In 1973, a 17-year old Bob Lemire sat in his High School history class in Lowell, Ma., staring out the window. But, rather than staring blankly into space, he was riveted by what he saw. What captured his attention was the class under way in the window across the street: a Taekwondo class being taught by Grandmaster Moo Yong Lee. “His class was the same time as my history class. I should have flunked history, but I didn’t,” he says.

Grandmaster Lemire started training in Taekwondo shortly thereafter, having scraped up the thirty-five dollars for a uniform. He remembers his first class on a Saturday. Grandmaster Gary Pelletier was already a green belt, and Bob Sirois (cousin of Grandmaster Dave Sirois) was already Grandmaster Lee’s first black belt. “They were amazing, and I knew I had to do it. I was 125-pounds, a long-distance runner, played baseball, and was built for Taekwondo.”

With total dedication, Grandmaster Lemire became immersed in Taekwondo. Four years later he was a black belt. He won many competitions and remained in the 125-pound class as of 1983.

When Grandmaster Lee moved to Connecticut around 1974, Grandmaster Lemire and his schoolmates continued training with him two Saturdays per month, stopping at rest areas along the road on the way home to practice techniques.

In 1989, as the city of Lawrence was declining, the decision was made to close the school there. Grandmaster Lemire founded the Pelham school with GM Lee’s blessing. The school has been active ever since.

Grandmaster Gary Pelletier grew up in a tough section of Lawrence, MA. In his early 20s, he looked for a martial arts school. After observing one class, he began studying with Grandmaster Moo Yong Lee (10th Dan) on April 16, 1973, in his school on Essex Street in North Lawrence.

On March 25, 1978, Grandmaster Pelletier was the first New England AAU Free-Fighting Gold Medalist, Lightweight Division.

On November 1, 1989, Grandmaster Bob Lemire (9th Dan, a fellow student of Grandmaster Lee) founded United Tae Kwon Do in Pelham. Grandmaster Pelletier and the other original students of Grandmaster Lee joined him in continuing a tradition. Grandmaster Pelletier has been instructing at United Tae Kwon Do as a volunteer since its inception.

Professionally, Grandmaster Pelletier worked as a surveyor for forty-two years on diverse projects including the Mass Turnpike and the Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant. He retired in 2011, and Taekwondo remains his primary focus. He has been instructing at United Tae Kwon Do as a volunteer since its inception.

Grandmaster Pelletier’s classes are very challenging, very serious, but somehow we always end up laughing. His favorite kick is the Flying Side Thrust Kick – once performed over 12 volunteers in 1978. His message to new students is reflected in his classes: “You get out of Taekwondo exactly what you put into it. It’s not all fun and games... but we do have fun.”