Grandmaster Heather Coffman has been studying martial arts for over 20 years and in that time has earned a 6th degree black belt in Tae Kwon-Do and a 9th degree confirmed black belt in ChunJiDo. Currently studying under Grandmaster Robert Cutrell, Grandmaster Coffman serves as the Soke Dai (inheritor) of ChunJiDo International, a world-wide organization with affiliates in 5 continents and over 30 countries. Grandmaster Coffman opened the doors to her school in 2011 and now runs one of the largest martial arts schools in Southern Illinois. The dojo was voted “Best Martial Arts School in Southern Illinois in 2023. She spends her time on the mat teaching students about courtesy, integrity, honor, perseverance, self-control and the art of ChunJiDo. In 2024, she taught at and was inducted into the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame as “Female Master Instructor of the Year.” In 2023, she received “Female Martial Artist of the Year” through the Shinja Martial Arts University Hall of Honors. In 2022, Grandmaster Coffman received “Master Instructor of the Year” through the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame. She earned the honor of “Instructor of the Year” from the Illinois Taekwondo Association in 2009. In addition, she received “Business of the Year” in 2012 and “Woman of the Year” in 2013 through the Chamber of Commerce in Anna, Illinois. Grandmaster Coffman has recently won several world titles. She made the WKU USA Team and competed in Rhodes, Greece in 2024. She brought home two Gold Medals and two Silver Medals. She also competed in the ISKA World Martial Arts Championship in 2023 and 2024 in Orlando, FL, earning two Gold Medals and a Bronze Medal. Grandmaster Coffman serves her community by hosting an annual Break-A-Thon for the Children’s Medical and Mental Health Resource Network and has helped raise thousands of dollars for local children. She also uses the dojo to help organizations like Stinson Memorial Library, Angel Tree, Paws, and Union County Animal Control.
