Today we’d like to introduce you to Asher Kitae Ohn.
Hi Asher Kitae, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is Asher Kitae Ohn. I was born in Korea, and I have lived in the United States for a little over fourteen years. Today, I am the founder and owner of Ohn Top Martial Arts, where I currently operate two locations. While my life and work are now rooted in the United States, the foundation of who I am was formed much earlier through a journey that began when I was just a child.
I was born in Korea, and my parents enrolled me in Taekwondo when I was four years old. Years later, my parents told me that when I first began, I often cried and was afraid to go to class. I was too young to remember it myself, but that story has stayed with me. It reminds me that growth often begins in discomfort, long before we understand its purpose.
As time passed, Taekwondo quietly shaped who I became. What once felt intimidating slowly turned into a place where my body grew stronger and my mind more resilient. Step by step, I learned discipline, patience, and confidence. Eventually, I became a leader student in the dojang, guiding younger students along their own paths. Through that experience, I learned that true strength is not the absence of fear, but the courage to move forward in spite of it.
Although there were periods when I had to step away briefly due to my studies, Taekwondo was always a constant presence in my life. After completing my military service, I began to reflect deeply on my future. Under the guidance of my master, I started teaching Taekwondo for the first time. As I learned how to teach, a quiet but powerful thought stayed with me. Just as I had deeply trusted and respected my master, I wondered how meaningful it would be if one day someone could believe in me and follow my guidance. With that hope, I took my first steps as an instructor.
Through teaching, I discovered a joy far deeper than I had ever imagined. Watching students struggle, grow, and eventually succeed showed me how powerful belief and guidance can be. I came to understand that being a Taekwondo instructor is not simply a profession, but a responsibility and a calling. As I continued to learn and teach, I also realized that Taekwondo extends far beyond Korea, shaping lives and communities across the world. That realization stirred a desire within me to challenge myself in a new country.
I eventually came to the United States through an internship, where I learned how Taekwondo schools operate within a different culture. During that time, I made a quiet but firm decision to build my future through dedication and hard work in the United States. That decision led me to Virginia, where I spent the next eleven years teaching students and forming countless meaningful relationships.
Life as a first generation immigrant was not easy. After the birth of my child, the weight of responsibility grew even heavier. For nearly three years, I taught Taekwondo during the day and worked as a restaurant server at night from 9 PM to 2 AM. There were many nights filled with exhaustion and moments of doubt, but I never let go of my dream. I believed that perseverance would eventually create an opening.
In November 2022, that belief became reality when I founded Ohn Top Martial Arts in Alexandria, proudly naming the school after myself. I remain deeply grateful to the students and families who chose to place their trust in me from the very beginning. Two years later, in 2025, I opened a second location, allowing me to guide and support even more students.
Today, dedicated instructors and staff work together at Ohn Top Martial Arts, pouring their hearts and energy into teaching each day. My journey is still unfolding. I continue to reflect, study, and grow, believing that better teaching begins with humility and learning. Together with my instructors, I am committed to building Ohn Top Martial Arts into a place where discipline shapes character, effort builds confidence, and every student is seen, guided, and believed in.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I believe that challenge always comes with hardship. As an immigrant, I faced language barriers while working and ongoing uncertainty as I tried to build a stable life. There were times when financial struggles were so heavy that I would walk into a convenience store to buy a simple drink, only to turn around and leave without purchasing anything.
When I decided to open my own school, fear and doubt were always present. I constantly questioned whether I could truly succeed and spent many nights worrying and reflecting. Those moments of uncertainty often frightened me. However, I also knew that choosing to stay where I was and taking the comfortable path would lead to no change and no growth. Because of that belief, I consistently chose challenge over comfort.
I did not always succeed, nor did I always achieve results that fully satisfied me. But I trusted that even in those moments, I was learning and growing. For that reason, if I am ever faced with a choice between challenge and stability again, I will continue to choose challenge.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Ohn Top Martial Arts is more than a Taekwondo school. It is a place built on the belief that strong structure and clear discipline can guide students toward growth, confidence, and lasting happiness. Our greatest strength lies in training within firm discipline while helping students experience a deep sense of achievement and joy as they progress.
What we do is intentional and consistent. Our classes are structured, focused, and challenging, yet always supportive. We work with students of all ages and specialize in guiding them through disciplined training that builds confidence through effort, repetition, and accountability. Students learn that achievement is earned, and that sense of accomplishment becomes a powerful source of motivation and self belief.
What truly sets Ohn Top Martial Arts apart is that the discipline students learn inside the dojang carries into their lives outside of it. The structure, respect, and self control developed through training begin to influence how students behave at home, how they focus at school, and how they build healthier relationships with friends. Parents often share that they see positive changes not only in physical ability, but also in attitude, responsibility, and emotional maturity.
We believe discipline is not meant to restrict students, but to give them direction and stability. Within that structure, students are encouraged, supported, and recognized for their progress. Our instructors lead by example, showing students that true confidence is built through consistency, responsibility, and respect.
Brand wise, what I am most proud of is the environment we have created. Students are challenged, but they are also happy. They feel proud of their effort, proud of their improvement, and proud of who they are becoming. Families trust us because they see growth that extends beyond the dojang and into everyday life.
What I want readers to know is that Ohn Top Martial Arts focuses on meaningful growth. We help students experience the joy that comes from discipline, the confidence that comes from effort, and the happiness that comes from real achievement. Our goal is to guide students to grow into strong, confident individuals who carry these values into every part of their lives.
How do you think about luck?
I do not believe that luck simply comes to us and works on its own. Everyone experiences both good luck and bad luck in life. I believe the difference lies in preparation. When good luck appears, we must be ready to recognize it and turn it into growth. When bad luck comes, we must be prepared to face it, endure it, and find a way out.
That mindset has guided both my life and my business. I have learned that effort, discipline, and readiness determine whether luck becomes an opportunity or an obstacle.
At the same time, I am deeply grateful for the people around me. Having good people by my side has clearly played an important role in the growth of my life and my business. I do not take that for granted, and I move forward with constant gratitude for those relationships.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ohntopblackbelt.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohntopmartialarts/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohntopblackbelt
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ohn-top-martial-arts-alexandria?osq=Ohn+Top+Martial+Arts
