Instructors

Mrs. Sandra Swartwood
Tae Kwon Do Instructor
7th Degree Black Belt

Mrs. Swartwood has been teaching Tae Kwon Do since 1990. She is a certified 7th degree Black Belt and has competed and medaled Regionally, Nationally and Internationally in both Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido. In 2015 she tested and was awarded her 5th Degree Black Belt in Hapkido.

In 1995 Mrs. Swartwood competed in the Diamond Nationals and was ranked number 1. She continued to compete well into her 40's taking medals both regionally and Internationally at the Busan Mayor's cup held every 2 years in Busan, Korea.

For more than 20 years as Instructor of American Black Belt Academy, Mrs. Swartwood has worked with thousands of Children and Adults ranging in age from 4 to 82 in the techniques and life lessons of Tae Kwon Do. Students that have gone through ABBA’s program have become lawyers, doctors, surgeons, military pilots, have been contestants on both the Voice and Survivor. When former students come back to town they almost always stop in to say hello and continue to tell Mrs. Swartwood how their current success is directly tied to their training at American Black Belt Academy.

Mrs. Swartwood has been so successful at changing the lives of her students that today she is teaching the children and in many cases the grand children of her past students.

Mrs. Swartwood also holds a Black Sash in Kung Fu and ? in Inayan Eskrima.

Tom Swartwood
Hapkido Instructor, Mehan Hapkido Instructor, Defensive Tactics Instructor and NRA Certified Firearms Instructor
9th Degree Black Belt

Mr. Swartwood started training in the Martial Arts at the age of 16. He has been training in Hapkido for over 40 years and has been teaching others for almost 30. In 2026 Mr. Swartwood was promoted to the rank of 9th degree Black Belt within the Hanminjok Hapkido Association.  He is recognized by the Korean government as a GrandMaster Instructor.

In 2015 along with Master Lou Lannum, Mr. Swartwood created the MeHan Hapkido Association. Their goal is to spread the benefits of Hapkido training across the United States and the world.

Over the past 28 years Mr. and Mrs. Swartwood have traveled to Korea 14 times to either compete in or take a team to compete in the Busan Mayor's cup International Kuk Sool Won Tournament and Master's Demonstration. During the first Busan Mayor's cup tournament Mr. Swartwood won a bronze medal in Self-Defense. He has competed multiple times on the international stage and has been featured in demonstrations on ESPN II and Korean National TV.

In 2005 Mr.  Swartwood  was  inducted in  the Inaugural  Class of the Budo Hall of Fame as Hapkido Instructor of the Year.