DEARBORN — It’s often said that the key to success in martial arts is to have a great teacher. In the case of Master Ali Koubeissi’s tae kwon do students, that statement couldn’t ring more true.

Koubeissi, who teaches at Kouibessi Tae Kwon Do School on Michigan Avenue between Schaefer and Greenfield in Dearborn, has helped many students reach some of the greatest heights of the sport seen in the state of Michigan.

The school competes in a different tournament each month, with the next one the 29th Annual Kil’s Tae Kwon Do Michigan Invitational coming October 25th at Dearborn Fordson High School. The name Kil refers to Sung Sup Kil, Koubeissi’s master, whose students also compete in the tournaments as part of a partnership with Koubeissi’s.

The hectic tournament schedule helps prepare the students for the always important U.S. National Tae Kwon Do Championship, a big-time event where trips to the U.S. Olympic team trials are sometimes up for grabs.

Koubeissi had three students finish with gold medals at Ford Field, site of the Nationals on July 1 through July 6: Alicia Baydoun (age 15) as well as Koubeissi’s daughter Zainab (age 7) and his niece Maya Koubeissi (age 8). Five other competitors took medals as well in the tournament, which boasted an impressive field of 4,300 competitors overall.

Ali Koubeissi said teamwork and camaraderie are important reasons for the group’s success.

“I always look to keep them united and together, and that’s the key actually,” he said. “There’s an old saying that the hand doesn’t clap by itself and when you have a team and you care about each other every year it really helps.”

In addition to the medals, the students also received Mayor’s Citation Awards from Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly.

Dakroub

One student who Koubeissi believes has a big future in the sport is 18-year old Hameed Dakroub, who finished with a silver medal at Nationals.

Dakroub, who won first place in the U.S. Junior Olympics back in 2002 in the 12-13 year old division, would have received a chance to go to the U.S. Olympic trials with a gold medal.

The silver medal was still a huge accomplishment, however, and his master believes that it’s only a matter of time before Dakroub takes home the gold.

“He’s going to make it, believe me,” said Ali Koubeissi. “The guy is talented.”

Dakroub also has a strong work ethic and passion for helping the community. He’s spoken on Dearborn public television about his positive experiences as a student and the importance of staying away from drugs and other bad influences in order to achieve success.

“He’s always had a vision and he’s always wanted to be like his grandfather,” said Jamal Dakroub, Hameed’s father.

Hameed Dakroub’s grandfather of the same name was a senator for over 20 years in Lebanon. The younger Hameed Dakroub is currently attending Michigan-Dearborn on a four-year scholarship in the business school with plans to become a lawyer down the road.

Hameed Dakroub is just one example of a group of students who has brought a tremendous amount of pride to what has become the top tae kwon do school in Dearborn and one of the best in the state.

Kobiessi is a sixth-degree black belt and vice president of the Michigan Tae Kwon Do Association as well as the 1988 Lebanon Full Contact Champion. And as long as he continues to teach, it’s only a matter of time before a new group of champions emerges from his school.