John C. Miller was born October 25, 1941.  After graduating from Altoona High School in Pennsylvania, Mr. Miller entered the U.S. Army, serving from 1960 to 1963. Although many individuals may claim impressive military training, I have seen Mr. Miller's actual Army certificates in Airborne Jumpmaster, Navy Scuba, Air Force Survival, Mountain and Ski Training, 'A' Team Medic, and the like. Moreover, Mr. Miller was an original member of that elite group who, when President Kennedy signed the official order, first changed from wearing regular Army headgear to the Green Beret.

From 1965 to 1971 Mr. Miller lived in Saigon, Vietnam, where he served in a civilian capacity in hospital administration and construction engineering, consulting to the governments of the U.S. and of South Vietnam.

In 1971 Mr. Miller went to live in Seoul, Korea, where he immersed himself in the study of authentic traditional Taekwondo. Under the tutelage of Lee Yoo-Sun (a world-famous Taekwondo instructor who currently lives and teaches in Texas, and who was himself taught by Gen. Choi Hong-Hee), Mr. Miller worked out a minimum of six hours per day, six days per week. The training was arduous and unrelenting. Once, Mr. Miller had suffered a third-degree burn on his back in a household accident (sleeping on the floor in a traditional Korean house, he had rolled over onto a red-hot steel plate covering a charcoal heating fire). Badly burned, Mr. Miller told Master Lee that he couldn't work out the next day. "Okay," responded Master Lee simply, "go back to America." Instead, Mr. Miller went to the workout as usual. Another time, Mr. Miller had a broken toe, and Master Lee wanted Mr. Miller to break a board with a kick. Mr. Miller indicated that he was hurt and couldn't. "Okay," Master Lee said again, "go back to America." Instead, Mr. Miller kicked and broke the board.

Training constantly for fourteen months with Taekwondo's elite, Mr. Miller left Seoul in December of 1972 with the rank of second-degree black belt, returning to his hometown of Altoona, Pennsylvania. In October of 1973 Mr. Miller opened the Jon Mu Do-Jang, or Respectful Martial Arts Gymnasium, a spacious, beautiful, authentic training facility that he remodeled from an old warehouse.

For many years Mr. Miller's Taekwondo school was known for its no-nonsense, 'hard-core' training. Students were drilled thoroughly in basic technique, especially in forms, and Mr. Miller's board breaking requirements remain the most stringent I have ever encountered.

Despite his size and strength - a six-foot three bodybuilder - and strictness, Mr. Miller was an approachable, likable, and sincere man who stressed hard work, attention to detail, and high standards. Mr. Miller had little patience for phoniness, pretence, or what he termed 'jive turkeys.' Down-to-earth and independent, Mr. Miller had no need for special social status or flattery and he always acted in accordance with what he thought was right.

A man of many talents, Mr. Miller completed R. N. training in the 1980s and he has run for the office of Blair County, PA, Coroner. No longer teaching Taekwondo, Mr. Miller lives on an eight and one-half acre spread in rural Pennsylvania. Generations of Mr. Miller's black belts continue to teach Taekwondo and related martial arts.

John C. Miller was Misha and Noreen Thackrey's first Taekwondo teacher, from 1974 to 1977. Misha and Noreen were the seventh and ninth students, respectively, promoted by Mr. John C. Miller to the rank of first degree black belt.