Black Belt Interviews

Grandmaster Eddie Minyard was introduced to Martial Arts (Judo), in 1965. His step-
father was a soldier, who had trained while on active duty and then trained his two
stepsons. Eddie then began training in Judo and Shorei Ryu Karate, in Moline, Il
taking a bus for 45 minutes each way to the school.
While in the US Army in Vietnam, GM Minyard saw a demonstration of Taekwon-Do,
presented by the ROK White Horse Division, at the RECONDO School in Nha Trang. It
became clear that Taekwon-Do was what he wanted to study. After returning home from
overseas duty, he began training informally with Master Roger Dorethy, beginning in
1970.
He began formal training in 1973, under GM Chung En Kim (RIP) (Chang Moo Kwan),
a direct student of The Founder of Chang Moo Kwan, Grand Master Nam Suk Lee. GM
Lee was also an Executive Council Member of the World Taekwondo Federation, in its
early days. GM Kim was also the Founder of the American Taekwondo Federation, of
which GM Minyard was a member.
In 1976, GM Minyard was relocated due to work, and began training with the Choi
Brothers, where his primary instructors were GM Yong Duk (YD) Choi and GM Yong
Sung (YS) Choi - both also former students of GM Nam Suk Lee. Under their tutelage,
Minyard was awarded his 1st Dan, in 1978. He has maintained his status as a student of
the Choi Brothers, for the past 45 years, progressively earning rank up to 8th Dan.
In 1979, in association with the Choi Brothers, GM Minyard was instrumental in the
formation of the American Professional Taekwon-Do Association, a full-contact
professional competition organization. He is also a contributor to GM YD Choi's book:
Practical Tae Kwon Do.
Ed is a Charter Member and highest ranked student of the World Sun Do Sul
Federation, where he assisted GM YS Choi in developing the martial art known as Sun
Do Sul. The art is based on Sunmudo - a Korean Buddhist Zen-based martial art,
combined with elements of Taekwon-Do and Hapkido.
In 1988, Minyard was introduced to Supreme Master Kim, Bok Man - one of the Original
Founders of Taekwon-Do. They maintained a close friendship / mentorship
relationship, from that time, through the time of SGM Kim's passing, in 2021. GM
Minyard was awarded 8th Dan in SGM Kim's system, Chun Kuhn Taekwondo, currently
serves as the President of the New Hampshire Chapter of The World Chun Kuhn
Federation and is a Special Advisor to the President of The World Chun Kuhn
Federation.
In 1993, while training in New York under GM Yeon Hwan Park, former coach of the
U.S. Olympic and Pan-American Tae Kwon Do teams and former vice president of the
United States Tae Kwon Do Union, Ed was involved in organizing the 11th Annual World
Tae Kwon Do Championships, in NYC at Madison Square Garden. He was responsible
for ensuring a memorable and comfortable experience for worldwide dignitaries, including the President of the WTF, Head of the US Olympic Committee and Head of
USA Taekwondo. The event had over 700 competitors and was broadcast on ABC
Wide World of Sports. For his contribution, Ed was awarded a plaque consisting of
three Gold Medals from the Championship.
In 1998, GM Minyard was Certified to Officiate in events sanctioned by the World
Association of Karate and Kickboxing Organizations - USA (WAKO_USA), authorized
by then-President GM Don Rodriques, Vice President, GM Tom Festa and Chief
International Referee, GMT. Rondo VanClief.
In 2019, GM Minyard was certified by Deepak Chopra and the Chopra Center, as a
Primordial Sound Meditation Teacher. He incorporates this meditation practice into his
Taekwon-Do regimen, and teaches it to others.
In 2020, Grand Master Minyard was inducted into the US Kido Federation Black Belt
Hall of Fame, as Grand Master of the Year, and is a Lifetime Member of the USKIDO
Federation.
Also in 2020, he was included in the Who's Who in America Martial Arts book, along
with GM Chuck Norris and other notable Martial Arts luminaries.
In 2021, GM Minyard was promoted to 9th Dan, by the International Jun Tong
Federation, for which he also serves as Northeast Regional Director and Special
Advisor to the Founder and the President of the Federation.
Also in 2021, GM Minyard was accepted into the International Taekwon-Do Federation
in Korea (ITF-HQ Korea).
GM Minyard has operated schools in Illinois, lowa, Nebraska and New York. Has
provided instruction to as many as 100 first responders, in disaster response base
camps, law enforcement officers and members of the military. He currently teaches
private students in NH, at his Hayan San (White Mountain) Martial Arts Dojang. He also
enjoys participating as a Promotional Board Member, Tournament Judge, Referee and
Coach, for events across the United States.
Throughout his life, Martial Arts have been a part of GM Minyard's foundation. He has
chosen the life of a warrior in every aspect. As a soldier in Vietnam, a competitor in
tournaments, law enforcement officer and a First Responder - he has always fallen
back on his martial arts training.
Grand Master Eddie Minyard lives in the mountains of New Hampshire, with his wife
and two dogs, and is the proud father of a blended family of seven children, Grandfather
to eight, and a great-grandfather. Along with his daily practice of Taekwon-Do, Eddie
also loves to spend as much time as possible, surrounded by and making music with his
collection of guitars!

Master Mark Hutton
Master Hutton began training in 1981 under Master Sutherland who was assistant to GM MacCallum in Bathgate which is located in Central Scotland.
Bathgate was a successful full-time Academy when he joined and was always steeped in TKD tradition with First Grand Master Rhee a regular visitor for grading.This ensured the Academy was ITF to the core.
Master Hutton's classes always centre around the importance of ensuring all his students and Instructors are well versed in all aspects of TKD from explosive fundamentals (dynamic & static) and Tuls to Ho Sin Sul for all, with emphasis on the devastating power and skill that so many students who focus solely on competition rarely understand/enjoy. He believes this must change through education to ensure ITF TKD not only survives but flourishes and is known as both devastating Martial Art and sport at the very highest level.
Body conditioning/diet with fit for purpose training is for me most important to ensure we concentrate our efforts on TKD preparation maximising our results in the Dojang.
National/International competition history
* British Team Captain from 1998-2004, Scottish Team Captain 2004-2007 (Retired)
*  Many times British pattern/Sparring Champion including 5 best competitor awards and twice overall British Taekwon-do Council Champion (BTC is all TKD groups in the UK)
*  Twice World bronze medallist, Individual Pattern 1997 and Team Sparring Open World TKD Championships 1991
* 5 time ITF European IV Degree pattern Champion 1993-97.

Master Chris Malarkey

Owner/Operator of CMTKD in Belleville, NJ
5th degree black belt in traditional Taekwon-Do
25+ years of experience
Taught by 1st generation student: Grandmaster SJ Kim, 9th dan
(direct pupil and bodyguard of the founder of TKD: General Choi
Hong Hi)
Former Owner/Operator of Complete Taekwon-Do
Featured in Overtime Hustlin' Magazine June 2021 (2-page spread)
2019 recipient Best of Bergenfield Award for best Taekwon-Do
school
Record Holder (9 boards skipping side kick 2018)
Former head instructor of GRTKD 2007-2018
Grand Champion Sparring 2017 TKDI Invitational
The Chief Instructor of the Children's Program @GRTKD 2007-2018
Mainstream Podcast host "Mastery" with Master Chris Malarkey
Montclair State University Alumni

website: mastercm.net

Grand Master Jong Soo Park 1941 - 2021
Master Park was born in 1941 in Chung-Nam, Korea. He holds a 9th Dan black belt in Tae Kwon-Do. At the age of 14, and since then, he has been the instructor of the Police Training Centre of Chun Bok in Korea and of the famed Tiger Division of the Korean Army.
In 1964, he became Korean National Champion, and in 1965 he made a trip on request of the Korean Government, as demonstrating this art before the highest civil and military authorities of the countries they visited. In that same year, he was invited to Germany as the coach of the German Tae Kwon-Do Association.
In 1966, he left Germany to go to Holland where he founded the Netherlands Tae Kwon-Do Association. In the beginning of 1968, he left for Canada and now has his own schools in the Greater Toronto Area.
In November 1973, Master Park made another world trip to promote Tae Kwon-Do in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. Master Park is known as one of the world's greatest Tae Kwon-Do experts

Taekwon-Do career: 1968-2021 = 53years
On September 1968 at the age of 15, after having played soccer for 6 years, started to train in Taekwon-Do. 
Black Belt Promotions: 
1972 : 1st degree 
1974 : 2nd degree
1977 : 3rd degree
1981 : 4th degree
1985 : 5th degree
1990 : 6th degree
1996 : 7th degree
2003 : 8th degree
2010 : 9th degree
Other achievements
Competitor career:
* 7 times Dutch National Champion period 1970-1978
* European Champion in sparring category -63 kg on 1976
Chairman career:
* Chairman of Tournament & Umpire Committee for the All European Taekwon-Do Federation (AETF) from 1993 to 2005
* Chairman of Tournament & Umpire Committee for the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) from 1994 to 2005 (not the year 1999)
President
President of the All European Taekwon-Do Federation (AETF) period 2004 to 2006
Coach
* National coach for the Netherlands from 1981 to 1987
* National coach for Italy from 1987 to 1992
Technical Director
Technical Director for the Italian Taekwon-Do Federation from 1992 – present
Board of Directors Member
* International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) 2003-2007 – treasurer
* International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) 2007- march 2011 – secretary general
* International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) march 2011 – 2019 – Director
Technical & Instruction Committee Member
* Responsible for the ITF under Gen Choi Hong Hi named to set the rules and regulations and promote pre free arranged sparring period 2000-2001
* Member of the ITF Technical and Instruction Committee from 2003 to 2015
Seminars
* + 15 Umpire Courses in Europe and rest of the world
* 56 IIC courses for the ITF worldwide and instructed over 6000 black belts
* +100 private seminars
Travelling
Visited over 50 countries as a competitor, coach, organizer, member of board for the AETF and/or ITF

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
– President of the Korean-American Society of Iowa
1985-88
– First U.S and Canadian Tae Kwon Do tour to Korea (Hosted by TKD Times)
1987
– Coordinated sister city founding between Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Ul-Ju Gun, South Korea
1991
– Formed joint Tae Kwon Do demo team, with athletes from North and South Korea, as well as the U.S.
1995
– Eagle’s Nest (a Tae Kwon Do practice facility) opens at Colorado Springs
1998-01
– Member of NUAC (National Unification Advisory Council)
2000
– First North Korean Tae Kwon Do Tour (Hosted by TKD Times)
2001-Pres.
– Kyung-Hee University Honorary Professor
2005-Pres.
– Member of Kyung-Sang-Buk-Do, Korean Honorary Advisor
2006
– 2nd World TKD Festival Prayer for Unification — 60 participants from 12 countries performed board-breaking ceremony at the north side of the Korean DMZ (AP special news)
2007
– North Korean TKD Demo Team performs at Goodwill Tour (first time North Korean national anthem played in 5 major U.S. cities)
2008
– In response to Goodwill Tour, New York Philharmonic Orchestra plays American National Anthem for the first time in North Korea.
2009
– Established Woo-jin Jung Tree in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
2010
– Kye-Myung University — Tae Kwon Do Department Special Professor
2011
– 2nd North Korean Tae Kwon Do Demo Team performs in 3 major eastern U.S. cities during Goodwill Tour
2016
– 37 years, 9 fitness centers in US. Semi-retired, next generation, my son, continued in Las Vegas.
– Back to original location, created history room, established Jung’s Taekwondo Black Belt Association, a non-profit entity.
2017
– 1st ever ITF Taekwondo Team visits S Korea and joint demonstration with WTF team.
– Helped WTF, ITF to meet in S Korea, 45 years later to try to make peace. I was invited to the meeting.
2018
– N Korea and S Korea special opening ceremony demonstration at            Pyeong Chang winter  Olymics. Special guest at this event. KBS                  made special documentary.
2019
-After 2007/ 2011 Good Will Tours to N Korea and 2008 New York          Philharmonic exchange program, KBS asked me to arrange a 3rd                  Goodwill Tour.

AWARDS
1985
– Honorary Korean Award, presented by Prime Minister
1986
– Iowa Minority Small Business Person of the Year, presented by the Small Business Administration
1990
– Iowa Economic Development Award
2009
– TKD Ambassador Award, presented by the U.S. Taekwondo Grandmaster Society
– Founding of Woojin Jun Tree Monument, dedicated by the City of Cedar Rapids)
2011
– Multi-Ethnic Sport Hall of Fame, 2011 inductee for Tae Kwon Do
2012
– Living Legend of Tae Kwon Do, presented at the Legends of Martial Arts Hall of Fame Awards
2013-2017
– So many awards and letters of thanks from all over the world. My focus has been on poor and disabled people all over the world.
2017-
North Korea & ITF returns to WTF World Championship in South Korea for the first time in 45 years. Woojin Jung arrived barefoot, only in his dobo with a sign to mark the historic event, carrying the spirit of traditional TaeKwonDo founder General Choi Hong Hi, realizing their dream of returning to their homeland. Not WTF or ITF, I am a pioneer of TKD. Not North or South Korea, I am Korean.
2018-
Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Pyeong Chang, South Korea in February 2018. Woojin Jung helped to facilitate the demonstrations between the North & South Korean Taekwondo demonstration teams. There was a KBS documentary(태권도, 하나를 위한 도전) done mentioning Woojin Jung’s help as being instrumental in bringing these two countries together for this historic event. This documentary was shared at the event before the closing on February 24th.
 
2019-
KBS full length documentary made to document the efforts of Taekwondo Times, Woojin Jung & U.S. Taekwondo people in bringing North & U.S. Taekwondo people together, starting with the Goodwill Tours of 2007 & 2011. These historic events were sponsored and funded by Woojin Jung. With the release of the KBS documentary(태권도 평화를 위한여정), the Korean government has more excitement about hiring KBS for a Third and last Goodwill Tour in the future.

FOUNDATIONS
1978
– Jung’s Black Belt Foundation
1988
– Woo Jin Scholarship, awarded to elementary and middle school students in Master Jung’s hometown of Ulsan, South Korea
2000
– Grand Master Honorary Foundation
2005
– Jung Family Charitable Foundation

CURRENT ACTIVITIES
– Jung’s Tae Kwon Do Academy, Inc. (45 branches in 4 states)
– Point Aerie Ltd., LLC 
– Mountain Top Co. (Department Store, Office Building)
– Tae Kwon Do Times (internationally-published magazine)
– Jung’s charity family foundation (focused on handicapped and disadvantaged children worldwide)

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 being a student of martial arts is to be able to train with many masters, instructors and friends from around the world.
Christine moved to Tauranga in 2006 and started the Hwa Rang Taekwon-Do Academy.
Christine says that the learnings and challenges from taking up Taekwon-do is so vast that there really is something special for everyone. It is more than a hobby or sport but a way of life that instills confidence, a healthier lifestyle and successes supported by a worldwide Taekwon-Do fraternity.

Achievements
1992 – 1995 Numerous NZ titles
1996 UKTA Open ITF Champs Gold individual patterns
1997 World Champion Gold Female team power breaking
2003 World ITF Champs Bronze Female team power breaking and female team patterns
2005 World ITF Champs Bronze Individual patterns
2006 – 2007 NZ ITF National Team Head Coach
2008 Oceania Champs Best overall female, gold individual patterns & sparring
2008 ITF Nationals Best overall female, gold individual patterns, sparring and power breaking
2008 - 2009 NZ ITF combined junior and seniors Team Assistant Coach
2009 ITF Nationals Best overall female, gold individual patterns & sparring, Silver power breaking
ITF A Umpire
2014 High Performance Advisor iTKD NZ
2020 March promoted to 7th degree at IIC in New Zealand

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 War (25 Jun 1950 – 27 Jul 1953), which not only separated families but split the Korean Peninsula along the 38th Parallel. Despite many obstacles, Supreme Master Kim helped Taekwon-do emerge from those dark hours and propagate around the world.

https://www.worldchunkuhntkd.com/about-us/about-supreme-master-kim-bok-man/

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 Kwang-Sung (K-7-45) at ITF Main Gym #21 in the early 1970s. Grandmaster Kim born in Gwangju, Korea was originally from the Moo Duk Kwan and was a Taekwon-Do Pioneer in West Germany. Dr. Vitale’s extensive involvement in Taekwon-Do saw him traveling nationally since 1984 and internationally since 1987. To date he has been to over 70 countries pursuing his love for Taekwon-Do, as a student, teacher, researcher and producer. His main area of interest is the history of Taekwon-Do. He is currently involved in 3 documentaries and writing a book on the subject. The Graduate School work he has done since 1993 has culminated in his earning an academic Doctorate Degree from north Korea, the first American to ever do so. As a result of the expertise he has developed over the decades he is often invited to share his experiences with various institutions and media outlets. Master Vitale is happy to have the opportunity to now share with followers of this website.
EDUCATION:
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D)       2011 Sports Science/Physical Education (TKD)
Master of Arts (M.A.)                     1997 Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)                  2012 History
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)          1984 Police Science
Associate of Arts (A.A.)                2011 Liberal Studies
Associate of Science (A.S.)         1979 Security Administration
TAEKWON-DO HIGHLIGHTS:
ITF Order – Outstanding Contributions 2015
Tri-States Icons Martial Arts Hall of Fame 2015
Taekwondowon Contribution to Globalization 2014
Kukkiwon Outstanding Contribution & Dedication 2014
U.S. Grandmasters’ Society Peace Award 2013
International Hall of Fame World Peace & Outstanding Research 2012
TaeKwonDo Times Master of the Year 2011
Coordinator USA-DPRK Goodwill Tour 2011
TaeKwonDo Times Ambassador of the Year 2010
WTF Outstanding Contributions 2010
VIII Dan (8th Degree) A-8-14(b) 2009
Official Taekwondo Hall of Fame 2009
Coordinator USA-DPRK Goodwill Tour 2007
Cuba Taekwon-Do Goodwill Mission 2004
Supported USANTF 2002
Completed Numerous Research Papers on Traditional MAs & Juvenile Delinquency 1997
Vice President USTF 1990
Director ITF 1988
ITF International Instructor #404 1987
ITF International Class “A” Umpire 1987
Graduate #9 of 5th ITF International Instructors Course 1987
EXPERIENCE:
Taekwon-Do Instructor           1977 to Present
New York State Police            1981 to 2005
NYC Youth Counselor            1977 to 1981
ASSOCIATIONS:
Lifetime Member – ITF & USTF
Member – Korea Society (New York City)
Member – National Committee on North Korea (Washington D.C.)
Member – Amateur Athletic Union (Albany, NY)
Member – World History Association
Member – American Historical Association
STATEMENT:
The history of Taekwon-Do has been purposely distorted and manipulated for a myriad of reasons. It appears that an early motivation for the intended confusion was to hide the connection to the obvious Japanese martial art influence that the Koreans had. Since the Japanese Empire had gone to extreme measures to subjugate Korea during their long-term occupation, after the occupation national efforts were made to reinvigorate Korean pride, at the same time when Taekwon-Do was being initially developed. This movement impacted the early telling of Taekwon-Do’s history. Competing personalities and rival factions eventually split Taekwon-Do into two major groups. Once this happened additional pressures bore down upon the telling of Taekwon-Do’s history, corrupting it even more. Eventually major political interference also impacted the truth of the history when General Choi Hong-Hi ran afoul with the south Korean dictatorships when he became a leading outspoken critic of the military regimes. Once General Choi fled Korea for his safety a concentrated campaign was undertaken to destroy him and his ITF, by enticing and even forcing his members to join the new WTF. As the WTF became more successful and grew into the premier Taekwondo organization, General Choi’s ITF was weak and close to ending. As a result he looked to introduce Taekwon-Do to north Korea. General Choi had always envisioned spreading his Taekwon-Do without regard to race, religion, political ideology or national boundaries. He even dreamed of bringing it someday to the north, as a means of helping his beloved Homeland reunite. General Choi named his final Pattern Tong-Il, which denotes the long sought after reunification. Once General Choi visited the north, which was illegal in south Korea, he was labeled a communist traitor who committed a treasonous act by engaging in what was viewed by some as anti-nationalist activity. There always seems to be pressures that look to shape the telling of history. However, history is factual information that should inform us who did what, where and when. Dr. Vitale looks to draw upon his wide range of police training and investigative skills and combine that with his extensive academic education to uncover factual data and illicit information from many of the people who were there at various points along the development of Taekwon-Do.
[email protected]