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Introduce yourself!
5 year(s) ago • 8195 views • 27 replies
WWhite beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
While we wait for the site to mature and verified user base to slowly grow, let’s hear some introductions here? What’s your training / competition career been like? Would be nice to get to know the serious early adopters here a bit! :)
This is also a good opportunity to connect with people here on the site, who might take a look at your profile and chose to verify it or not. Please note, that we kindly don't allow "please verify me" topics in the forum as there will be too many of them.
This is also a good opportunity to connect with people here on the site, who might take a look at your profile and chose to verify it or not. Please note, that we kindly don't allow "please verify me" topics in the forum as there will be too many of them.
RVBlack belt 2nd danVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hi,
I started training in Taekwon-do in 2013 past the age of 30,
I love to break and jumping/ flying techniques
I never competed, mainly becos of the higher risk of injury.
I atended the,
IIC in Amsterdam in 2018,
IDC in Amsterdam in 2019
IKC in Zaandam in 2018
Radix seminar in Amsterdam
Brendan Doogan seminar (breaking) in Cappell aan de IJsel in 2019
Together whit my Partner iam in charge of the kids class 4 to 7 years.
And i assist in the training class of the youth >18
I started training in Taekwon-do in 2013 past the age of 30,
I love to break and jumping/ flying techniques
I never competed, mainly becos of the higher risk of injury.
I atended the,
IIC in Amsterdam in 2018,
IDC in Amsterdam in 2019
IKC in Zaandam in 2018
Radix seminar in Amsterdam
Brendan Doogan seminar (breaking) in Cappell aan de IJsel in 2019
Together whit my Partner iam in charge of the kids class 4 to 7 years.
And i assist in the training class of the youth >18
HHBlack belt 8th danVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hi
I started my Martial Art journey in 1981.
I'm student of Grandmaster Chang Seong Dong, who is located in Seoul Korea and is the founder of Sangrok World Taekwondo Academy.
I'm the leader of Sangrok Norway, that is an organisation with 11 schools. Kukkiwon-Taekwondo is our main style, but also teach Hapkido and Kumdo.
In 1994 I decided to make Martial Arts my main job, and since then have been a full time instructor.
Martial Arts has taken me to many places, but Korea is the country I have been to the most. I have lived and trained there for more than two years all together, but never more than one month at the time. So it has been many hours on airplane.
I'm honoured to be invited to this new platform, and looking forward to achieving new friends with the same passion as me.
Best regards, Henrik
I started my Martial Art journey in 1981.
I'm student of Grandmaster Chang Seong Dong, who is located in Seoul Korea and is the founder of Sangrok World Taekwondo Academy.
I'm the leader of Sangrok Norway, that is an organisation with 11 schools. Kukkiwon-Taekwondo is our main style, but also teach Hapkido and Kumdo.
In 1994 I decided to make Martial Arts my main job, and since then have been a full time instructor.
Martial Arts has taken me to many places, but Korea is the country I have been to the most. I have lived and trained there for more than two years all together, but never more than one month at the time. So it has been many hours on airplane.
I'm honoured to be invited to this new platform, and looking forward to achieving new friends with the same passion as me.
Best regards, Henrik
RRBlack belt 6th danVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hi every one! I’m Roy and live in Oslo, Norway. I’m the head coach of two TKD clubs, Oslo Øst Taekwon-Do klubb and Jessheim Taekwon-Do klubb. Both are ITF Dojangs in National Taekwon-Do Norway who is lead by GM Per Andresen.
Together with Master Robert Boer I’m running a pattern application project that we call ITF Radix. This is a concept that we have done seminars in different countries around Europe. We will continue this camps and seminars after the pandemic.
NTN got a solid instructor development program. I’m given the privilege and responsibility to conduct the selfdefense section of this program, which is mandatory before grading to 3rd. Degree.
I’ve also worked a lot with GM Henrik Hunstad with the development of Sangrok.
Together with Master Robert Boer I’m running a pattern application project that we call ITF Radix. This is a concept that we have done seminars in different countries around Europe. We will continue this camps and seminars after the pandemic.
NTN got a solid instructor development program. I’m given the privilege and responsibility to conduct the selfdefense section of this program, which is mandatory before grading to 3rd. Degree.
I’ve also worked a lot with GM Henrik Hunstad with the development of Sangrok.
Edited 5 year(s) ago
TSBlack belt 1st danVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hi,
I'm Tom and live in Støren, Norway. I started my martial arts journey in 1987 with Shotokan Karate and also a few years with Jiu Jitsu in the late 90's. After about 15 years of absence i continued my martial arts journey and started with ITF Taekwon-Do in 2016.
I am now an instructor and member of the board at Gauldal Taekwon-Do Klubb under National Taekwon-Do Norway who is lead by GM Per Andresen.
I have a passion for martial arts and I never get tired of learnig, practice or instruct martial arts.
I'm Tom and live in Støren, Norway. I started my martial arts journey in 1987 with Shotokan Karate and also a few years with Jiu Jitsu in the late 90's. After about 15 years of absence i continued my martial arts journey and started with ITF Taekwon-Do in 2016.
I am now an instructor and member of the board at Gauldal Taekwon-Do Klubb under National Taekwon-Do Norway who is lead by GM Per Andresen.
I have a passion for martial arts and I never get tired of learnig, practice or instruct martial arts.
Edited 5 year(s) ago
MABlack belt 8th danVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hi everyone, and thanks Roy for the invitation. I much appreciate the focus of this community.
I started training on 1983 at age 15 under GM Nam Sung Choi, but due to casual circumstances some months later I shifted to become a student of GM Pedro Florindo, then one of the most senior ITF instructors in Argentina.
He was an extremely knowledgeable and talented martial artist, and one of the first competitors (welterweigh at WTF World Championships in 1977). My focus is on ITF Taekwon-Do, and since Florindo came from a mixed Moo Duk Kwan and Ji Do Kwan lineage, I have dedicated a lot of time to analyze the famous ITF sine-wave trying to be neutral about it.
I am the head director of our group, which is comprised by 6 directors (my friends Marcelo Cremona 7th Dan, Leonardo Salguero 6th Dan in Miami, Norman R Yolando 6th Dan, Alejandro Novas 6th Dan and Hernan Diaz Rentsch 6th Dan). We do ITF style TKD with a critical attitude, with practice as its central matter and zero politics.
I have some exposure to Japanese Kenpo and Hapkido, and train Taijiquan and Baguazhang (internal styles of Kung Fu), as I believe systems are ways to teach and study principles and methods, but the road to martial art knowledge is personal and one should benefit from, but not hide in the comfort of, the system he/she has been training for a long time. After you train seriously more than 20 years in any system, I think there are higher chances that you get new nourishing teachings from a different source rather than in the same place. At least, that is my experience and the secret to keep motivated and find "details" of TKD that are more clearly expressed in other arts.
Cheers to all! Manuel
I started training on 1983 at age 15 under GM Nam Sung Choi, but due to casual circumstances some months later I shifted to become a student of GM Pedro Florindo, then one of the most senior ITF instructors in Argentina.
He was an extremely knowledgeable and talented martial artist, and one of the first competitors (welterweigh at WTF World Championships in 1977). My focus is on ITF Taekwon-Do, and since Florindo came from a mixed Moo Duk Kwan and Ji Do Kwan lineage, I have dedicated a lot of time to analyze the famous ITF sine-wave trying to be neutral about it.
I am the head director of our group, which is comprised by 6 directors (my friends Marcelo Cremona 7th Dan, Leonardo Salguero 6th Dan in Miami, Norman R Yolando 6th Dan, Alejandro Novas 6th Dan and Hernan Diaz Rentsch 6th Dan). We do ITF style TKD with a critical attitude, with practice as its central matter and zero politics.
I have some exposure to Japanese Kenpo and Hapkido, and train Taijiquan and Baguazhang (internal styles of Kung Fu), as I believe systems are ways to teach and study principles and methods, but the road to martial art knowledge is personal and one should benefit from, but not hide in the comfort of, the system he/she has been training for a long time. After you train seriously more than 20 years in any system, I think there are higher chances that you get new nourishing teachings from a different source rather than in the same place. At least, that is my experience and the secret to keep motivated and find "details" of TKD that are more clearly expressed in other arts.
Cheers to all! Manuel
ZBlack belt 1st danPending
5 year(s) ago
Hi all,
i am Zuzka from Prague, CZ. Started with TKD when i was 15, got my red belt when i was being an exchange student in Las Vegas (and it didnt stay there as other things which happen in vegas ;) When i came back to Prague i met general Choi during his ITS here in CZ. After this i took some break due to injuries but got back to TKD thanks to Mr. Thomas Brandt few years later. Started also helping with kids classes and my latest grading was 2017 to 1. gup. In the mean time i also got referee license and yes i am planning to get a black belt one day....the original plan was 12/2020 :(
thanks to TKD i have friends around the globe: Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Scotland, Cyprus, USA, Malaysia and last but not least all over Czech republic.
Besides TKD i love orienteering, food and sleeping.
i am Zuzka from Prague, CZ. Started with TKD when i was 15, got my red belt when i was being an exchange student in Las Vegas (and it didnt stay there as other things which happen in vegas ;) When i came back to Prague i met general Choi during his ITS here in CZ. After this i took some break due to injuries but got back to TKD thanks to Mr. Thomas Brandt few years later. Started also helping with kids classes and my latest grading was 2017 to 1. gup. In the mean time i also got referee license and yes i am planning to get a black belt one day....the original plan was 12/2020 :(
thanks to TKD i have friends around the globe: Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Scotland, Cyprus, USA, Malaysia and last but not least all over Czech republic.
Besides TKD i love orienteering, food and sleeping.
RMBlack belt 6th danVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hi,
I started martial arts in 1988 with Judo which I have trained in fairly consistently since then, finally achieving my black belt 2 years ago - injuries and real life kept getting in the way until then!
I trained in Karate for a few years and spent a good 5 or 6 years in Ju-Jitsu which I loved but the club sadly folded.
I had wanted to try Taekwon-Do as I loved watching the likes of Jean Claude Van Damme kicking in his movies and also Best of the Best etc. My father purchased copies of "The complete martial artist" by GM Hee Il Cho so they had a huge influence.
I have trained in Taekwon-Do under the same principle instructor since 1995 - Master Kenneth Murdoch 8th Dan (9th kup to 5th Dan under FGMR Rhee Ki Ha, 6th Dan under General Choi Hong Hi).
I had always loved kicking so spent a good part of my energy on stretching and kicking so Taekwon-Do suited me well, I enjoyed sparring and breaking earlier on but developed a love of patterns as I matured in Taekwon-Do.
I try to get out there and train with as many different groups and people as reasonable - I have no time for Taekwon-Do politics!
I train quite often with Grandmaster Paul Cutler and his ACE Taekwon-Do group and have also trained quite a few times and completed IIC's under First Grandmaster Rhee Ki Ha.
I was lucky to attend an ITF Radix seminar with Master Boer and Sabum Rolstad in Scotland a few years back, this was a very enjoyable seminar that I hope I can repeat at some point soon.
One of my Taekwon-Do highlights was a trip to Korea on a Tul tour in 2018, to practice Taekwon-Do in the place it came from was a phenomenal experience that I am sure to do again at some point.
I have been putting a lot of work into getting my own club up and running (approachTKD) and had hoped to launch a physical club in 2020 but the covid pandemic made that impossible, hopefully soon I can get that fully launched.
Cheers - I look forward to seeing this platform grow as more users come on board.
Roy
I started martial arts in 1988 with Judo which I have trained in fairly consistently since then, finally achieving my black belt 2 years ago - injuries and real life kept getting in the way until then!
I trained in Karate for a few years and spent a good 5 or 6 years in Ju-Jitsu which I loved but the club sadly folded.
I had wanted to try Taekwon-Do as I loved watching the likes of Jean Claude Van Damme kicking in his movies and also Best of the Best etc. My father purchased copies of "The complete martial artist" by GM Hee Il Cho so they had a huge influence.
I have trained in Taekwon-Do under the same principle instructor since 1995 - Master Kenneth Murdoch 8th Dan (9th kup to 5th Dan under FGMR Rhee Ki Ha, 6th Dan under General Choi Hong Hi).
I had always loved kicking so spent a good part of my energy on stretching and kicking so Taekwon-Do suited me well, I enjoyed sparring and breaking earlier on but developed a love of patterns as I matured in Taekwon-Do.
I try to get out there and train with as many different groups and people as reasonable - I have no time for Taekwon-Do politics!
I train quite often with Grandmaster Paul Cutler and his ACE Taekwon-Do group and have also trained quite a few times and completed IIC's under First Grandmaster Rhee Ki Ha.
I was lucky to attend an ITF Radix seminar with Master Boer and Sabum Rolstad in Scotland a few years back, this was a very enjoyable seminar that I hope I can repeat at some point soon.
One of my Taekwon-Do highlights was a trip to Korea on a Tul tour in 2018, to practice Taekwon-Do in the place it came from was a phenomenal experience that I am sure to do again at some point.
I have been putting a lot of work into getting my own club up and running (approachTKD) and had hoped to launch a physical club in 2020 but the covid pandemic made that impossible, hopefully soon I can get that fully launched.
Cheers - I look forward to seeing this platform grow as more users come on board.
Roy
RRBlack belt 6th danVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hi, I started martial arts in 1988 with Judo which I have trained in fairly consistently since then, finally achieving my black belt 2 years ago - injuries and real life kept getting in the way until then! I trained in Karate for a few years and spent a good 5 or 6 years in Ju-Jitsu which I loved but the club sadly folded. I had wanted to try Taekwon-Do as I loved watching the likes of Jean Claude Van Damme kicking in his movies and also Best of the Best etc. My father purchased copies of 'The complete martial artist' by GM Hee Il Cho so they had a huge influence. I have trained in Taekwon-Do under the same principle instructor since 1995 - Master Kenneth Murdoch 8th Dan (9th kup to 5th Dan under FGMR Rhee Ki Ha, 6th Dan under General Choi Hong Hi). I had always loved kicking so spent a good part of my energy on stretching and kicking so Taekwon-Do suited me well, I enjoyed sparring and breaking earlier on but developed a love of patterns as I matured in Taekwon-Do. I try to get out there and train with as many different groups and people as reasonable - I have no time for Taekwon-Do politics! I train quite often with Grandmaster Paul Cutler and his ACE Taekwon-Do group and have also trained quite a few times and completed IIC's under First Grandmaster Rhee Ki Ha. I was lucky to attend an ITF Radix seminar with Master Boer and Sabum Rolstad in Scotland a few years back, this was a very enjoyable seminar that I hope I can repeat at some point soon. One of my Taekwon-Do highlights was a trip to Korea on a Tul tour in 2018, to practice Taekwon-Do in the place it came from was a phenomenal experience that I am sure to do again at some point. I have been putting a lot of work into getting my own club up and running (approachTKD) and had hoped to launch a physical club in 2020 but the covid pandemic made that impossible, hopefully soon I can get that fully launched. Cheers - I look forward to seeing this platform grow as more users come on board. Roy
Thank you for the mention in your introduction my friend. True honor!
CWBlack belt 7th danVerified
5 year(s) ago
I travelled fairly extensively pre-COVID, and in 2019 my family and I got to hang out with Roy Rolstad in Oslo. Later that trip I got to train with Ørjan Nilsen in Bergen . :-) Thank you Roy for inviting me to your platform.
In 2018 I was part of Stuart Anslow's Tul Tour in Korea for the first few days - look at this amazing photo of all of us wearing our hanboks at ITFHQ. What a huge honour to be part of a ceremony marking the 63rd Anniversary of Taekwondo at the FIST monument. While 'what happens in Korea stays in Korea' I can say I did enjoy hanging out with Stuart Anslow, Roy Moore, Sanko Lewis, Zibby Kruk, Marc Chong-Seng, El Og, the bunch of interpreters from ITFHQ, and many others.
Guess who is the one jumping up in the back.
If any of you are interested, I run a small group in Perth, Western Australia. We do lots of work on pattern applications, drills, and tactical analysis. Come and visit, when you can.
In 2018 I was part of Stuart Anslow's Tul Tour in Korea for the first few days - look at this amazing photo of all of us wearing our hanboks at ITFHQ. What a huge honour to be part of a ceremony marking the 63rd Anniversary of Taekwondo at the FIST monument. While 'what happens in Korea stays in Korea' I can say I did enjoy hanging out with Stuart Anslow, Roy Moore, Sanko Lewis, Zibby Kruk, Marc Chong-Seng, El Og, the bunch of interpreters from ITFHQ, and many others.
Guess who is the one jumping up in the back.
If any of you are interested, I run a small group in Perth, Western Australia. We do lots of work on pattern applications, drills, and tactical analysis. Come and visit, when you can.
Edited 5 year(s) ago
RRBlack belt 6th danVerified
5 year(s) ago
I travelled fairly extensively pre-COVID, and in 2019 my family and I got to hang out with Roy Rolstad in Oslo. Later that trip I got to train with Ørjan Nilsen in Bergen . :-) Thank you Roy for inviting me to your platform. In 2018 I was part of Stuart Anslow's Tul Tour in Korea for the first few days - look at this amazing photo of all of us wearing our hanboks at ITFHQ. What a huge honour to be part of a ceremony marking the 63rd Anniversary of Taekwondo at the FIST monument. While 'what happens in Korea stays in Korea' I can say I did enjoy hanging out with Stuart Anslow, Roy Moore, Sanko Lewis, Zibby Kruk, Marc Chong-Seng, El Og, the bunch of interpreters from ITFHQ, and many others. If any of you are interested, I run a small group in Perth, Western Australia. We do lots of work on pattern applications, drills, and tactical analysis. Come and visit, when you can.
Thank you so much Colin. It’s not my platform though. It was developed by a team of martial arts enthusiasts led by Christian Graugart. I did however convince Christian that it was a good idea to adjust the platform to become TKDchecker. He wasn’t hard to convince because he already had bought the domain.
I think this platform will grow fast. What is important is that we who use it gives votes to the profiles that we judge as legitimate. Picture and name are checked by administrators, but rank are only given by the community.
I’d like to se the match log grow though. I think that is one of the functions that can be interesting to se after competitions after korona.
I think this platform will grow fast. What is important is that we who use it gives votes to the profiles that we judge as legitimate. Picture and name are checked by administrators, but rank are only given by the community.
I’d like to se the match log grow though. I think that is one of the functions that can be interesting to se after competitions after korona.
SABlack belt 6th danVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hi everyone,
I am Stuart Anslow, from England. I know quite a few people on here and it looks like a great site to be a part of. For those who don't know me, I started martial arts in mid 80's before finally settling down with Taekwon-Do in 1991. In 1999 I started my own Academy (Rayners Lane Taekwon-do Academy) and have run it ever since.
Many know me from my Academy, but others from my books and Totally Tae Kwon Do magazine which I run.
I don't want to harp on, so if anyone wants to know more, please visit : https://www.harrowtkd.com[...]art-anslow
I look forward to interacting with you all and seeing how this site progresses.
All the best,
Stuart
I am Stuart Anslow, from England. I know quite a few people on here and it looks like a great site to be a part of. For those who don't know me, I started martial arts in mid 80's before finally settling down with Taekwon-Do in 1991. In 1999 I started my own Academy (Rayners Lane Taekwon-do Academy) and have run it ever since.
Many know me from my Academy, but others from my books and Totally Tae Kwon Do magazine which I run.
I don't want to harp on, so if anyone wants to know more, please visit : https://www.harrowtkd.com[...]art-anslow
I look forward to interacting with you all and seeing how this site progresses.
All the best,
Stuart
ESBlack belt 3rd danVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hi.
I am Eivind Soltvedt, from Norway.
First started TKD in 1990, trained to 1995, had a break until 2010.
I don't know to many here, but I've been to seminars with a couple of the instructors active here, and have following a couple of you on your social media accounts.
Hope to travel a little bit more, attend more seminars abroad when Covid pandemic have ended, maybe get to meet some more of the awesome people in the worldwide community.
I am Eivind Soltvedt, from Norway.
First started TKD in 1990, trained to 1995, had a break until 2010.
I don't know to many here, but I've been to seminars with a couple of the instructors active here, and have following a couple of you on your social media accounts.
Hope to travel a little bit more, attend more seminars abroad when Covid pandemic have ended, maybe get to meet some more of the awesome people in the worldwide community.
KKBlack belt 5th danVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hi.
I have practiced ITF Taekwon-Do since 1994, establishing Hadsel Taekwon-Do in 2001, Sortland Taekwon-Do in 2002 and Lødingen Taekwon-Do in 2018.
I am especially interested in the practical aplication of both physichal and mental technique and attributes but have also been doing some competing over the years.
I have practiced ITF Taekwon-Do since 1994, establishing Hadsel Taekwon-Do in 2001, Sortland Taekwon-Do in 2002 and Lødingen Taekwon-Do in 2018.
I am especially interested in the practical aplication of both physichal and mental technique and attributes but have also been doing some competing over the years.
EVBlack belt 4th danVerified
5 year(s) ago
Begun my MA journey with judo around 1978-9. Changed to shotokan karate in 1980 or around that time. Changed again to jidokwan taekwondo in 1984. My instructor was Simon B. Heffron (Lee).
Tested for 1 dan in 1987 under GM Cho, Woon Sup. Stayed with him untill 2019. My current taekwondo master is GM Peter Kadergran. He has also been my hapkido master for the better part of the last twenty some years. Hapkido has been my focus for the last 20 years, but have found back the love for taekwondo the last year.
My hope is to test for my kukkiwon 4th dan this year (2021) if possible.
Tested for 1 dan in 1987 under GM Cho, Woon Sup. Stayed with him untill 2019. My current taekwondo master is GM Peter Kadergran. He has also been my hapkido master for the better part of the last twenty some years. Hapkido has been my focus for the last 20 years, but have found back the love for taekwondo the last year.
My hope is to test for my kukkiwon 4th dan this year (2021) if possible.
RRBlack belt 6th danVerified
5 year(s) ago
Begun my MA journey with judo around 1978-9. Changed to shotokan karate in 1980 or around that time. Changed again to jidokwan taekwondo in 1984. My instructor was Simon B. Heffron (Lee). Tested for 1 dan in 1987 under GM Cho, Woon Sup. Stayed with him untill 2019. My current taekwondo master is GM Peter Kadergran. He has also been my hapkido master for the better part of the last twenty some years. Hapkido has been my focus for the last 20 years, but have found back the love for taekwondo the last year. My hope is to test for my kukkiwon 4th dan this year (2021) if possible.
I can also mention that he got a karatekid garden. Just like Mr. Myagi
CGBlack belt 2nd danVerifiedScotland
5 year(s) ago
I started training in 2013 a few months before my 50th Birthday. I had been taking my son to TKD classes and then waiting for him. After a few months I decided to start training as well instead of just waiting for him.
It has been really enjoyable training with my son, especially when we get to spar against each other.
We have been training under Senior Master Murdoch from the start. I have also had 1 to 1 training with Roy Moore along with attending some of his classes.
Managed to get to FGMR training seminar in Glasgow in 2018, missed his seminar in 2019 due to a pulled hamstring.
I am hoping that after this pandemic I might get out and train with different groups.
It has been really enjoyable training with my son, especially when we get to spar against each other.
We have been training under Senior Master Murdoch from the start. I have also had 1 to 1 training with Roy Moore along with attending some of his classes.
Managed to get to FGMR training seminar in Glasgow in 2018, missed his seminar in 2019 due to a pulled hamstring.
I am hoping that after this pandemic I might get out and train with different groups.
MMBlack belt 4th danVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hello all,
I started training in 1990 while I was in grade school. My grand parents (who were raising me) thought it would help bring me out of my shell - I was a very shy, introverted young child. They signed me up at the local "Korean Karate" school, which I came to learn is what many referred to Taekwon-do as. My instructor at the time was a big burly blonde man with a mustache named Stan Anderson. He was a 3rd degree black belt, and he had two assistants, a young man just out of the Marine Corps named Kevin who was a newly minted 2nd degree, and a middle aged man named Richard who was a 1st degree black belt.
In 1994 about a year after I got my Jr. black belt, Mr. Anderson got married and closed our school (his new wife hated how much time TKD took away from her) so I started going to Mr. Anderson's instructor a couple towns over, a man named Doug Tesdal. At the time Mr. Tesdal and his wife Jill were both 4th degree black belts. I was amazed because he had a lot more students, in a much smaller town, and a good handful of adult black belts and only a couple other Jr. black belts. He's been my primary TKD instructor since then - I had a 20 year hiatus from regular training which started my senior year in high school - I came back to the dojang for months at a time every few years as life allowed. Every time I'd come back most of the adult black belts were the same, but there were always a few new faces. Back in December of 2018 after one of my extended absences from the dojang, my then 7-year old son expressed interest in learning TKD, because his friends in school did it.
I tried teaching him myself - but after our first and only 45 minute lesson together, I wanted to pull out my hair because he didn't want to listen or follow my direction. I took him to watch a class at my old dojang. He liked what he saw, we came back two days later and he started, and I joined in as well. It was fun because it was something we could share, and I think it began to sink in to him that "wow, Dad actually does know this stuff"
It didn't take long before I was starting to slough off the rust, and I began helping teach the beginner's classes again, then moved into helping teach the color belt classes. Then a few weeks later I got to come watch my old training partner - who had promoted to 3rd dan with me so many years before, promote to 7th dan. That really helped light the fire back inside me to push and earn my 4th dan. 2019 was great in that I got my family involved in TKD - my wife started training 4 months after my son and I, I lost weight (I've struggled with my weight all my adult life) and I busted my butt getting ready for my 4th dan test. I competed in some of our school's tournaments and did surprisingly well (I was never aggressive in sparring as a kid, rarely placed - while as an old man I found myself doing a lot better)
I earned my 4th dan on the 4th of January last year. I was really enjoying teaching and enjoyed coaching some of our students as they came up thru the ranks and as they competed - they credited me with helping them take medals in sparring and hyungs (tul / poomse), and I felt great that I could make a positive impact on them. Then COVID hit, our part of the US got really restricted. Classes stopped. I had to shift my attention to my business (I co-owned a small business which was also hit pretty hard by COVID)
Then last August we moved across the country, and I've found myself once again out of the dojang, busying myself by practicing my forms solo. We don't have any schools in our federation near us, the closest one is a couple hundred miles away. I've thought about starting fresh by joining a Tang Soo Do school, or one of the Japanese karate schools nearby, or taking up BJJ again (I'm still a no-stripe white belt in BJJ, I was taking private lessons when I could get the time pre-COVID) - I'm also thinking about how I could get back into teaching. I don't have a garage to teach out of, so if I taught at home it would have to be outside, in the yard. Here in Texas training barefoot outdoors is inadvisable, between the fire ants (nasty little buggers!), ticks and the occasional venomous snake (even nastier buggers.)
I started training in 1990 while I was in grade school. My grand parents (who were raising me) thought it would help bring me out of my shell - I was a very shy, introverted young child. They signed me up at the local "Korean Karate" school, which I came to learn is what many referred to Taekwon-do as. My instructor at the time was a big burly blonde man with a mustache named Stan Anderson. He was a 3rd degree black belt, and he had two assistants, a young man just out of the Marine Corps named Kevin who was a newly minted 2nd degree, and a middle aged man named Richard who was a 1st degree black belt.
In 1994 about a year after I got my Jr. black belt, Mr. Anderson got married and closed our school (his new wife hated how much time TKD took away from her) so I started going to Mr. Anderson's instructor a couple towns over, a man named Doug Tesdal. At the time Mr. Tesdal and his wife Jill were both 4th degree black belts. I was amazed because he had a lot more students, in a much smaller town, and a good handful of adult black belts and only a couple other Jr. black belts. He's been my primary TKD instructor since then - I had a 20 year hiatus from regular training which started my senior year in high school - I came back to the dojang for months at a time every few years as life allowed. Every time I'd come back most of the adult black belts were the same, but there were always a few new faces. Back in December of 2018 after one of my extended absences from the dojang, my then 7-year old son expressed interest in learning TKD, because his friends in school did it.
I tried teaching him myself - but after our first and only 45 minute lesson together, I wanted to pull out my hair because he didn't want to listen or follow my direction. I took him to watch a class at my old dojang. He liked what he saw, we came back two days later and he started, and I joined in as well. It was fun because it was something we could share, and I think it began to sink in to him that "wow, Dad actually does know this stuff"
It didn't take long before I was starting to slough off the rust, and I began helping teach the beginner's classes again, then moved into helping teach the color belt classes. Then a few weeks later I got to come watch my old training partner - who had promoted to 3rd dan with me so many years before, promote to 7th dan. That really helped light the fire back inside me to push and earn my 4th dan. 2019 was great in that I got my family involved in TKD - my wife started training 4 months after my son and I, I lost weight (I've struggled with my weight all my adult life) and I busted my butt getting ready for my 4th dan test. I competed in some of our school's tournaments and did surprisingly well (I was never aggressive in sparring as a kid, rarely placed - while as an old man I found myself doing a lot better)
I earned my 4th dan on the 4th of January last year. I was really enjoying teaching and enjoyed coaching some of our students as they came up thru the ranks and as they competed - they credited me with helping them take medals in sparring and hyungs (tul / poomse), and I felt great that I could make a positive impact on them. Then COVID hit, our part of the US got really restricted. Classes stopped. I had to shift my attention to my business (I co-owned a small business which was also hit pretty hard by COVID)
Then last August we moved across the country, and I've found myself once again out of the dojang, busying myself by practicing my forms solo. We don't have any schools in our federation near us, the closest one is a couple hundred miles away. I've thought about starting fresh by joining a Tang Soo Do school, or one of the Japanese karate schools nearby, or taking up BJJ again (I'm still a no-stripe white belt in BJJ, I was taking private lessons when I could get the time pre-COVID) - I'm also thinking about how I could get back into teaching. I don't have a garage to teach out of, so if I taught at home it would have to be outside, in the yard. Here in Texas training barefoot outdoors is inadvisable, between the fire ants (nasty little buggers!), ticks and the occasional venomous snake (even nastier buggers.)
BJGreen beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
Greetings!
I trained TKD back in college (2001-2003, Brigham Young University) for about a year and a half. Our belts went white / yellow / yellow-advanced / green / green-advanced / blue / blue-advanced /red / red-advanced / black (though looking over my journal entries, it looks like I skipped yellow-advanced). I stopped just shy of testing for my blue belt.
I'm now just shy of my blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and have been using BJJ BeltChecker for a while now. I don't plan to train TKD again anytime soon, but I have enormously fond memories of my time with TKD and made a profile here for nostalgia purposes. I loaded my gallery with pics of me from 2002-2003 and the profile pic is also vintage 2003 me.
I'm hoping that someday my former TKD teammates might find me on here and reconnect.
In my current life, I'm working on a PhD in church history and I'm a code employee for law enforcement. I also love hamsters like a 3rd grader.
Much respect to you all and pleased to meet you!
UPDATE: I was able to go through my college journal entries and get the exact dates of my tournament and all of my promotions from 19-20 years ago! Wild!
I trained TKD back in college (2001-2003, Brigham Young University) for about a year and a half. Our belts went white / yellow / yellow-advanced / green / green-advanced / blue / blue-advanced /red / red-advanced / black (though looking over my journal entries, it looks like I skipped yellow-advanced). I stopped just shy of testing for my blue belt.
I'm now just shy of my blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and have been using BJJ BeltChecker for a while now. I don't plan to train TKD again anytime soon, but I have enormously fond memories of my time with TKD and made a profile here for nostalgia purposes. I loaded my gallery with pics of me from 2002-2003 and the profile pic is also vintage 2003 me.
I'm hoping that someday my former TKD teammates might find me on here and reconnect.
In my current life, I'm working on a PhD in church history and I'm a code employee for law enforcement. I also love hamsters like a 3rd grader.
Much respect to you all and pleased to meet you!
UPDATE: I was able to go through my college journal entries and get the exact dates of my tournament and all of my promotions from 19-20 years ago! Wild!
Edited 5 year(s) ago
RGBlack belt 1st danVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hi I'm Dave and I started training TKD in California while in the US Air Force in 1988.
When I was assigned to a base in Spain they had it on base and I continued training.
I got assigned to the same base in California in 1994 and was fortunate to live near the USTC (United States Taekwondo Center) in Citrus Heights.
Master Jay Warwick was my instructor there. He was on the 88 Olympic team. Needless to say there was alot of olympic style sparring at the school.
Very hard training especially during comp training camps. Anyway, I earned my black belt through Master Warwick in 1996.
We also started in Gracie Jiu Jitsu together back in 1995. He was good at forgetting his TKD rank and tying on a white belt with the rest of us. I have not been active in the TKD world as I focused more on the Jiu Jitsu side of things where I finally earned my black belt in 2009.
When Beltchecker created TKDchecker I knew I had to get registered as well.
Hope you are all well.
When I was assigned to a base in Spain they had it on base and I continued training.
I got assigned to the same base in California in 1994 and was fortunate to live near the USTC (United States Taekwondo Center) in Citrus Heights.
Master Jay Warwick was my instructor there. He was on the 88 Olympic team. Needless to say there was alot of olympic style sparring at the school.
Very hard training especially during comp training camps. Anyway, I earned my black belt through Master Warwick in 1996.
We also started in Gracie Jiu Jitsu together back in 1995. He was good at forgetting his TKD rank and tying on a white belt with the rest of us. I have not been active in the TKD world as I focused more on the Jiu Jitsu side of things where I finally earned my black belt in 2009.
When Beltchecker created TKDchecker I knew I had to get registered as well.
Hope you are all well.
MBBlack belt 6th danVerified
5 year(s) ago
Good Day,
My name is Michael Bateman from Montgomery, Alabama USA. My father introduced Taekwondo to Alabama upon return from his first deployment to Di-An, Vietnam. He trained directly under Kong, Chung Man & Kim Bo Kyum. He was promoted to 4th Dan by General Choi during the ratification of the USTF constitution in Illiniois in 1976 I believe. Later Daehan Taekwondo Oh Do Kwan would promote him to 5th and 6th Degree.
I received my 1st - 3rd Degree under his promotional authority, then my 4th Dan from Han Myung Hak of Daehan Taekwondo Oh Do Kwan 2009), and my promotion to 5th came from the World Taekwondo Alliance under GGM Nam Tae Hi and GM Kong, Yong Il.
I am also a Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiujitsu and currently train fighters, Law Enforcement, and USAF Combatives Instructors.
Thank you to the webmaster for making this happen. The BJJ Belt Checker has been a great success, and I’m hoping this site will be equally beneficial to the art of Taekwondo!
My name is Michael Bateman from Montgomery, Alabama USA. My father introduced Taekwondo to Alabama upon return from his first deployment to Di-An, Vietnam. He trained directly under Kong, Chung Man & Kim Bo Kyum. He was promoted to 4th Dan by General Choi during the ratification of the USTF constitution in Illiniois in 1976 I believe. Later Daehan Taekwondo Oh Do Kwan would promote him to 5th and 6th Degree.
I received my 1st - 3rd Degree under his promotional authority, then my 4th Dan from Han Myung Hak of Daehan Taekwondo Oh Do Kwan 2009), and my promotion to 5th came from the World Taekwondo Alliance under GGM Nam Tae Hi and GM Kong, Yong Il.
I am also a Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiujitsu and currently train fighters, Law Enforcement, and USAF Combatives Instructors.
Thank you to the webmaster for making this happen. The BJJ Belt Checker has been a great success, and I’m hoping this site will be equally beneficial to the art of Taekwondo!
MABlack belt 8th danVerified
5 year(s) ago
I travelled fairly extensively pre-COVID, and in 2019 my family and I got to hang out with Roy Rolstad in Oslo. Later that trip I got to train with Ørjan Nilsen in Bergen . :-) Thank you Roy for inviting me to your platform. In 2018 I was part of Stuart Anslow's Tul Tour in Korea for the first few days - look at this amazing photo of all of us wearing our hanboks at ITFHQ. What a huge honour to be part of a ceremony marking the 63rd Anniversary of Taekwondo at the FIST monument. While 'what happens in Korea stays in Korea' I can say I did enjoy hanging out with Stuart Anslow, Roy Moore, Sanko Lewis, Zibby Kruk, Marc Chong-Seng, El Og, the bunch of interpreters from ITFHQ, and many others. Guess who is the one jumping up in the back. If any of you are interested, I run a small group in Perth, Western Australia. We do lots of work on pattern applications, drills, and tactical analysis. Come and visit, when you can.
Hi Everyone. I am very happy to see friends like Sanko, Stuart, Colin Wee and others (such good and iconic TKD guys!!!) in this group.
Wanted to emphasize that I really liked the new video by Roy Rolstad and Henrik Hunstad. https://youtu.be/1y3d2LOelqQ Although my enthusiasm for forms applications faded some years ago (I guess we martial artists go through cycles), I express my appreciation for creativity, intelligence and the ability to connect beyond stylistic boundaries. All that can be found in the video, congrats!!!
A separate thing I want to mention (as I did to Roy) is that "newer" ITF style groups (I mean, not the main three groups) are coming to Argentina and issuing very high rank to people who lack the years and credentials. They enter a country they hardly understand and set foot in a clumsy way, deteriorating the value of TKD grades. I even contacted the headquarters providing information about what they were doing, and they preferred to look to the side and continue with their expansion policy. To some degree, it is a colonist's perspective, disregarding whatever situation prior to their landing. So I want the high ranking instructors here to pay attention and, to the extent you may exert influence, try to persuade international organizations to refrain from growing at the expense of issuing cheap rank.
I will not provide details of the particular situation, but it really bothered me because I had been under the impression that such group was "different", and I was let down. Regards to all and keep the good work (sorry, I did not know in what part of the forum this type of message is supposed to be posted).
Wanted to emphasize that I really liked the new video by Roy Rolstad and Henrik Hunstad. https://youtu.be/1y3d2LOelqQ Although my enthusiasm for forms applications faded some years ago (I guess we martial artists go through cycles), I express my appreciation for creativity, intelligence and the ability to connect beyond stylistic boundaries. All that can be found in the video, congrats!!!
A separate thing I want to mention (as I did to Roy) is that "newer" ITF style groups (I mean, not the main three groups) are coming to Argentina and issuing very high rank to people who lack the years and credentials. They enter a country they hardly understand and set foot in a clumsy way, deteriorating the value of TKD grades. I even contacted the headquarters providing information about what they were doing, and they preferred to look to the side and continue with their expansion policy. To some degree, it is a colonist's perspective, disregarding whatever situation prior to their landing. So I want the high ranking instructors here to pay attention and, to the extent you may exert influence, try to persuade international organizations to refrain from growing at the expense of issuing cheap rank.
I will not provide details of the particular situation, but it really bothered me because I had been under the impression that such group was "different", and I was let down. Regards to all and keep the good work (sorry, I did not know in what part of the forum this type of message is supposed to be posted).
ATBlack belt 4th danVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hi everyone, I have been training since 1986 in Newport, Wales under Phil Burley.
After achieving my 2nd Dan I was proud to represent the GB
After achieving my 2nd Dan I was proud to represent the GB
RLBlack belt 2nd danVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hi.
I am Roger Langeland from Bergen, Norway.
I heard about karate when I played football in the 80's, and have seen some Bruce Lee movies in that decade. But my history of ITF TKD is quit short.
After my oldest daughter was introduced to "Bergen Taekwon-Do Klubb" (BTKD) by a friend, in 2012, I got an offer I could not resist. Started training at BTKD with some other parents/"oldies". Since then all my three daughters have started (and ended) their TKD history. But I am still going strong :-).
Both National Taekwon-Do Norway (NTN) and my local BTKD have impressed me a lot! Very professional and positiv people, and I love to be a part of this community. Most of the training sessions and the seminars are led by Master Vegard Iversen, but I have also enjoyed the self defence seminars by Roy Rolstad.
I am Roger Langeland from Bergen, Norway.
I heard about karate when I played football in the 80's, and have seen some Bruce Lee movies in that decade. But my history of ITF TKD is quit short.
After my oldest daughter was introduced to "Bergen Taekwon-Do Klubb" (BTKD) by a friend, in 2012, I got an offer I could not resist. Started training at BTKD with some other parents/"oldies". Since then all my three daughters have started (and ended) their TKD history. But I am still going strong :-).
Both National Taekwon-Do Norway (NTN) and my local BTKD have impressed me a lot! Very professional and positiv people, and I love to be a part of this community. Most of the training sessions and the seminars are led by Master Vegard Iversen, but I have also enjoyed the self defence seminars by Roy Rolstad.
MDBlack belt 1st danVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hi everyone!
Found this site via a Brazilian Jui Jitsu (BJJ) beltchecker newsletter as I had originally joined that iteration of the "checker" sites. However, I have been doing taekwondo a LOT longer! I started doing Taekwondo at 18 in my hometown in Montreal back in 2007 (couldn't find a white belt photo of me for better or worse!). I started after having done a semester of Karate in CEGEP (pre-university) and knew my neighbour was the Master of a Taekwondo school. I had apparently been brought there when I was very young (5?) when the school opened and there was a demo going on, but apparently I found it scary and didn't join. On behalf of my flexibility, this was a poor decision but oh well!
I trained WTF Taekwondo under Masters Alex Naud and Mike Carrieri at St Leonard Taekwondo (now Académie d'Arts Martiaux St-Léonard) in Montreal, Canada, the latter trained by Grandmaster Chong Lee, a Canadian pioneer of Taekwondo from South Korea and the father of Quebec Taekwondo. I received all my belts from them back in Montreal before moving to the UK in late 2012. Upon arriving in Bristol, UK, I joined the University of Bristol's taekwondo club before finally finding my way to SKY Taekwondo, previously led by Ibrahim Mohammed, who took over from Master Suh Ki Young after his passing. I am now one of SKY Taekwondo's coaches along with Masters Deepali Lodhia and Steve Winnington (formerly of Dorset Taekwondo) trying to keep our small but keen club alive via Zoom training until we can train in person again. During lockdown, I have relocated to Chepstow, Wales where there is another taekwondo club but have not reached out yet.
I competed throughout my years at colour belt, finding most of my success at blue and red belt level. I did one recreational black belt competition in Ontario, Canada where I got bronze which was my last competition (probably in 2012). I think about competing again but not so keen on making a weight category, and not training anywhere near as much as when I used to compete. And now during lockdown, definitely not in fighting shape! But enjoying the competition coaching I started doing the last couple of years and hope to continue to do more and grow our club again in the future. Also should try testing again for my second Dan one day but in no rush and again a bit lazy haha. Anyways, very excited to see this community start to grow and had a fun time trying to find photos of myself at each belt level. Luckily the site doesn't do "coloured stripes" (e.g. Blue belt, red bar) as then I would have tried even harder to find those photos as well (and possibly failed). Nice to meet you all and thanks for those who have voted to verify me! I have shared these with friends and my club, hopefully will get some of them joining soon. A nice ambition of this site could be that while it is very common and seemingly easy to visit and train at a BJJ club, I don't feel the same about Taekwondo clubs to be honest! Maybe this site can help cultivate that culture more :)
Found this site via a Brazilian Jui Jitsu (BJJ) beltchecker newsletter as I had originally joined that iteration of the "checker" sites. However, I have been doing taekwondo a LOT longer! I started doing Taekwondo at 18 in my hometown in Montreal back in 2007 (couldn't find a white belt photo of me for better or worse!). I started after having done a semester of Karate in CEGEP (pre-university) and knew my neighbour was the Master of a Taekwondo school. I had apparently been brought there when I was very young (5?) when the school opened and there was a demo going on, but apparently I found it scary and didn't join. On behalf of my flexibility, this was a poor decision but oh well!
I trained WTF Taekwondo under Masters Alex Naud and Mike Carrieri at St Leonard Taekwondo (now Académie d'Arts Martiaux St-Léonard) in Montreal, Canada, the latter trained by Grandmaster Chong Lee, a Canadian pioneer of Taekwondo from South Korea and the father of Quebec Taekwondo. I received all my belts from them back in Montreal before moving to the UK in late 2012. Upon arriving in Bristol, UK, I joined the University of Bristol's taekwondo club before finally finding my way to SKY Taekwondo, previously led by Ibrahim Mohammed, who took over from Master Suh Ki Young after his passing. I am now one of SKY Taekwondo's coaches along with Masters Deepali Lodhia and Steve Winnington (formerly of Dorset Taekwondo) trying to keep our small but keen club alive via Zoom training until we can train in person again. During lockdown, I have relocated to Chepstow, Wales where there is another taekwondo club but have not reached out yet.
I competed throughout my years at colour belt, finding most of my success at blue and red belt level. I did one recreational black belt competition in Ontario, Canada where I got bronze which was my last competition (probably in 2012). I think about competing again but not so keen on making a weight category, and not training anywhere near as much as when I used to compete. And now during lockdown, definitely not in fighting shape! But enjoying the competition coaching I started doing the last couple of years and hope to continue to do more and grow our club again in the future. Also should try testing again for my second Dan one day but in no rush and again a bit lazy haha. Anyways, very excited to see this community start to grow and had a fun time trying to find photos of myself at each belt level. Luckily the site doesn't do "coloured stripes" (e.g. Blue belt, red bar) as then I would have tried even harder to find those photos as well (and possibly failed). Nice to meet you all and thanks for those who have voted to verify me! I have shared these with friends and my club, hopefully will get some of them joining soon. A nice ambition of this site could be that while it is very common and seemingly easy to visit and train at a BJJ club, I don't feel the same about Taekwondo clubs to be honest! Maybe this site can help cultivate that culture more :)
NDBlack belt 8th danVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hi everyone!
I am Nick Donato the International Director of the Kwon Bop Do Federation I began my training in 1968 with Boxing and then in 1974 began TKD with the Asian Pacific Taekwon do Federation 1980 I trained under Chong chull Rhee ( 1 of the 12 Originals ) In 1995 I joined with GM J Onopa the TKD Kwon Bop Do Federation he had trained under Byung Chull Yu who had joined the ITF in 1965 then with GM Kwang Jo Choi another of the 12 originals both of who had previously trained in kwon bup / kwon beop prior to joining GM Choi Hong Hi KTA / ITF Chang Hon we have 6 locations throughout Sydney Australia with affiliated Dans in USA Japan & Vietnam.
I became a fulltime instructor in 1987 it has been hard at times as all fulltimers would know but well worth the life long journey, I have been fortunate enough to have traveled throughout many parts of Asia and the USA due to my Martial Arts which I never dreamed I would do.
Although I teach and have studied other arts Taekwon Do has been there from the beginning and will be till the END.
I am Nick Donato the International Director of the Kwon Bop Do Federation I began my training in 1968 with Boxing and then in 1974 began TKD with the Asian Pacific Taekwon do Federation 1980 I trained under Chong chull Rhee ( 1 of the 12 Originals ) In 1995 I joined with GM J Onopa the TKD Kwon Bop Do Federation he had trained under Byung Chull Yu who had joined the ITF in 1965 then with GM Kwang Jo Choi another of the 12 originals both of who had previously trained in kwon bup / kwon beop prior to joining GM Choi Hong Hi KTA / ITF Chang Hon we have 6 locations throughout Sydney Australia with affiliated Dans in USA Japan & Vietnam.
I became a fulltime instructor in 1987 it has been hard at times as all fulltimers would know but well worth the life long journey, I have been fortunate enough to have traveled throughout many parts of Asia and the USA due to my Martial Arts which I never dreamed I would do.
Although I teach and have studied other arts Taekwon Do has been there from the beginning and will be till the END.
SABlack belt 6th danVerified
4 year(s) ago
I began training in a obscure style called Shou Shu in Stockton California at 1983. I was just a kid, and really wanted to compete in karate tournaments. My instructors did not allow competition. About a year into training I decided to switch to a different school so that I could go to tournaments. I found tae kwon do. In 1984 for a few months before the first karate kid film debuted, I began training. I earned my first-degree black belt in 1990. And I have competed all over the United States in taekwondo and open karate tournaments until 1999 when I retired and dedicated my time to teaching. I started in the Olympic style WTF in Stockton Ca with Master DK Shin (Hwa Rang Kwon). Received red belt. Moved to El Cajon California and started in ATA school and made some great friends. My instructor was Master Paul Le Blanc of Spring Valley tae kwon do. I started from Greenbelt there and made it back to a high blue belt level before moving back to Northern California. Once back I found another ATA school in Tracy California run by a amazing point fighter named Alan Delacruz. Eventually earning my black belt there in 1990. After earning my black belt and Mr. Delacruz and his retirement from teaching I began training with master Jay Warwick in Citrus Heights California. Master Warwick was the US team captain and 1988 Olympic games bronze medalist in taekwondo. I was recruited to compete on a national Open martial arts tournament team based out of Los Gatos California coached by Master Larry Lam of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie fame! I was fortunate enough to compete all over the United States in such a major events as the battle of Atlanta, the US diamond nationals, U.S. Open, the mile high Cardi classic, compete nationals, USA open and the New England open. I ran the Saratoga Studio Kicks Academy for Master Lam and trained at night at the los Gatos Academy with the team for competitions. It is there that I received my grades from second through 5thdegree black belt. Receiving my sixth-degree black belt from the AAU tae kwon do Board of Directors. I currently teach at my Academy which I have ordered operated since 1998. American top team Tracy California. There I teach Taekwondo, Muay Thai and Brazilian jujitsu. My background is TKD 6th Dan. BJJ Back Belt. Muay Thai Kru (coach/teacher). Bujinkan Ninjutsu 5th Dan. Okinawa Kobudo 2nd Dan. Iaido 2nd Dan. I can upload photos and certificates if needed.
RMBlack belt 3rd danVerified
1 hour(s) ago
Hi I'm Dave and I started training TKD in California while in the US Air Force in 1988. When I was assigned to a base in Spain they had it on base and I continued training. I got assigned to the same base in California in 1994 and was fortunate to live near the USTC (United States Taekwondo Center) in Citrus Heights. Master Jay Warwick was my instructor there. He was on the 88 Olympic team. Needless to say there was alot of olympic style sparring at the school. Very hard training especially during comp training camps. Anyway, I earned my black belt through Master Warwick in 1996. We also started in Gracie Jiu Jitsu together back in 1995. He was good at forgetting his TKD rank and tying on a white belt with the rest of us. I have not been active in the TKD world as I focused more on the Jiu Jitsu side of things where I finally earned my black belt in 2009. When Beltchecker created TKDchecker I knew I had to get registered as well. Hope you are all well.
I was Mr. Rigoberto "David" Gonzalez first instructor, as well as a co-worker in the Air Force. While not actively training much currently, I still have all the implements in my mancave and sporadically try to remember that I used to be a Black Belt. I'm 66 and spent three years in a wheel chair in my thirties. I was Colorado State Champ, and a few other wins after returning from my shattered fibula at age 34. It's in the mind, having trained in Gung-Fu (1966-69), Goju Kai (1970-72), Goju Ryu (1972-74), and others before TKD. I was stationed in Korea (Army 1979-1981) and that's when I fell in love with TKD. They were truly a traditional school (Kang Du Kwan). I trained at several schools 1981-1983, but the quality just wasn't there. All these Korea Champs, and Masters didn't have what it takes. I transferred to the Air Force, and was stationed in Panama. There I had the pleasure of meeting, and began training under a true Master... Jose L. Gonzalez (Ji Do Kwan). I have been under him ever since, even though I have trained in other systems along the way. Master Gonzalez and his wife Lizi are truly Masters of TKD. They live what they preach, and are as ethical as they come. He coached both the AF and Armed Forces Teams, and she was an undefeated player for over four years. Like all the Black Belts in their system, we miss training with them. Being in the military, our folks are scattered all over the world, but we still keep in touch through social media, etc. We have spread their flavor of TKD far and wide, and love seeing the Art grow. Keep training guys, so old age doesn't creep up on you.
