Virginia and James Hamrick
James and Virginia Hamrick, founders of the International Black Belt Center of Virginia, began training with Master Kwon in 1984. Training on a daily basis, they were often his only students. Learning at his feet (and hands), they immediately became enmeshed in the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of Traditional TaeKwon-Do.
When work took them to Tampa, Florida, where there was no Kwon, Jae-Hwa school, they trained on their own during the week, followed by long drives each Saturday to the closest school in Melbourne; half way across the state. At that time, it was common for Master Kwon to visit his schools in Florida several times a year. So between Saturday Melbourne training, Florida seminars and trips back to New York City, they managed to continue regular training with Master Kwon.
The Hamricks eventually created a part time school in Tampa, where they first invited co-workers to train. They soon opened their doors to the entire Tampa community, where they taught until 1991.
Having had two children in 1989 and 1990, they decided to find a better place to raise them than the urban environment of Tampa. Their search brought them to Charlottesville, Virginia. After settling in Central Virginia, they opened a full time Kwon, Jae-Hwa TaeKwon-Do school, the International Black Belt Center of Virginia, in 1992. It was at this school that Kyosah-Nim Peter began training in 1996.
Kyosah-Nim James Hamrick conducting a test
Kyosah-Nim James Hamrick demonstrating proper board breaking
By 1999, the school had outgrown its space. So the Hamricks began building a 5000 square foot state of the art school, which opened in early 2001. The school continued to grow, hosting myriad seminars with Master Kwon and visiting German schools.
In 2005, the Hamricks announced their retirement. With their girls now teenagers, and James having health issues, they decided it was best for someone else to run the Charlottesville school. That fall, they led some of the students to the forty year anniversary of Kwon, Jae-Hwa TaeKwon-Do in Europe, after which they retired from day to day operations.
For the next three years, the Hamricks continued leading seminars and testing for the International Black Center of Virginia. Because of their continued commitment to the school, Master Kwon tested James and Virginia to fifth degree (5. Dan), or Grand Master status, in the spring of 2007.
By early 2009, however, James’ health had deteriorated, and the Hamricks fully removed themselves from the school. At the end of September 2009, James passed away. Virginia still lives in Charlottesville, staying busy with a thriving architectural photography business.
Kyosah-Nim Peter will forever be indebted to the Hamricks. Along with Master Kwon, they demonstrated the true meaning of not only TaeKwon-Do, but life.
James Hamrick demonstrating each day was the best of his life
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