Profile of Presenters
Master Nikolai Lee – 6th degree
Florida, USA
Senior Master Dr. Nikolai Lee was born August 12, 1989 in Gainesville, Fl. Growing up in a martial arts family, SM Lee was surrounded by the martial arts mindset. Over time, after seeing numerous classes taught by his father, Grandmaster Jimmie Faralli, as well as classes taught by the late Grandmaster Jimmie Brown, SM Lee had a constant growing desire to train. SM Lee began his training under Grandmaster Faralli in 2003 when he was 14 years old.
After a long and challenging road, SM Lee was promoted to the position of Secretary General of the American Hapkido Alliance and 6th degree black belt on July 26, 2020 by Grandmaster Faralli. As the Secretary General, SM Lee coordinates the ordering of supplies, organizes school functions and tests, and coordinates with other schools, both in the AHA and external schools. SM Lee assists Grandmaster Faralli in everyday operations of the AHA as well as teaching classes. To Lee, the school is an extended family. It is also a wealth of knowledge containing students from various backgrounds and experiences. It is his belief that a martial artist should never discount another martial artist opinion, regardless of rank. Instead, we should be like sponges soaking up as much positive and valuable knowledge from our peers, friends, and superiors as possible.
Married in 2014, SM Lee and Marissa Lee live in Port Orange, FL. After serving as an active Paramedic for 6 years, both in the ambulance and hospital, SM Lee decided to pursue school once again. In 2017, he graduated from Daytona State College with a bachelor’s degree in Supervision and Management. From there, he enrolled at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Port Orange and graduated in September 2020 with his Doctorate in Chiropractic. In his spare time, SM Lee is an avid music composer and is very involved with his church, with the occasional motorcycle ride in between.
SM Lee is very honored to be included as an instructor at the Korean Martial Arts Festival and feels blessed to gain knowledge from the other masters, as well as reciprocating thoughts and ideas with other students. It is SM Lee’s hope that his generation will advance the martial arts, while also maintaining the traditions, discipline, respect, and honor established by the great masters that have come before him.