About
The Martial Arts Institute was founded on 13th October 1991 in Federal Way, just south of Seattle Washington, USA. The martial arts program head instructor moved to Aberdeen/ Aberdeenshire Scotland in August 1998 and resumed martial arts instruction 2-weeks later on the 19th of August in the Bridge of Don section of Aberdeen.
Parallel to his martial arts training, Grand Master Harrell is a retired Electrical Engineer who has a working experience in a variety of projects including Shipbuilding, Power Plant Construction and the Aerospace industries.


Grand Master David J. Harrell is an author, lecturer, researcher, motivational speaker and pioneer with experience in martial arts training spanning more than six decades.
He currently serves as Director and Chief Instructor at the media-based Legacy Martial Arts Institute.
Selected Accomplishments:
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USNTF National Champion
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Coach of 40 National Champions and 15 International Champions
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USTU Washington State Junior & Senior National Team Coach
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World Taekwondo Council (WTC) – UK Director 2000 to present
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Kukkiwon International Advisory Committee Member (former)
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Speaker at Seoul World Taekwondo Leaders Forums (2013, 2014)
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135 Black Belts certified (115 in Scotland)
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125 students earning Bachelor Degrees; 20 Masters; 10 PhDs
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3- Research papers published in the prestigious Kukkiwon Research Journal
(the only non-Korean work to ever be published in this journal).
