Master Andre Lima is officially recognized by the World Tae kwon do Federation (Kukkiwon) as a 6th Degree Black Belt. He began studying Tae Kwon Do in his hometown of Brasilia, Brazil, when his father signed him up for lessons as a present for his 11th birthday. Young Andre began his studies with the school’s owner, Master Soo Myung Choi. A year later, however, when Master Choi decided to sell the school, Andre moved on to Carlos Loddos, the Brazilian man who would become his primary teacher. Within four years, Master Lima had achieved his black belt, and by the time he was 16, he had become Assistant Instructor at the school.

At 17, his family moved to the Oceanside resort city of Fortaleza, in the north of Brazil. Because there were no established Tae Kwon Do schools in the city, he decided to start his own. Today, there are more than 40 Tae Kwon Do schools in and around Fortaleza, but Master Lima’s was the first. Some of those schools are actually owned by Master Lima’s former students, including former Brazilian national champions. As a teenager, Master Lima participated in and won local, national and international competitions in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Ecuador, and other South American countries.

1985 National Championship in Brazil Note: at that time head protectors were not yet required officially.

Master Andre Lima performing a jump kick- France 1989

Master Andre Lima in New York in 1990

During his time in Fortaleza, Master Lima attended medical school for a year and a half before deciding that he’d rather focus on a career as a martial artist. At 21, he left Brazil to compete in the European Cup, an international Tae Kwon Do tournament held that year in Spain, which he won, catching the attention of referee and French Tae kwon do Federation Master, Edouard Branco. Master Branco was so impressed by the young champion that he invited him to France to teach in his schools there. For the next two years, Master Lima lived and taught in Paris, traveling with Master Branco to compete in several international tournaments in England, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Italy, Turkey, and all over Europe.

After a couple of years, Master Lima decided to move to the United States, coming first to New York City, and then to Los Angeles where he and his wife, Christianny Lima, opened the LIMA TKD ACADEMY. It was during this time in Europe and shortly after that Master Lima began to be featured in, and on the covers of martial arts magazines from all over the world. To this day he is still a highly sought after contributor with many of these magazines, writing articles on technique and form, as well as his experiences.

Master Andre Lima and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

Master Lima competing at the 2002 U.S. Open Championship

Photo with Chuck Norris

In addition to his expertise and renown in the world of Tae Kwon Do, Master Lima is also an avid participant and former competitor in other martial arts, holding a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu under Master Rigan Machado, and a black belt in Japanese Karate, as well as studying the art of Nunchaku. In 1990, he participated in the World Professional Karate Organization (WPKO) tournament held in Madison Square Garden, taking 1st place in sparring, and breaking an impressive ten bricks with his head! And in 2002, Master Lima took 2nd place in his division at the Jiu-jitsu Pan-American Championships in Florida. Although he officially retired from formal competition in 1993, Master Lima still enjoys competing in tournaments (usually pitting his skill and experience against players in the younger division), just for fun of it.

More recently, he has put his knowledge and skills to good use, acting as a choreographer for fight scenes in several Hollywood movies. He has also written a best-selling book for beginners, Combat Kicking, which is available through such major sellers as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, and Wal-Mart. Master Lima’s special skills also include speaking four languages fluently-Portuguese, Spanish, French, and English-which he has ample opportunity to use as he travels all over the world to continue his study of martial arts. Most recently, he has been to Japan, and to Korea, the birthplace of Tae Kwon Do, where he was awarded his 6th Dan (6th degree black belt)