About Us
About Us
Truth, Practicality, and Learning how to Survive
TrueDefense is the product of over 38 years of experience with various self-defense systems including many Asian martial arts and modern combative systems. We teach truth, practicality, and enjoyment in learning how to survive the fight you did not ask for, and how to fight the battles that are part of our daily lives.
Becoming Tough
Becoming Tough
Students will become tougher mentally, physically, and emotionally so that they can overcome the battles life brings them. We learn to fight so that we are not victimized and protect those we love. Without the training to take care of ourselves physically, we lose confidence, freedom of movement, and peace of mind. Our classes focus on teaching and building confidence in the most effective and applicable self-defense skills first. The program trains students to become more resilient through working on difficult, safe drills that progressively become more challenging.
Becoming Whole
Becoming Whole
Becoming tough is not the whole picture, as violence is rarely the answer. We treat students as whole persons and put personal defense in context with the rest of their life, teaching problem solving above kicks and punches. trueDefense students will learn the context of
fighting back in life and how to become stronger, while having a balance of compassion and cooperation with others.
Overcoming Fear
Overcoming Fear
Besides wanting to learn a skill and have a great time working out with others in class, students seek a self-defense class to ultimately deal with fear. Fear of not being able to survive an attack, fear of not controlling one’s anger, and fear of not making good decisions to stay out of trouble. This verse from scripture expresses what we embody in our teaching: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (II Timothy 1:7)
Truth
Truth
TrueDefense’s core value is to seek and practice the truth. Learning and teaching how to
discern the truth of ourselves, others, and the world around us is our mission. Too often we talk ourselves into stuff out of convenience or enjoyment, yet we know it to be impractical or unhelpful. We are always learning and training with the best teachers in the field to sharpen our own skills.
About Our Logo
Armor is one of the most important parts of any soldier's equipment. This holds true today, and although the technology of armor has changed, the principle remains the same: protect the wearer during battle. In the Bible, we are given instruction to put on the whole armor of God to fight our spiritual battles. Above all the gear, including the breastplate and the helmet, the shield of faith is the most important. Our logo simply symbolizes this: truth in defense.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Ephesians 6:13 & 16
Personal Defense Thought Leadership
Paul Korchak, Founder/Owner
For 35 years I trained in various martial arts, last testing for sixth degree black belt in Moogong-ryu at the Oriental Martial Arts College (OMAC) in 2007 with Joon Pyo Choi, my teacher and mentor for over 25 years. I served as Education Chair for OMAC, as well as a member of the Rank Promotion Committee.
During the 80’s and 90’s I had a relentless pursuit of perfecting my art through competitive taekwondo. Some of the highlights of those days of intense physical training were a collegiate national silver medal, a bronze medal at the Mexico City International Festival as well as silver medal at the World Taekwondo Festival in Korea.
I opened my first martial arts school in 1988 and was fortunate to train-up junior, collegiate, and seniorlevelnational medalists. Cincinnati Taekwondo Center grew into one of the largest schools in the region. Developing innovative ways to teach age-specific martial art classes, I began teaching instructors internationally. I was involved as an officer and tournament director for the Ohio State Taekwondo Association for many years.
In 1990, I graduated from Xavier University with an education degree that focused on sports science, learning theory, as well as athletic training. I continued that pursuit with additional coursework in education, sports psychology, nutrition, and a 1600 certification in the Alexander Technique to help students re-educate their postural system.
Besides having a curiosity of other fighting arts, I saw that each style had specific strengths and short-comings in both physical techniques and learning systems. In addition to studying taekwondo at OMAC, I trained in Shotokan karate, northern shaolin Kungfu, Gumdo, and Kimoodo. I also studied extensively Muay Thai, Aikido, Karate, Brazilian jiujitsu, western boxing, armed force CQC, Krav Maga (National Krav Maga Center in La in 1999), Kelly McCann (Fredericksburg, VA in 2013 & 2016), as well as being part of the Tactical Defense Institute’s training first training for school teachers dealing with active shooters.
I have been blessed to have worked with such a diverse group of students! Students from grade school-age children to retired executives, from the developmentally disabled to elite athletes, from high-schoolers getting ready to go off to college to doormen and security personnel, from small home school group learning bully defense to a large company working active shooter defense.
In 2013, I decided to sell Cincinnati Taekwondo Center and develop a new way of teaching students to survive the fight they did not ask for and fight the small battles we encounter in our lives each day. This new format, truer to my Christian faith, is rooted in this verse from scripture: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) It aligns itself better to our culture’s hectic lifestyle, teaching only the most important skills for survival, and offers formats specific to each group’s needs. TrueDefense foremost offers truth in training. We are constantly studying and adapting techniques and training methods to give the best possible outcomes to our students.
I reside in Cincinnati and enjoy getting a chance to teach with my wife, Tamara, who has her 2nd degree black belt. I have a son and two step-children, and when we can we very much enjoy hiking together!