Instructor Bio
About the Instructor
Jason Hughes has been practicing Martial Arts for over 20 years, and has been teaching in Athens for over 13 years. He holds black belt ranks in Moo Duk Kwan Tae Kwon Do and Shinto Muso Ryu Jo-Jitsu, and has cross-trained in Judo, Ju-jitsu and Hapkido. An active competitor and coach, Mr. Hughes has coached himself to three A.A.U. National Championship titles and has coached several Junior Olympic, A.A.U. State and National gold medalists.
1982
Began studying Okinawan Kenpo under Ron Morris, 3rd Degree Black Belt, and Charles Gainey, 2nd Degree Black Belt--Thomasville, Ga.
1985
Began Moo Duk Kwan Taekwondo training under Darrell Simpson, 2nd Degree Black Belt, and Young Seon Seo, 9th Degree Black Belt--Thomasville, Ga.
1987
Promoted to Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt) in Taekwondo.
Gold medal Forms division, Georgia Olympic Trials, sanctioned by the U.S.T.U. (United States Taekwondo Union) held in Atlanta, Ga.
Began teaching beginner and children classes at Young's Taekwondo--Thomasville, Ga.
1987 - 1990
Assistant teaching at Young's Taekwondo--Thomasville, Ga.
1988
First Place, Forms, Black Belt division at the U.T.A. (Unified Taekwondo Association) Championships held in Albany, Ga.
First Place, Fighting, Black Belt division at the U.T.A. Championships
1990
Moved to Athens, Ga.
1992
Promoted to Nidan (2nd Degree Black Belt) in Taekwondo.
Became Assistant Instructor at the U.G.A. Taekwondo Club under Jim Couch, 5th Degree Black Belt.
2nd Place, Forms (traditional), A.S.K.L. (American Sport Karate League) Kickoff Championship, held in Atlanta, Ga.
3rd Place, Fighting (lightweight Black Belt) A.S.K.L. Kickoff Championship
1993
Began Judo training under Mark Dudley, 1st Degree Black Belt
1st Place, Forms, M.Y.B. (Midori Yama Budokai) Karate Open, held in Athens, Ga.
1st Place, Fighting, M.Y.B. Karate Open
2nd Place, Forms, 4th Annual Atlanta Open, held in Atlanta, Ga.
2nd Place, Fighting, 4th Annual Atlanta Open
1st Place, Forms division, Athens Area Spring Challenge, held in Athens, Ga.
1st Place, Self-Defense division, Athens Area Spring Challenge
Ranked #10 Forms Competitor, Southeastern division, by N.A.S.K.A. (North American Sport Karate Association).
Began training in Shinto Muso Ryu Jo-Jutsu (Jodo - staff and sword arts) under Norio Wada, 6th Degree Black Belt from Tokyo, Japan.
1994
Became advisor of the U.G.A. Jodo Club, the first official collegiate Jodo club in the U.S.
Began teaching children's classes at the Y.W.C.O., Athens, Ga.
Promoted to Ikkyu (Brown Belt) in Jodo
1995
Grand Champion, All-Weight Fighting division, St. Valentines Day Classic Karate Open, Athens, Ga.
1st place, Lightweight Fighting, St. Valentines Day Classic Karate Open
2nd place Forms, St. Valentines Day Classic Karate Open
Founded Live Oak Taekwondo at the Athens, Ga. Y.W.C.O.
Promoted to Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt) in Shinto Muso Ryu Jo-Jutsu.
Helped Found the U.G.A. Judo Club.
1996
1st place, Lightweight Shiai (Fighting), lower ranks, Bellarmine College Judo Tournament, Louiseville, Kentucky, representing Team Georgia.
1997 thru present
Teaching at Live Oak Martial Arts, Athens, Ga.
1998
1st place in Weapons Forms (Jo staff), UGA St. Valentines Day Classic--Athens, Ga.
1st Place Empty hands Forms, UGA St. Valentines Day Classic
1st place in Lightweight Sparring, UGA St. Valentines Day Classic
Grand Champion Forms, UGA St. Valentines Day Classic
Gold medal, Adult Black Belt Forms, Georgia Games
Gold medal, Lightweight Sparring, Georgia Games
1999
Bronze Medal--AAU State Taekwondo Championships--Sparring
Married Christena Martin
2000
Silver Medal, Sparring--St. Valentines Day Classic, Athens, GA.
Grand Champion--AAU East Coast Winter Invitational--Forms
Silver Medal, Forms--AAU State Championships
Gold Medal, Sparring--AAU State Championships
Gold Medal, Forms--AAU National Championships
2001
Gold Medal, Forms--AAU National Championships
2003
Gold Medal, Forms--AAU National Championships
Bronze Medal, Sparring--AAU National Championships
Fought at A.A.U. National Team Trials, Las Vegas, N.V.
2004
Daughter, Maya Hughes born
2005
Opened Live Oak Martial Arts, independent school, Athens GA
2006
Promoted to 3rd Dan by A.A.U. National Testing Board