Inducted into A.M.A.H.O.F. (Inc)
AMAHOF Exemplary Martial Artist
W.K.U.H.O.F for 2026
AMAHOF Exemplary Martial Artist
Cheri Parks began her martial arts journey as a teenager in the United States, inspired by Bruce Lee and Cynthia Rothrock. After an early sporting life in competitive show jumping and swimming, she found her way into Karate under Sensei Dave Kovar, later expanding into Taekwondo and Haidong Gumdo. Her competitive success was immediate and sustained: she won multiple U.S. national-level championships in both poomsae and sparring, along with a bronze medal at the U.S. Taekwondo Open.
After moving to Australia nearly twenty years ago, Cheri became a senior instructor at Swordsmen Martial Arts alongside Grandmaster John Tysoe. Although retired from sparring, she has continued to excel in poomsae, winning several Australian national titles and multiple gold medals at the Pan-Pacific Masters Games. She has represented Australia on the world stage in Taekwondo at the World Hanmadang (2010, 2017) and the 2024 World Poomsae Championships, as well as at every Haidong Gumdo World Championship from 2002 to 2024.
Cheri’s deepest passion lies in teaching. She is known for her generosity, technical clarity, and commitment to mentoring students of all ages, firmly believing that martial arts can transform lives. She holds multiple Certificate IV qualifications in Sports Coaching, Fitness, and Training and Assessment, is a Level 1 Poomsae Judge with Australian Taekwondo, and has completed both the Kukkiwon Master Course and Dan Examiners Course.
Cheri Parks serves as Secretary General for Haidong Gumdo Oceania and Haidong Gumdo Australia. She holds a Master title, 7th Dan in Haidong Gumdo, 7th Dan in Taekwondo, and 4th Dan in Teukgongmoosool, and continues to promote the growth of these arts throughout the region.