At 43 years of age, sitting down to write a profile causes a person to think back and wonder, where has time gone?  My life hasn't been perfect, but for me it has been as good as it gets.

     I was born in Birmingham, Alabama, in March 1960 and from a very early age I have been very competitive.  I started playing organized sports at 12 years of age and didn't miss a year throughout high school.  My parents were very supportive of me and my brother, but college athletics was not in the cards and that caused me to walk into the Birmingham TaeKwonDo Academy.  From that moment forward, Grand Master Craig Kollars (my Instructor) has been a role model and a mentor in my life and career.

     My business career started in 1981 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  Next year, we will celebrate 23 years in this town.  Through the absolute love for what I do, our business has been very successful, and the Lord continues to bless it today.  My proudest moments as an Instructor have been to have 12 students (to date) follow in my footsteps and become school owners, to see my two sons become Black Belts, and to be a finalist in the 1996 Small Business Person of the Year. 

Senior Master James Bailey is the highest ranking black belt in the ITA other than the Founders.  He also has the oldest continuously run school other than the founders.  He is known in his community of Tuscaloosa to be a generous business leader who has raised over $80,000 for various charities since he has been in business.  Senior Master James Bailey has given thousands to various students for academic scholarships.  Senior Master James Bailey is an inspiration to all instructors and students throughout the ITA and excels as a feature speaker on the seminar circuit for both Smart Systems and ITA.  He is an avid supporter of the ITA book club and reading list and believes reading is essential to educate yourself to be a better TaeKwonDo instructor.  Traditionally Martial Artists were known to be the best read citizens in ancient communities.  Senior Master Bailey can always be counted on to explain the "circle of life" and how important it is to bring all of the gifts, talents, and opportunities we enjoy into our artistic, professional, and personal lives.