Bobby Kim, a taekwondo grand master, proudly displays trophies from the students that Kim has taught over the years, Sept. 24 at his home in Aurora. Kim is widely regarded in the martial arts world as one of the most important figures in American Tae Kwon Do. (Danielle Shriver/Aurora Sentinel)

AURORA | When Bobby Kim came to the United States from Korea in 1969, few people knew what taekwondo was.

Sometimes, the then black belt who has since earned the title of Grandmaster, would just tell them he practiced “Korean karate” to avoid the confusion about what his specific style of martial arts actually was.

Bobby Kim, a taekwondo grand master, proudly displays trophies from the students that Kim has taught over the years, Sept. 24 at his home in Aurora. Kim is widely regarded in the martial arts world as one of the most important figures in American Tae Kwon Do. (Danielle Shriver/Aurora Sentinel)
Bobby Kim, a taekwondo grand master, looks through just some of his life acheivements, Sept. 24 at his home in Aurora. Kim is widely regarded in the martial arts world as one of the most important figures in American Tae Kwon Do. (Danielle Shriver/Aurora Sentinel)
Bobby Kim, taekwondo grand master originally from South Korea, proudly holds his most favored award, a tribute to Kim into the congressional record, Aug. 24 at his home in Aurora. Kim trained American troops in the martial arts and his unique service to our country was honored by congress, July 2013. (Danielle Shriver/Aurora Sentinel)
Bobby Kim, a taekwondo grand master, shows that even in his seventies he can still make the high kicks, Sept. 24 at his home in Aurora. Kim has spent his entire life involved in martial arts which includes 19 martial arts movies, training the United States Military troops, and running his own martial arts school. (Danielle Shriver/Aurora Sentinel)

“They didn’t understand then, now everybody understands,” he said.

Kim, who has called Aurora home for more than 40 years, is widely regarded in the martial arts world as one of the most important figures in American taekwondo, helping to bring the sport to the United States and nurturing its now-booming popularity.

This summer those efforts, as well as his film career and years of assistance he provided to the military and local police, earned Kim a congressional recognition. In July, Rep. Mike Coffman read a tribute to Kim into the congressional record.

“Grandmaster Bobby Kim served as a role model and a community leader throughout his life. His unique service to our country is a testament to the American dream and we should all be proud to call him our countryman,” Coffman said. “Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Grandmaster Bobby Kim for a lifetime of achievement with our military and on the big screen.”

Kim, 72, appeared in 19 movies starting in 1975, starring in American titles like “Kill Line,” and Korean films like “Interpol.”

Always, Kim played a good guy, a role he insisted on.

“I am a star so it has to be good guy, all the time,” he said with a laugh.

But, Kim said he has trouble choosing a favorite movie. After filming ended each time, he said he felt like he could have been better.

“I was not satisfied 100 percent,” he said.

Russ Johnson, who trained under Kim in the 1970s when he was an instructor at the Air Force Academy, helped get the ball rolling for Kim’s congressional recognition.

Johnson, now himself a taekwondo instructor who still competes at 67, said that there are just a handful of people as responsible for the growth of the sport as Kim.

“He is one of the people most responsible for the growth of taekwondo in America,” he said.

Johnson said he remembers watching Kim — who has always been slight of stature — smash through a stack of yard pavers eight-inches think with a ferocious flying kick.

“He made it look easy,” Johnson said. “He was just a tremendous instructor.”

Kim’s story is an important one about what immigrants bring to the United States, Johnson said.

“He came to the U.S. with nothing but tremendous skill, but then passed it on, and passed it on very well,” he said.