Sensei Robert “Frank” Beall is a 5th Degree Black Belt in the International Association of TAI Martial Arts. Sensei Beall has been studying the martial arts for over 15 years, and has been teaching for over 10 years. Sensei Beall earned his 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Degree Black Belt promotions under O’Sensei Virgil D. Kimmey, PhD.; 10th Degree Black Belt in US TAI Karate. Sensei Beall was promoted to 4th Degree Black Belt by Grandmaster David German out of La Covina, California; 10th Degree Black Belt and founder of the TAI system of martial arts. Most recently, his 5th Degree promotion was presented to him by Sensei Robbie Sikes and Sensei Steven Fishman.
Sensei Beall has had experience training in TAI Karate, American Kenpo Karate, Japanese Ju-Jitsu, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, American Kickboxing, Taekwondo, Aikido, and Kung Fu. He has spent time training in Aiken, Augusta, North Augusta, Columbia (SC), Florida, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. He got his start in martial arts in Taekwondo, but quickly moved to training in TAI Karate under O’Sensei Kimmey.
Under O’Sensei Kimmey, Sensei Beall moved from White Belt to Black Belt to Assistant Instructor to finally Head Instructor. Sensei Beall ran Virgil Kimmey’s US TAI Karate Dojo from 1999 to 2002. Sadly, O’Sensei Kimmey passed away in May of 2002. Six months after his teacher’s death, Sensei Beall decided to leave Mr. Kimmey's school and to open his own school.
In January of 2003, Sensei Frank Beall officially opened his new school; North Augusta Martial Arts and Self Defense. At his new school, Sensei Beall runs both Frank Beall’s US TAI Karate classes and also teaches our Men and Women Self-Defense courses as well as our and Fitness Kickboxing Training classes.
“It just wasn’t the same after he (O’Sensei Kimmey) died. Things began to change with the school, and after a short time, I decided it would be best for me to leave. I didn’t honestly plan on teaching after that that. I thought I would go back into training for kickboxing or Jiu-jitsu. But the night after I left, I had fifteen students wanting to know where I would be holding classes next week. That was when I decided to open a school of my own.”
Sensei Frank Beall
Sensei William “Bill” Long is a 4th Degree Black Belt in the International Association of TAI Martial Arts. Sensei Long has been studying the martial arts for over a decade, and has been teaching for over seven years. Sensei Long earned his 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Degree Black Belt promotions under O’Sensei Virgil D. Kimmey, PhD.; 10th Degree Black Belt in US TAI Karate. Sensei Long has extensive training in TAI Karate and has spent his entire martial arts career training under O’Sensei Kimmey. Most recently, his 4th Degree promotion was presented to him by Sensei Robbie Sikes and Sensei Steven Fishman.
Sensei Long taught along side Sensei Beall as an Instructor at Virgil Kimmey’s US TAI Karate Dojo from 1998 to 2002. After O’Sensei Kimmey’s death in May of 2002, Sensei Long decided to stay on as an Instructor and try to help the new owner continue running the school. After less than a month though, Sensei Long decided to contact Sensei Beall about coming to teach at his new school. Sensei Beall was extremely happy to have his old friend back teaching with him again, it just wasn't the same without Sensei Long around..
Since joining Sensei Beall at North Augusta Martial Arts and Self Defense, Sensei Long has worked to improve the strength and health of all of its members. Each week he leads the Adult Karate Class in an intensive workout before letting them break and prepare for the rest of their class. Summer or winter, Sensei Long does his best to get everyone sweating before he releases them for regular class. It is his drive to make our students not only knowledgeable about martial arts but also physically fit, that caused Sensei Beall to put Sensei Long in charge of our physical fitness programs for our classes.
“I know some new students think that the workout may be a little tough when they are just getting started, but Sensei Long is just trying to give them the best workout possible. I have even heard a few people complain about how much they sweat and how hard the workout can be in the summer. The funny thing is that few of them know that he wears a sweatshirt and sweatpants under his gi (uniform) year round. They think they feel hot on a summer day after running laps and doing pushups, think how he must feel after doing the exercises right along with them. Of course he never complains, he just smiles and does another three laps while everyone else is getting water.”
Sensei Frank Beall
Associates and Friends - Guest Instructors
Mr. Cornelius “Neal” Bing is a 2nd Degree Black Belt in the Internal Association of TAI Martial Arts. Mr. Bing has been studying martial arts for over a decade, and has been teaching for over seven years. Mr. Bing earned his 1st Degree Black Belt promotion under Sensei Thomas Roberson, a former student of O’Sensei Kimmey. Mr. Bing has extensive training in Zen Shoto Kai Karate and has spent his entire martial arts career training under Sensei Roberson. Most recently, his 2nd Degree promotion was presented to him by Sensei Robbie Sikes and Sensei Steven Fishman.
Mr. Bing is an exceptional kicker, having an impressive arsenal of spinning, jump spinning, and dropping kicks. These skills are complemented by his love for aerial and acrobatic kicks. Mr. Bing is constantly working on new kicks that he has picked up or perfecting one of the kicks he already knows.
Along with his skill for kicking, Mr. Bing brings with him an almost constantly positive attitude and an endless supply of patience. Many of the students have commented on how much they enjoy working with Mr. Bing. Adults and children alike seem to benefit from Mr. Bing’s presence in our school. His flare from performing in front of an audience and his knack for motivating our younger students made him a huge asset for assisting with the development of our Demo Team. Mr. Bing has worked closely with Sensei Beall to help develop our school’s Demo Team into a group of finely honed martial art performers.
“I first met Mr. Bing back in 1996 while competing in a local tournament in Aiken. He was a flurry of kicks and punches, like nothing I had ever fought before. He easily beat me that day. Years later, we are both still at it; kicking, punching, blocking, and dodging. At least now though, we seem to be a lot more evenly matched; as far as sparring goes. When it comes to aerial kicks, Neal is still heads above me; sometimes literally. It works out good for us though, he helps me work on my aerial kicks, and I help him work on his grappling. It is a good trade off. It was a unique coincidence that both of us ended up working for the Columbia County Board of Education’s Technology Department. If it wasn’t for that meeting, who knows if we would have ever gotten the chance to train with each other again.”
Sensei Frank Beall
Lynn Carroll is the office manager and student liaison for North Augusta Martial Arts and Self Defense. Miss Carroll does her best to handle everyone’s needs when Sensei Beall and Sensei Long are not available. She helps keep track of the bookkeeping and orders for the school, as well as serving as a point of contact for both parents and students that need to speak with someone at the school.
Besides keeping all of our paperwork straight, she also helps out a lot by serving as a liaison to the parents of our students. She always has time to answer questions that they might have on how their child is doing or about upcoming events at the school. Lynn is a great addition to our staff.
“Lynn has done a great job making a place for herself here at our school. She not only has helped to get things better organized in the front office, but she has also been a big help in keeping me on my toes when it comes to running the school. It is nice to have someone there that isn’t really involved with the teaching side of martial arts that can still give you a fresh perspective on the way things are being run. If it wasn‘t for her, I am not sure if our school would be in the great shape it is today.”
Sensei Frank Beall