How Two Partners With Different Paths Built King Tiger Harrisburg Into a Taekwondo Community
Starring
Master Brian Foster trained at America's Best under Master Chung. He joined the US Air Force in 1990 and trained as a Pararescueman for 10 years. During his service, he trained in Muay Thai while in Thailand, then Wing Chun with Sifu Brian Edwards while stationed at Fort Bragg, NC. After his military years, Foster moved to Charlotte and came across King Tiger. He is currently a 4th Dan in Tae Kwon Do, 2nd Lakan in Philippine Martial Arts, and training toward black belt in Combat Hapkido. He co-founded King Tiger Harrisburg with Master Knight in 2019.
Master Chris Knight was born and raised in Charlotte and has lived in Concord since 2015. He started training in martial arts in 2003 and has been teaching ever since, including competing and training in Korea. After more than 15 years with King Tiger, he co-founded King Tiger Harrisburg in 2019.
About the Gym
King Tiger Taekwondo of Harrisburg is a martial arts academy in downtown Harrisburg, North Carolina, co-founded by Chris Knight and Brian Foster in 2019. Part of the King Tiger Taekwondo Association, the school has expanded three times from its original single room to a 3,000 square foot facility with three training areas. They offer Taekwondo for all ages, Philippine Combatives, Combat Hapkido, Olympic-style sparring, and a leadership program. During COVID, they launched a ninja gym that grew into its own separate facility nearby.
The school draws students primarily from the Harrisburg community, with most families living five to seven minutes away. Knight and Foster emphasize a philosophy of starting and ending with respect, serving children as young as five through adults. Their goal is to reach 500 members as they continue growing.
📍 4351 Main St, Suite 209, Harrisburg, NC 28075
📞 980-258-8678
Summary
Chris Knight and Brian Foster co-founded King Tiger Taekwondo of Harrisburg in 2019 and have grown it from a single room into a three-room, 3,000 square foot academy. The episode features both instructors sharing their contrasting paths into martial arts—Knight starting Taekwondo in 2003 and growing up through King Tiger, and Foster training across multiple disciplines during a decade as an Air Force Pararescueman before reconnecting through his son's enrollment.
Beyond core Taekwondo, King Tiger Harrisburg offers Philippine Combatives, Combat Hapkido, Olympic-style sparring, and a leadership program. Knight and Foster describe their tight-knit Harrisburg community and their experience switching to Gymdesk, praising its responsive support, scheduling tools, messaging system, and low-cost Square payment processing.
