Instructors & Staff 
John Leger Owner/Head Instructor
Sa Bom Nim John H. Leger is the Owner and Chief Instructor
of Alabama Karate Academy. Mr. John Leger started training
in the Martial Arts in his early Twenties in Montgomery,
Alabama. He currently holds a Masters belt (Sah Dan 4th
degree) in Tang Soo Do. Master Leger earned his Sam Dan (3rd
degree) under Master Coker. Soon after that he opened
Alabama Karate Academy in June of 2004 in Wetumpka, Alabama.
Mr. Leger started his own school under the training and
guidance of Master John St. James of the Atlantic Pacific
Tang Soo Do Federation. Master Leger taught Adult and Youth
Programs for his original instructor, this experience gave
Master Leger significant insight into instructing children
and adults. This has allowed him to perfect teaching methods
that have proven very successful for children and adults all
of ages and skill levels.
Todd Newsom / Assistant Instructor
Mr. Todd Newsom is a 2nd
degree Black Belt Instructor with Alabama Karate Academy. He
is 35 years old, and works full time as a Youth Minister at
Hunter Hills Church. Mr. Newsom served in the United States
Marine Corps for 8 years and is a veteran of Operation
Desert Storm. He and his wife Amy live in Millbrook, AL and
are expecting their first child. Mr. Newsom began his
training in the martial arts at the age of 15 under Masters
Jimmy & Jamie Webster in the style of Tang Soo Do - Mu Duk
Kwan. He also trained for a short time under Grandmaster Yun
S. Chung, founder of the American Taekwondo Foundation
before joining the World Tang Soo Do Association and
training under Senior Master Carol Coker. After a brief
stint in Northeast Texas as founder and Chief Instructor of
Shannon Oaks Tang Soo Do, Mr. Newsom returned to Alabama,
Joined the Atlantic Pacific Tang Soo Do Federation and began
assisting Master Leger at Alabama Karate Academy.
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Alabama Karate Academy
