dragons and suddenly, here he is, a 13 year old, third degree black belt! 

Your 20 years of experience as an instructor and your numerous World Championships, combined with your ability to get your students to do what is expected of them, form a unique approach that creates a training environment where your students truly do learn to accept ownership for self-improvement yet at the same time you make it an enjoyable experience.

The self-esteem, confidence, respect, and self-defense abilities Nathan incurred from your training are simply amazing.

By the way, when entering your dojang’s no nonsense, “Rocky-like” atmosphere instead of the glitz and glam of newer studios, it’s obvious that your approach is a reality-based, most interested in what works self-defense, rather than a show-off style of martial arts.

We, as well as Nathan, look forward to many more years under your leadership. 
                                                                       
P.S.  Congrads on your promo to 6th Degree Black Belt!

All the best,
-Cris and Ted Ameen

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Studying Taekwondo with Mr. Lewis has challenged JP physically and mentally, and he has responded to those challenges very positively.  JP has grown nearly 8 inches since he started his lessons in September 2008, and Taekwondo has helped him tremendously with balance, coordination, and flexibility during this growth spurt.  More importantly, Taekwondo has exposed JP to new ideas and cultural differences, while teaching him mental and physical toughness in an atmosphere that demands respect.

-John Rickabaugh, MD

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Watching J.P.'s growth in Taekwondo has been a very rewarding experience.  The environment of discipline and respect that is maintained by Mr. Lewis is key to the progress of each and every student.  The more advanced students often take on a supportive role in teaching new skills through one on one drills.  I have especially enjoyed watching these students reflect Mr. Lewis' teachings in the way they interact with the less experienced students.  Rather than creating an atmosphere of competition, these students positively push the others to be the best that they can be.  J.P. has developed poise and self-confidence as a result.

-Sandy

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We took our son Evan there and he liked it!  I gave him two choices, this or baseball because he is a video game addict.  Evan needs physical activities while having fun, so I think he made the right choice.

-Laura

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I enjoy a lot of things about Taekwondo, most of all I would say I enjoy the feeling of self confidence that it gives me, I also enjoy all of the physical improvements it has given me, for example, when I started I was barely flexible, but now I can stretch further than I ever could before.

Taekwondo has taught me discipline and respect, so it definitely improved my overall behavior, also, I've learned to be determined and not give up, which has helped me reach a lot of goals I probably wouldn't have reached if I didn't start Taekwondo.  It has given me the confidence to try new things such as trying out for the Broad Creek Middle School wrestling team.

I definitely think that Taekwondo requires dedication, and that it really will changes some people's views on martial arts, and it proves that you don't just need physical determination, but you also need a strong mental determination if you want to do well and make it far.

-J.P.

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Master Lewis was an excellent instructor during my 6 years of instruction of Tae Kwon Do.  He is hard working and extremely dedicated to all of his students with high expectations for both his students and himself.

It was my greatest pleasure to be taught by Master Lewis, as I admire him both professionally and personally.  His character is above reproach.  I would certainly be willing for him to teach me again at any time, and I would not hesitate to recommend him as an instructor.

-Cera E. Finney, 2nd Degree Black Belt

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Jason started in the Lil' Dragons Program just before he turned 5.  Since joining, he has become more focus and is now more disciplined a school as well as at home.  Thanks to your classes, he follows instructions well and is respectful to others.  He is doing much better interacting with others his age.  He has gained self-esteem and confidence and is becoming a leader instead of a follower.  We're so glad we got him started at a young age!  Thank you so much!

-Patricia D.

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Several years ago Mr. Lewis was my instructor in martial arts.  I learned a lot from him; not just on how to defend myself, but to respect myself and others, and to learn to walk away from trouble when I can.  He also taught me about responsibility, and to at least give my best, even if my best isn’t good enough for some.  I learned to never let anyone abuse me, or abuse others.

Something once happened to me and I was in a really bad situation, and I thought about how Mr. Lewis had taught me to stand up for myself and not let someone hurt me.  Because I remembered my time with Mr. Lewis, I made it out of that horrible situation alive, and now I am more alive than ever before, and I will never let someone abuse me again.  I have Mr. Lewis to thank for my life, and for the lives of my children.

When I was a student I was just twelve years old and Mr. Lewis didn’t treat me like I was too young to compete.  He always treated me with respect and pushed me to do my best in every way, school, at home, with friends, with my music, and as well as with martial arts.  I always felt as if I fit in, and that I was a part of a good thing when I was in class.  To this day I will never forget the dedication and respect that was shown, not just to me but to every person, whether they were a student or not, that walked into the building.

While I may not be a student anymore, I do still think of Mr. Lewis as my instructor, I know that if ever I have a need, he will be able to give me advice.  I also know that Mr. Lewis is just as dedicated today to teaching as he was 12 years ago when I was a student.

-Cassandra Lechner