For 46 years Hemann Tae Kwon Do in Fort Dodge taught thousands of its students discipline, integrity and self-defense through tae kwon do, a Korean martial art meaning the way of the hand and foot.

That near half-century legacy came to a close in June when Tom Hemann took off his black belt as an instructor for the final time.

Hemann said he hopes students were able to use tae kwon do as an escape.

“I hope it helped them to overcome some resistance they may have faced in an obstacle in their life,” he said.

Hemann and his five brothers – Dennis, Mike, Pat, Paul and Dave – all participated in tae kwon do over the years.

The Hemann family moved to Fort Dodge in 1957 from Baraboo, Wisconsin.

In the 1960s, the family discovered their calling after being inspired from the TV series “The Green Hornet” which co-starred the iconic Bruce Lee as Kato.

“It was something we had never seen before,” Tom Hemann said. “It was just an incredible fighting style.”

Tom Hemann recalled his brother, Pat Hemann, bringing home a book on martial arts.

“Our whole family was interested in it,” he said.

In 1969, Mike Hemann and Tom Hemann began training at the YMCA in Fort Dodge.

Mike Hemann continued his training under the tutelage of Eternal Grand Master H.U. Lee in 1970, while teaching his own classes.

“Mike was really the pioneer of the whole thing,” Tom Hemann said.

Tom Hemann recalled one of Mike Hemann’s signature moves.

“He had this kick,” Tom Hemann said. “It was a side kick that went straight into the air – It was impressive.”

“Mike was such a technician,” he added. “He was able to read into the opponents’ movements so well.”

Mike Hemann eventually moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where he became a chiropractor. He also continued to instruct tae kwon do classes. He passed away unexpectedly in 2008 as an eighth degree chief master instructor.

In the 1980s, Tom Hemann rejoined the ranks in Fort Dodge after having left the area in 1973 for work-related reasons.

Tom Hemann, who attained sixth degree master status, said tae kwon do helped him balance his life.

“It has created balance in my life and given me focus,” he said.

In 1991 Paul Hemann primarily took over the business and moved the operations from the YMCA to the Trolley Center, located at 900 Central Ave. He would go on to earn seventh-degree black belt master status.

“Paul’s classes were huge,” Tom Hemann said. “Those classes were full and they were five nights a week. That was traditional tae kwon do. That was Paul’s living. That was his profession.”

Tom Hemann recalled sparring with his brother Paul Hemann.

Sparring is a form of training that goes through the motions of fighting, but without landing heavy blows.

He said Paul Hemann was able to side kick him on three separate occasions without being able to catch his foot.

Those kicks occurred at three separate times throughout the spar session.

“He knocked the wind out of me, but I kept going of course,” Tom Hemann said. “I was totally blind. His quickness was so lightning fast. He had so much control too.”

Tom Hemann credited the whole family for their ability to learn tae kwon do.

“I think we were all very fluid with our techniques,” he said.

In 2005, Paul Hemann moved to Alaska to pursue his dreams of photography and film with the bush life.

Paul Hemann’s son, Jeff Hemann, had already been living in Alaska for three years when he arrived. Jeff Hemann has a fifth degree black belt.

Since that time, the two have been featured on the National Geographic channel in a show called “Dead End Express” chronicling their experience living off the grid in Alaska.

“It’s the last frontier and they just wanted to be in the last untamed wilderness,” Tom Hemann said. “It’s just so vast you cannot believe it.”

Tom Hemann took over the reins again when Paul Hemann left. He remained an instructor up until the business was closed recently.

He has no plans of joining his brother in Alaska, although he has visited three times in the past few years.

Dennis Hemann, the oldest brother, works in Mount Ayr as a chiropractor.

Pat Hemann works for Emco Enterprises in Des Moines.

David Hemann, who earned his third degree black belt, became a priest and lives in Sioux City.

Tom Hemann said retiring will allow him to devote more time to taking care of his son, Aaron Hemann, who has special needs, he said.

Aaron Hemann earned his blue belt in less than three years.

Tom Hemann was able to take Aaron Hemann with him to Alaska earlier in 2015 to meet members of the Alaska State Troopers.

“That was a neat experience,” Tom Hemann said.

He is also looking forward to enjoying some of his hobbies such as woodworking.

“Whatever the next adventure is, I’ll find it,” he said.