Black Belt Interviews

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 1942 – Born in Ul-Ju-Gun, Kyng Sang Nam Do, South Korea 1970 – Earned a B.A. Degree in Mechanical Engineering at Han-Yang University 1971 -Immigrated to the U.S. 1972 – Established the Tae Kwon Do Academy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa 1979 – Established New Life Fitness World fitness club 1981 – Established Tri-Mount Publication, Inc. – First published the Tae Kwon Do Times 1982-9...

Christine Young Professional Taekwon-Do, Fitness & PT Instructor, co-founder The Martial Arts Academy, Tauranga NZ Christine started training in Taekwon-Do in 1985 and gained her black belt in 1990. Christine has cross trained in Aikido and Kyokushinkai Karate whilst at Victoria University, NZ, from 1988 - 1992. And again in Aikido at Oxford University, England, from 1996 - 1997. A highlight of be...

TAEKWON-DO LEGEND SUPREME MASTER KIM BOK-MAN Supreme Master Kim began his journey in the martial arts in 1941 when he was just 7 years old and has devoted his life ever since to advance the techniques he began to develop in his homeland during the brutal Japanese occupation (22 Aug 1910 – 2 Sept 1945), the atrocities of World War II (1 Sept 1939 – 2 Sept 1945), and, finally, the divisive Korean Wa...

GEORGE VITALE New York City INTRODUCTION: Dr. George Vitale’s fascination with the fighting arts began with Western systems as a youngster with boxing, spurred on by his Father’s interest. As a teen he trained in Wrestling, competing locally in both. His introduction to the Eastern Arts began with an exposure to Tang Su Do. Thereafter he enrolled in Taekwon-Do under the tutelage of Master Kim Kwan...

GEORGE VITALE New York City INTRODUCTION: Dr. George Vitale’s fascination with the fighting arts began with Western systems as a youngster with boxing, spurred on by his Father’s interest. As a teen he trained in Wrestling, competing locally in both. His introduction to the Eastern Arts began with an exposure to Tang Su Do. Thereafter he enrolled in Taekwon-Do under the tutelage of Master Kim Kwan...

Grand Master Paul Cutler is the first ever student in the United Kingdom to be promoted to 9th Dan Grand Master. Grand Master Cutler has been studying Taekwon-Do for over 40 years and his mentor and career long instructor is the legendary First Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha (FGMR), known as the Father of British and European Taekwon-Do. Grand Master Cutler teaches authentic ITF Taekwon-Do as formulated...

Grand Master Paul Cutler is the first ever student in the United Kingdom to be promoted to 9th Dan Grand Master. Grand Master Cutler has been studying Taekwon-Do for over 40 years and his mentor and career long instructor is the legendary First Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha (FGMR), known as the Father of British and European Taekwon-Do. Grand Master Cutler teaches authentic ITF Taekwon-Do as formulated...

Master Fitzgibbon is the founder, and chief instructor of Connacht Taekwon-Do Academy (the first Taekwon-Do School in Galway), since 1993. He is a 7th degree black belt and is the also the Chief Instructor of Connacht Taekwon-do Schools, a group of 5 TKD Schools in the West of Ireland. Master Fitzgibbon is a graduate of NUI Galway (science), as well as a qualified Gym Instructor with ITEC, and a c...

Grand Master O’Neill TKD Qualifications   Name:   Raymond Peter O’Neill                     Date of Birth 30th May 1961   Date started Taekwon-Do 13th September 1978   COLOURBELT QUALIFICATIONS   Grade Belt Date Examiner Venue   9th Kup Yellow Tips 12.02.79 Master Rhee 7th Dan Amesbury 8th Kup Yellow Belt 09.05.79 Master Rhee 7th Dan Amesbury 7th Kup Green Tips 24.09.79 Master Rhee 7th Dan Boscomb...

Grand Master O’Neill TKD Qualifications   Name:   Raymond Peter O’Neill                     Date of Birth 30th May 1961   Date started Taekwon-Do 13th September 1978   COLOURBELT QUALIFICATIONS   Grade Belt Date Examiner Venue   9th Kup Yellow Tips 12.02.79 Master Rhee 7th Dan Amesbury 8th Kup Yellow Belt 09.05.79 Master Rhee 7th Dan Amesbury 7th Kup Green Tips 24.09.79 Master Rhee 7th Dan Boscomb...

Tae Kwon-Do Biography of Michael Cormack - Toronto, Canada ITF Tae Kwon-Do Pioneer and Tournament Competitor History - Initial Tae Kwon-Do training commenced in early 1974 at the Jong Park Institute of Tae Kwon-Do (GM Park Jong-Soo) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Noteworthy Events and Achievements - Member of the International Tae Kwon-Do Federation since 1974 and Secretary Treasurer of the ITF Cana...

Thierry Meyour ITF Taekwon-Do Finland VII degree Master FL-7-2 A-Umpire certificate CURRICULUM VITAE Taekwon-Do History 1976- Started Martial arts with Judo under the guidance of Feu Masanori Fukami 8th Degree and Mait Kawas 3rd degree (one of the first female Judo black belt in the world). 1979- Started Taekwondo/Taekwon-Do in Lebanon. 1987- Moved to Italy (due to the Lebanese civil war) and cont...

Master Tony Vella, a 8th Degree Black Belt with the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF). He is an international instructor and grading examiner with all his grades and qualifications recognised by the ITF which has over 100 member countries. He has been training in Taekwon-Do since 1982 and has been graded beginner to senior Instructor by Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha 9th Degree, the founder of Ta...

Master Tony Vella, 8th Degree Black Belt with the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF). He is an international instructor and grading examiner with all his grades and qualifications recognised by the ITF which has over 100 member countries. He has been training in Taekwon-Do since 1982 and has been graded beginner to senior Instructor by Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha 9th Degree, the founder of Taek...

Hanshi Dave Kovar, the founder of Kovar Systems and Kovar’s Satori Academies, started his martial arts journey in 1972 as a teenager, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Tim. He began studying Kenpo Karate, training under Hanshi Bruce Juchnik and immediately fell in love with the martial arts. As he recalls, he was immediately hooked and still remembers the immediate confidence boost...

Master M Hewlett VIIth Degree I started TKD in Germany when my Father was stationed in Rheindahlen. My first instructors were Roy Marsden, 3rd degree and Morris Matthews 1st Degree. Although based in Germany we were graded under the Dutch TKD association at the time. In 1985 I moved back to the UK and joined the UKTA with my gradings under FGMR Rhee Ki Ha. In the late 80’s I took over Tunbridge We...

Tom Callos Mini-Bio: Tom Callos is a 7th degree black belt under Ernie Reyes, Sr. --and a 1st dan in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu under Andre Galvao. His first lessons were in judo, in 1969. He earned his 1st degree black belt in Taekwondo in 1979 --and his Black Belt in Jiu-Jitsu 49 years after he first stepped on the mats. Tom owned 2 schools located in Reno, Nevada that at their peak taught over 800 stu...

Tom Callos is a 7th degree black belt under Ernie Reyes, Sr. --and a 1st dan in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu under Andre Galvao. His first lessons were in judo, in 1969. He earned his 1st degree black belt in Taekwondo in 1979 --and his Black Belt in Jiu-Jitsu 49 years after he first stepped on the mats. Tom owned 2 schools located in Reno, Nevada that at their peak taught over 800 students each week. He w...

Grand Master Phap Lu, 9th Dan, MBA Biography Grand Master Phap Lu currently holds a 9" Degree Black Belt and has held the following titles: • International Taekwon-Do Master Instructor • International Umpire and Examiner • Assistant Instructor for the Founder of Taekwon-Do; General Choi Hong Hi, (1985-2002) • President of Chan Hun International TaeKwon-Do Federation, www.chitf.org • Founder of Wu-...

Grand Master Phap Lu, 9th Dan, MBA Biography Grand Master Phap Lu currently holds a 9" Degree Black Belt and has held the following titles: • International Taekwon-Do Master Instructor • International Umpire and Examiner • Assistant Instructor for the Founder of Taekwon-Do; General Choi Hong Hi, (1985-2002) • President of Chan Hun International TaeKwon-Do Federation, www.chitf.org • Founder of Wu-...

Master Natasa Manavaki VII ITF HQ Korea Europe Chairwoman of Education and Ambassador Taekwon Do club owner and pro teaching tkd itf and Fitness since 1997 Seminary International Taekwon Do ITF 7th degree instructor A class referee Fitness ,Gravity Yoga,Pilates ,boxing and Tigers kids program instructor. One year (2018)year instructor in HQ Korea center of excellence program in South Korea Sejong...

Master Michael Thompson VIII BSc Sports Science, Cert Ed Tae Kwon-Do CV Name:Michael John Thompson Nicknames:The attitude re-adjustment officer or the Big left Hook Current Grade:8th Degree ITF & Korean Kickboxing Master National Organisations:ITF HQ Scotland January 2018 to Present United Kingdom Tae Kwon-Do Federation 1987 to 2018 United Kingdom Tae Kwon-Do Association 1976 to 1987 International...

Here I interview Master Paul McPhail 8th Degree from ITF New Zealand Master McPhail began training in 1975 and attained 1st dan black belt at sixteen.  He opened his first school in 1985, and began examining in 1988 on his promotion to 4th dan black belt. Master McPhail became Technical Director and Chief Examiner of ITFNZ in 1990. He attended many seminars with General Choi Hong Hi and received t...

Here I interview Grandmaster KJN Joe Cariati, 9th Dan  GM KJN Cariati started his martial art training in the early 70’s, with over 45 years of martial art training and experience, GM KJC Cariati is one of the most senior Ch’ang Hon Style Taekwondo practitioners in the world today. Serving and working with the late Founder of Taekwondo, General Choi Hong Hi, in the last 15 years of his life, allow...