At Minnesota Star Martial Arts, seven time national champion, Master James Franklin, doesn't just lead by example, he still competes in Taekwondo.
"I have retired a couple of times, but it's the love of the game that brings you back in," Franklin said.
The sixth degree black belt earned a silver medal last summer at the AAU National Championships. Franklin was invited to join the U.S.A. Masters Team, which will travel to Korea in May to compete in the Asian-Pacific Masters Games.
"It's very exciting," Franklin said. "In my whole 30 years of doing Taekwondo, I've never been to Korea."
Coach and fourth degree black belt, Master Miranda Corwin, punched her own ticket to Korea. She got an invitation to join the U.S.A. Masters Team after she won gold at last years AAU National Championships.
"I was overwhelmed with joy and very humbled," Corwin said. "It's always been a dream come true to go to Korea."
Corwin's father introduced her to Taekwondo at a young age. And she's dreamed of traveling to Korea since her grandmother made the trip.
"Since 1988, when my grandmother traveled to Korea, I have always wanted to go," Corwin said. "I am beyond humbled to go especially with my coach and my instructor."
Masters Franklin and Corwin are the only members of the U.S.A. Masters Team from Minnesota going to Korea.
"We're really looking forward to showing our stuff and hopefully we'll get to Korea and do well," Franklin said.