Grand Master passes Elburn studio to student

When the Midtown Martial Arts building's lease was up, Grand Master and owner Richard Temmerman could have simply let it go.

He could have moved to Tennessee with his wife like he planned and never looked back.

Instead, Temmerman took his student of 16 years and trained her in both the business and teaching aspects. Now, Master Kim Cote can take over his 18-year business of Midtown Martial Arts in Elburn July 1 and keep the traditions alive.

“I think (Temmerman gave me the business) because he can't sell something he loves. You can't put a price on something you love,” Cote, 27, said. “He wanted to see it keep going.”

Temmerman, a 7th degree black belt, told Cote, a 5th degree black belt, if she could pay the lease in July and the insurance due in September, the place would be hers to run. Having made the decision in March, he wanted to make sure she was prepared.

“Kim is around me all the time, she's just living around me to learn, and I'm even learning about her,” Temmerman, 52, said.

Cote, of Elburn, will also continue her part-time jobs working for a train factory company in Elburn and weekends for the Kane County Cougars.

The most important advice Temmerman gave was to have Cote teach the classes herself instead of having the black belts teach them. There are 11 classes per week for three different age groups — tots for ages 4-6, children ages 7-13 and adults 13 and older.

Cote said she takes this advice seriously because it is important the parents and students are comfortable with her. She also said she loves teaching and she wants to teach around 98 percent of the classes herself.

“It's all going to stay the same; I'm not going to change anything,” Cote said. “It's kind of like (Temmerman) can't make a class so I'm going to just fill in for the day.”

After starting his first business in St. Charles in 1986, Temmerman started a second martial arts school in Elburn in 1993. After struggling to keep up both facilities, Temmerman decided to sell the St. Charles business to one of his students in 2001.

Years ago, Temmerman gave similar advice to the new owner of the St. Charles business; however, the school closed. Temmerman said the lack of success was because the new owner did not teach the classes himself. But he does not believe this will happen with Cote.

“Everybody knows I'm going in a few weeks, and everyone knows she is my right hand and she's doing what I taught her. She's going to be very successful, I have no doubt,” Temmerman said.

Temmerman is moving to Chattanooga, Tenn., with his wife Beverly June 30 because she will be starting a new job. Temmerman said he is very excited about starting a new life and will continue working with tae kwon do, although he doesn't plan to start a new school.

“My goal is to still lecture and to start tae kwon do programs in private or even public schools,” Temmerman said. “I'm excited to start a new career. It's not about money anymore, it's just keeping tae kwon do alive and passing it down.”

Through his school in Elburn, Temmerman's important lessons of structure and discipline will live on. His teaching also focuses on self-defense and being able to take an attacker down so the victim can run away. Temmerman said this is one of Cote's strengths she will bring when she takes over.

“Self-defense is Kim's specialty. She is the one who I use in demos, like when an attacker has bats or knives,” Temmerman said.

Temmerman said his school is one of the few places he knows that doesn't let the parents watch the classes. He says parents are a distraction and the kids don't learn.

Temmerman looks at himself as a counselor to his students, and feels responsible to teach his students good values. Cote has felt like he is a father figure.

“He's kind of like a parent. I've known him for 16 years, so he's watched me grow up. It's kind of like a family,” Cote said.

“I'm kind of sad that he's leaving because he has been such a big part of my life, but I'm so happy for him that he can go and spend more time with his wife, so I have mixed emotions,” Cote added.

Cote said Temmerman has been a great help in the transition, and he even told her to call him anytime she has a question or just needs to talk. She has also received lots of support from the parents and students since it was announced in a May letter that she will take over.

Susan Davis of Elburn, whose son Matthew has been at Midtown Martial Arts for five years, said she thinks Cote will do a “wonderful job.”

“I know (Temmerman and Cote) are spending a lot of time together and that he has the upmost respect for her,” Davis said. “We have no desire to change places, because at Midtown you earn what you work for.”

Though he joked Temmerman must come to his wedding for him to stay with the school, student Aaron Robbins, who has known Temmerman for 20 years, said he believes Cote will give 100 percent every day of the week.

“I know she'll listen to suggestions and she will hold true to what Master Temmerman has taught her as an instructor,” Robbins, of St. Charles, said. “She knows the students come before the dollar.”

And Cote has gained confidence from the support and is just excited to continue the traditions.

“I've been getting encouraging comments from the students. I think they're just excited to see it keep going,” Cote said.