Meet Master
Eric Ford.

01

A place to keep learning

Owner & Head Master | TVMA Academy

I’m Master Eric Ford, owner and head instructor of TVMA Academy in Lake in the Hills, Illinois, and a Kukkiwon-certified International Taekwondo Master. I want students to feel comfortable asking questions and working through the things they find difficult. My approach to teaching Taekwondo gives children, teens, and adults room to practice, make mistakes, and keep learning.

I am a Kukkiwon-certified International Taekwondo Master and the owner and head instructor of TVMA Academy. My approach to teaching has been shaped by decades of training, mentorship under respected masters, and thousands of hours spent guiding students of all ages, from beginners stepping onto the mat for the first time to advanced practitioners preparing for leadership and black belt journeys.

02

Progress, practice, and character

At TVMA Academy, progress is earned, not rushed. Strong foundations matter because every belt builds toward the next, and every lesson carries forward into life beyond the dojang. Rank is important, but character, consistency, and mindset matter more.

My teaching is grounded in traditional Taekwondo and informed by education in the science of exercise, movement, and recovery. This allows training to be challenging while remaining intelligent, safe, and sustainable across all ages and experience levels. Longevity in training is just as important as intensity.

03

Experience beyond the mat

Beyond the dojang, I have worked with community youth and family services, supporting young people through structured programs focused on accountability, confidence, and positive development. I have also been involved in professional security work supporting local and federal agencies, experiences that reinforced the importance of composure, situational awareness, and responsibility under pressure. These values carry directly into how I teach and lead.

04

Teaching for the long journey

I have had the privilege of working with students for many years at a time, watching them grow from uncertain beginners into confident leaders, mentors, and capable adults. Taekwondo, when taught with care and patience, has the power to shape not just skill, but character.

Whether a student is stepping onto the mat for the first time or continuing a long journey, my goal remains the same: to help each person grow with confidence, discipline, and purpose, both on and off the mat.

05

Safety and sport connections

TVMA is proud to be a USATKD club!

Master Eric Ford routinely will undergo and complete a background screening via the National Center for Safety Initiatives, as well as complete and maintain the Center for SafeSport Training course.

The U.S. Center for SafeSport is an independent nonprofit 501 (c)( 3) committed to building a sport community where participants can work and learn together free of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse and misconduct.