Master Stephen Hopkins
Master Linda Smith-Blais
Hanover Blue Wave teaches traditional Korean Taekwondo in a family oriented environment. Master Linda Smith-Blais (right) and Master Stephen Hopkins (left) have been co-owners of the Hanover dojang since 2006. The school was originally opened in 1988 by Master Blais, and located in Lebanon, NH. In 2003, the dojang was relocated to the Richard Black Community Center in Hanover. With 60 students aged 6 to 70 years old, the dojang offers multiple classes in order to provide high quality instruction in a small group environment.
Master Linda Smith-Blais is the instructor of adult Family Class and assistant instructor in the children’s classes at the Hanover dojang. She began training Taekwondo in 1978 under Blue Wave founder Master Bruce V. Twing and tested for her seventh degree black belt in 2009. She became an instructor in 1988 and has served in multiple positions in the Blue Wave Association , taught taekwondo at Dartmouth College with one of her student’s Master Jean Bender and when not at class she is working as a physical therapist.
Master Stephen Hopkins is the instructor of Hanover’s popular Junior and Advanced classes.
He began training in 1994 as student of Grand Master Yang Moon in New Orleans, Louisiana and tested for his 6th degree black belt in 2018. He has been teaching Taekwondo since 2002.
Master Hopkins sees teaching Taekwondo as a community service. He is committed to the spirit of volunteerism, having given his time to teach in such diverse settings as the local afterschool program to far away Kotun, Poland. When not teaching Taekwondo, Mr. Hopkins is employed as the Administrative Officer for the Children Hospital at Dartmouth.
Master Hopkins said, “Taekwondo is about much more than just forms and board breaking. It is about impacting people’s lives. It’s about giving of ones self, by mastering ego, living humbly, and seeking the perfection of character.”
Hanover Classes
Currently Masks are mandatory inside the building and during class.
Day | Time | Class |
|---|---|---|
Tuesday | 4:30 – 5:30 | Advanced Juniors Class, children blue belt and up |
Tuesday | 5:30 – 6:15 | Beginner class, 7 – 13 years old |
Tuesday | 6:15 – 7:15 | Family Class, open to everyone which includes families, generally 13 yo and older, if you are a advanced junior, if someone is younger than 13 it will be with permission of the instructor |
Thursday | 4:30 – 5:30 | Advanced Juniors Class, children blue belt and up |
Thursday | 5:30 – 6:15 | Beginner class, 7 – 13 years old |
Thursday | 6:15 – 7:15 | Family Class, open to everyone which includes families, generally 13 yo and older, if you are a advanced junior, if someone is younger than 13 it will be with permission of the instructor |
Classes at Grantham Town Hall
Grantham Recreational Department
300 Route 10, Grantham, NH 03753
Day | Time | Class |
|---|---|---|
Monday | 5:45 – 7:15 | All Ranks |
Wednesday | 5:45 – 7:15 | All Ranks |
| Instructors | Linda Smith-Blais and Stephen Hopkins |
| E-mail Address | [email protected] |
| Phone Number | 603-306-9132 |
| Gym Address | Richard Black Community Center 48 Lebanon Street Hanover, NH 03755 Directly Behind Ledyard Bank, Across the Street from Hanover Food Co-Op |
