Master Steven Elmore started training in Tang Soo Do in 1988 in Livonia, MI under Master Romines. He continued training with Master Romines, receiving 1st Dan in 1992 at 12 years old and 2nd Dan in 1994. In 1997, Master Romines took some time off and turned his school over to one of his students, Master Matt Ochs who brought the students into the World Tang Soo Do Association.
In 1998, Master Elmore started attending the University of Michigan, studying Aerospace Engineering. At that time, he was chief instructor at Master Ochs’ studio, teaching 4-5 hours a night. The studio was approximately 60 miles away, each way, which Master Elmore drove 4-5 days a week while still maintaining his studies. In 1999, Master Elmore received the rank of 3rd Dan in Tang Soo Do.
Master Elmore graduated in 2002 and started his first martial arts studio at the Plymouth YMCA while attending graduate school at the University of Michigan. In 2004, Master Elmore was offered a position with Boeing and moved to Seattle, WA. He earned a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 2005.
In 2004, he started Evergreen Tang Soo Do Academy at the West Seattle YMCA. That program quickly grew to a part-time commercial studio in 2006 then a full-time studio in 2008. Master Elmore quit his job at Boeing and has taught martial arts full time ever since.
He earned his 4th Dan in 2007, the youngest master in Tang Soo Do at the time and began his training under Grandmaster Shin until his death in 2012. Master Elmore then trained under Grandmaster Beaudoin, earning 5th Dan in 2016, until leaving the World Tang Soo Do Association in 2020 to be an independent Tang Soo Do instructor.
From 1997-2005, Master Elmore was an avid competitor in forms and fighting. He earned numerous Regional and World titles in WTSDA competitions as well as Open circuit competitions.
Due to his success in starting/running a martial arts studio, Master Elmore was a featured speaker at the WTSDA Business Seminar from 2011-2016 and provided guidance and mentorship to other instructors throughout the world.
Throughout his career, he has had the opportunity to travel around the world to Costa Rica, Germany, Canada, Aruba as well as across the United States.He is also the author of a book, “The Physics of Martial Arts”.
