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Community Corner

Olympic Committee Recognizes Award Winning Burke Coach

Master Phan Le wins Coach of the Year and Best of Burke awards.

One of Burke's own has won a prestigious award from USA Olympic Taekwondo (USAT) for his work with young martial arts students.

Phan University of Martial Arts (P.U.M.A) Coach Master Quyen V. Phan Le has been awarded both the 2010 Coach of the Year award from USA Olympic Taekwondo, the national governing body for Taekwondo for the U.S. Olympic Committee as well as the 2011 Best of Burke Award in the Martial Arts School category. Phan Le was awarded this for both junior and senior development for Olympics

“The award means a lot to me,” Phan Le said. “The award signifies all my hard work but doesn’t make me who I am today. My athletes show what I’ve accomplished. Knowing the smile it puts on their face, this can’t be replaced. It’s something you remember when you change a person’s life.”

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One of his students, Shaina Krause, recently added to her many awards by making the U.S. World Universiade Games team, a part of the Olympic movement.

“The Krause family has been my longest supporter and the most loyal since I can remember,” Phan Le said. Krause less than a month after the tragic loss of her father due to a drunk driver.

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After the fall of Saigon, Phan Le moved to America, where he began his martial arts training at three years old. His initial love was basketball, but after a severe ankle injury he rediscovered his passion for martial arts.

The Phan Le family, which is dispersed across the country, has been teaching martial arts for generations. His father is the second generation of pioneers who practiced Judo and Jujitsu back in Vietnam.

Phan Le has a Masters in sports medicine and in college competed at the collegiate nationals. Through college he taught for another company but found over time that he and the other instructor had very different views. At the suggestion of several families he had taught, he began his own school in 2001. 

Phan Le has accomplished much in the years since. Two years ago, he was inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame.  He is the only living coach that has had students on the U.S Judo, Taekwondo and Jujitsu team at the same time.

In addition to teaching, Phan Le has worked as a program director for the Department of Justice, volunteers in the community and continues to travel on motivational speaking tours. In his spare time, he exercises or spends time with his family and his Doberman, Bear.

“I preach what I practice,” Phan Le said. "You get respect by giving respect.  Parents can belittle their kids or treat them just like kids, but my parents treated me like my age.  I don’t compare myself to others. What I offer kids is not only support, but a whole life opportunity.”

Motabar Shirwani’s daughter has been training under Master Phan Le for eight years.

“It’s been an amazing experience," she said. "The coach is dedicated and there’s no limit in time to his dedication to the individuals and their needs for where they want to go.  We are privileged to go to this school."

“The coach has always been in my life," student Bazy Shirwani said. "When I want things, he teaches me to love them. He will tell you if you are wrong or right and he is very straightforward.”

“You never stop learning, repetition is key,” Phan Le said.

Phan Le has students of all ages, from teenagers to grown men and women in their sixties. Half of his students don’t compete, but the classes inspire body coordination.

Mathew Zwiren, a Phan University student for 18 months, had prior martial arts experience but was ready to move to the next level. Under Phan Le's guidance, he made the U.S. National team and took gold medals in Korea.

“This is the best coach I’ve ever had," Zwiren said. "He doesn’t push you. He wants you to push yourself. He tells you what to do for yourself and has high expectations for you." Susan Zwiren, his mom, says that their near-daily 40 minute commute each way from their home in Manassas is worth it.

Phan Le’s goal is to expand his business to a larger location outfitted with formal classroom lecture labs, where he could hold lessons on the scientific aspect and thought process behind martial arts. He is also working to get his school accredited by the Council for Higher Education (CHEA) so he can offer services to those less fortunate. 

For more information on Master Phan Le or the Phan University of Martial Arts, visit www.vpuma.com or call 703-455-3700.

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