Certified Master Instructor (Sa Bom)
Yuk Dan (6th Level) Dan Bon #33141
Charles Smith Sa Bom Nim began his Soo Bahk Do training in February 1990 in Royal Oak, Michigan under Wilton Bennett Sa Bom Nim. Exactly one year later he moved to Vancouver, WA and had the good fortune of being able to immediately continue his training with Master Robert M. Shipley III who had opened his Camas Karate studio only a few months earlier. Mr. Smith was not through moving after his first arrival to Vancouver. Again, he was fortunate to find a Federation studio in Seattle from 1993 to 1995 and trained with Kyo Sa Jason Coleman. Today, Smith Sa Bom Nim trains and teaches at Camas Soo Bahk Do and his own studio, Portland Soo Bahk Do.
The consistency of standardized basic instruction emphasized in the United States Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation has been a valuable benefit for Mr. Smith. In January 2005, he successfully completed his 4th Dan & Certified Master Instructor (Sa Bom) evaluation at the 2005 Ko Dan Ja Shim Sa in Ramona, California. In March 2011, he was promoted to O Dan after successful completion of the 2010 Ko Dan Ja Shim Sa in Ramona, California. In January 2017, he was promoted to Yuk Dan (6th) after completing the 2016 Ko Dan Ja Shim Sa in Ramona, California.
At Camas Soo Bahk Do, Smith Sa Bom Nim volunteers his talents as an instructor which includes teaching classes, assisting with administrative tasks, and coordinating demonstration teams. He has been a member of the Region 10 Dan sparring and forms teams, representing the region at the 1996 National tournament. He is the past President of the Region 10 Dan Association, editor of the Region 10 Newsletter and Secretary of the Region 10 Dan Association. He has also served as local chairperson for the President’s Vision Tour Committee, represented Region 10 as a Board of Director member and served as the National BOD chairperson from 2008-2010.
In 2019, Kwan Jang Nim H.C. Hwang appointed Smith Sa Bom Nim as Region 10’s Regional Examiner. He is also a Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Foundation board member.
In January 2015 Smith Sa Bom Nim shared his passion and dedication for Soo Bahk Do by branching out to launch Portland Soo Bahk Do at the former Portland Trail Blazers Boys and Girls Club. In June 2021, he moved his program to the former NE Community Center Annex in Portland, OR. He also teaches Therapeutic Martial Arts incorporating Soo Bahk Do movements and philosophy.
He is a very active volunteer at his church as well as Co-Director of the Black Food Sovereignty Coalition and Program Manager for the Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation of Oregon.
During his “free” time Smith Sa Bom Nim enjoys spending time with his wife – Sheila, his children, and grand children, listening to jazz and blues, and writing songs about vegetables (and other moving topics).
International Soo Bahk Do events attended:
- 1995 September – 50th World Moo Duk Kwan Anniversary in Seoul, Korea