The gold medals continue to pour in for the Koubeissi Taekwondo School, as the popular Dearborn establishment recently brought home a grand total of 20 of them at the Michigan State Martial Arts Commissioner’s Championship State Qualifiers on March 20 at Garden City High School.

Ali Kousbeissi is one of the most successful taekwondo teachers in Michigan.

Master Ali Koubiessi, who is the head trainer of the gold medal-winning students, Vice President of the Michigan Taekwondo Martial Arts Commission, and Head Coach of the Michigan National Team, said that he has high hopes for his young champions.”I have no doubt that at least one of my students will reach the world or Olympic stage. This is every Master’s dream for his students,” he said.Koubeissi and his team are now focused on Nationals in Orlando, Florida, which will take place from June 29th to July 4th. From there, winners will go to the Worlds, which could lead to the final step, the Olympics. Koubiessi, a 6th Dan black belt who began training taekwondo in Lebanon in 1979, talked about how he is able to prepare his students for major competitions.

Gold medalists from the March 20 state competition are as follows: (from right) Ali Dabak (2nd Dan black belt); Ali Alhaj (Brown belt); Ali Ouza (Bo-Dan); Hussein Hijazi (1st Dan black belt); Master Ali Koubeissi; Hameed Dakroub (3rd Dan black belt); Mohamad Dabak (2nd Dan black belt); (Middle row left to right): Khalid Abdulshafi (1st Dan black belt); Diego Tapia (Red belt); Ali Bazzi (Blue belt); Hassan Souwaidan (Bo-Dan); Ali Rammouni (Bo-Dan); Amanda Saleh (Sr. Brown belt); Serena Safawi (Brown belt); Juana Tapia (Red belt); (Front row left to right): Ali Sobh (Red belt); Ibrahim Ahmad (Brown belt); Hassan Zawawi (Red belt); Batoul Souwaidan (Red belt); Zahraa Koubeissi (1st Dan black belt); Zeinab Koubeissi (1st Dan black belt).

“I always concentrate on training and bringing out the best in my students, the quantity is important but it’s the quality that really matters” he said. Koubiessi always tells his students to concentrate on schoolwork, but taekwondo is hard work in its own unique physical way, which teaches a different kind of self-confidence and self-discipline that is useful in all areas of life. “I have a saying,  ‘Training with champions doesn’t make you a champion. It’s training like a champion that makes you a champion.'” Koubeissi said.

Gold medalist Hameed Dakroub poses after winning at the Michigan State Martial Arts Commissioner’s Championship State Qualifiers. Photos Courtesy of Koubeissi School

One such potential champion is 20-year-old Hameed Dakroub, who is old enough to potentially qualify for the Olympics and is one of the best competitors in Michigan with status as a 3rd Dan black belt.Koubeissi Taekwondo School is located at 14442 Michigan Avenue in Dearborn.