That there are so many routes to Warwick’s soul is one of its most appealing charms, and Main Street would not be the same without Taekwondo Master Doug Cook’s way of the noble warrior.
The sixth-degree blackbelt and his family came to Warwick from New York City in 1985. Like so many others, he was drawn by the energy of a community that he is now an integral part of creating. “I came here many times with my parents as a kid,” says Cook, “and I knew this was where I wanted to raise my own children.” Cook’s Chosun Academy has now been in its same Main Street location for 15 years, where he teaches Taekwondo and wife Patty offers hatha yoga classes.
Cook, a longtime teacher, published author, and columnist, is a committed advocate of the unique balance of the Warwick community, one that reflects his own discipline. “The people here are mindful, people who are rooted in the earth,” Cook explains. “We are both artistically and agriculturally based, and the two juxtapose each other very nicely.”
Cook’s own brand of community outreach is exemplified perfectly in Chosun’s Leadership Team. A constantly replenished group of 25 teens and children—with no shortage of those wanting to join—provides a host of community services locally. Over the past seven years, the Leadership Team has raised thousands for local animal shelters, the Lions Club, and beyond. “It’s an integral part of the nobility,” says Cook. “They are creating their own reality by taking action. You’d be amazed at how effective they are.” Sounds more like just another day at the dojo in Warwick.Chosuntkd.com
This article appears in February 2012.
