PEABODY — For anyone looking for Olympic-level taekwondo training, look no further. Tiger An’s Taekwondo — which is headquartered in Lowell and has other locations in Billerica, Hooksett, and Tyngsboro — recently opened its newest studio in Peabody at 179 Lynnfield St.
Richard An began practicing martial arts at just 3 years old at Tiger An’s in Lowell, the studio his father opened in 1979. He explained that Tiger An’s chose to add a location in Peabody to make sure Master Michael O’Malley’s students would still be able to continue training, following their teacher’s retirement.
Richard and Eunha An each earned their own accolades in taekwondo long before even meeting each other, let alone getting married, having two kids, and becoming business partners.
Richard An is a three-time U.S. National Team member for middle and heavyweight. He is an American Champion and a U.S. Open Champion.
Eunha An is from Korea and was a Korean National Team member. She became an International Champion in 1995 in Vietnam and later became the Singapore National Team’s youngest female coach.
They are both Grandmasters in taekwondo.
On Aug. 26, the Ans took ownership of the building on Lynnfield Street. In the following seven days, the building went through a full renovation. Richard An noted that he and his wife slept for only a few hours each night, and it was her drive that kept them going. Tiger An’s then opened its doors on Sept. 2 and is currently teaching more than 60 students.
The taekwondo studio marked the occasion on Oct. 28 with a ribbon cutting ceremony thanks to the Peabody Area Chamber of Commerce. Eunha An said she and her husband were originally planning to hold a ribbon cutting at their grand opening, which is next year, but Chamber President Deanne Healey encouraged them to celebrate sooner.
“We are excited that Tiger An’s chose Peabody for their newest expansion,” Healey said. “They are so committed to getting involved in the community and have already made a lasting impression on both Chamber members and the families that they serve.”
The Ans emphasized that their taekwondo studio is very family oriented because their entire family trains. Their son Tiger, 20, and their daughter Destiny, 17, are both Masters in taekwondo, instructors at Tiger An’s, and local champions. Richard An said they “really try to promote families to train together.”
Eunha An noted that, because of their achievements in the sport, they are able to provide students with the kind of knowledge they need to succeed in a competition setting, if they choose to compete.
“We’re probably one of the very, very few schools in the state that can take people locally, nationally, and internationally because we’ve done it,” Richard An said. “… We try to really focus on maximizing that person’s true ability inside and out, head to toe, mentally and physically.”
Eunha An said she’s seen many people “change who they are” because of taekwondo, for the better. She said, “This can really change a person’s whole life… I do believe taekwondo made me who I am today. It changed my life.”
Richard An said, “Depending on the person, (the changes are) almost catered to them. You’ll see that some kids need a little bit more discipline. Some kids need a little bit more confidence. But I mean, also, which person doesn’t need focus, right? Everybody, including adults, can use a little more focus in their lives.”
He continued, “The moment you see them absorb the information that’s given, and then you see their reaction of success (because of) the information is an absolute satisfaction. You live for that moment.”
Tiger An’s is more than just a taekwondo studio, as Richard An explained. It also does birthday parties, tournaments, fundraisers for charity, and demonstrations and performances for events.
