Master Reid Clark and the founding of the Incorporated Martial Arts style
Our club originates from the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) founded in 1966 by Founder General Choi Hong Hi (9th dan) in South Korea.
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Incorporated Martial Arts (IMA) founder, Master Reid Clark, trained under Grandmaster Willie Lim who was one of the pioneers of Taekwon-Do (TKD) In New Zealand.
Grandmaster Lim began teaching in the early 1970s, Master Reid began training in 1977. Master Reid was promoted to 1st Dan by Choi Chang-Keun (known as C.K.Choi) who was one of Master Lim’s earlier teachers, he was visiting New Zealand at the time. Master Reid received his 2nd Dan under Founder General Choi Hong Hi in 1990. The rest of his Dan promotions were from Grandmaster Lim.
Master Reid first started teaching in his own gym in 1989 and began to include useful aspects from other fighting styles which he had learnt over the past few years. He was fortunate to attend many seminars from well known martial artists who travelled to New Zealand - Professor Wally Jay, Bill "Superfoot" Wallace, Benny “The Jet’’ Urquidez, Sifu Larry Hartsell, Terry Gibson, Grandmaster Bobby Toboada, George Dillman, Remie Presas, James Demile, and Arjan Chai Sirisute.
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​Grandmaster Lim, who was now living in the USA, advised he had attended a seminar taught by Taika Seiyu Oyata and recommended Master Reid should come over and train with him as he was the best he had seen up until that point. In 1991, Master Reid travelled to the USA to attend Taika Oyata’s summer camp, Grandmaster Lim and two other New Zealanders were also in attendance. That same year Master Reid came up with the name Incorporated Martial Arts.
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​While the gym retained its Taekwon-Do base, a lot more was added as a natural evolution of Master Reid’s training. The name helped prevent prospective students from having a preconceived idea of what was being taught. Our branch of Taekwon-Do follows the Hyungs as originally taught by Founder General Choi Hong Hi. The addition of the “Sine Wave” was rejected as after learning kata breakdown and application from Taika Oyata, Master Reid did not fit with this philosophy.
Master Reid trained in Balintawak and was awarded Completion of the Art by Grandmaster Bobby Toboada. He has also trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for 18 years.
Incorporated Martial Arts is a blend of Taekwon-Do as a foundation along with aspects from other martial arts styles.
“Use only that which works, and take it from any place you can find it.”-Bruce Lee
Grandmaster Willie Lim
Grandmaster Willie Lim is widely regarded as one of the key pioneers of Taekwon-Do in New Zealand and an influential figure in the global martial arts community. Born in Penang, Malaysia in 1946, he was raised in a family deeply rooted in traditional Chinese martial arts, which exposed him to martial discipline from an early age.
His formal training began in the early 1960s, initially in Judo and Kyokushin Karate, before expanding into Tai Chi under respected instructors. In 1963, he began training in Taekwon-Do under Choi Chang-Keun, a key figure in the early development of the art.
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Lim moved to New Zealand as a young man to pursue further education, and by 1970 had begun teaching Taekwon-Do—becoming one of the earliest instructors in the country. Based initially in places like Hamilton, he played a major role in establishing and expanding Taekwon-Do across New Zealand during its formative years.
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Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, he became one of the most prominent martial arts instructors in the country, building a large student base and contributing significantly to raising the standard of training nationwide. His influence extended beyond Taekwon-Do, as he actively sought knowledge across multiple systems, including Ryukyu Kempo Karate and Tai Chi, developing a broad and adaptable approach to martial arts.
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A defining aspect of Grandmaster Lim’s work has been his focus on the deeper application of traditional forms (patterns or kata). He became known for analysing these movements beyond their surface appearance, interpreting them as practical self-defence techniques involving locks, strikes, and counters—an approach that was ahead of its time and has since gained wider recognition.In 1989, he moved overseas to further share his knowledge internationally, teaching across the United States, Europe, and Asia.
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Over decades, he has built a reputation as a teacher of teachers, attracting experienced martial artists seeking deeper understanding of their craft.​​With more than six decades of experience, Grandmaster Willie Lim is respected not only for his technical knowledge, but for his philosophy of continuous learning, open-mindedness, and practical application. His legacy continues to influence martial artists worldwide, particularly in the evolution of how traditional techniques are understood and applied in modern contexts.​