Black Belt Interviews

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 he felt after learning his first self-defense technique. Just 2 years later, at the ripe old age of 15, he began teaching.
His martial arts journey was just beginning, but his student mindset would stay with him for the rest of his life. He has embraced the best of what all martial arts have to offer, and shortly after starting his training, he began seeking out new styles, disciplines, and training partners to compliment his growth as a martial artist. In 1974, Kovar started Japanese Jujitsu under Bob McKean. In 1975, he began Serrada Escrima with the Angel Cabelas Organization. He earned his first black belt - his 1st degree in Kenpo Karate - in May, 1977. He would come to earn black belts in 9 other styles over his training career, while continuing to advance in his love of Kenpo.

Kovar loved to spar and compete. He competed in over 200 martial arts tournaments in forms and fighting from 1974-1989. Of those, he won first place over 90 times including 4 “grand champion” sparring titles and in 1982 he was rated “California Competitor of the Year.” In 1988 he won the United States Martial Arts Championships men’s heavyweight division in Reno, Nevada.
But perhaps what most defines the martial arts career of Hanshi Dave Kovar is how he defines his priorities – his guiding compass through the years. As he has shared countless times with his team and those he meets, he considers himself a Martial Artist first, an Instructor second, and a Businessman third. It is through this prioritization of those different roles that has maintained his fire as a life-long student, always seeking to learn from others. Early-on, he sought out several pioneers and luminaries in the industry. He trained in Okinawan Kobudo with Shihan Mikio Nishiuchi, Serrada Escrima with George Santana, and Modern Arnis with Remy Presas. In the late 80’s Dave begin training Tae Kwon Do formally under Grand Master Jhoon Rhee, the father of American Tae Kwon Do. In the early 90’s Dave further branched his training to include Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Cesar and Ralph Gracie, Jeet Kune Do under Burt Richardson, Tai Chi under David Dernhardt, CDT and LRT under Tom Patiere. Over the years his list of instructors has only grown, and he continues to set the example of maintaining an “empty cup” with a persistent willingness to learn.  
His willingness to learn has meant, of course, that he is a wealth of martial arts information, and he has – quite literally – written the book on being a martial arts instructor. He oversees the operation of his eight Kovar’s Satori Academy schools, currently serving nearly 3000 students in the Sacramento area. Since he began teaching in 1978, he has had literally tens of thousands of students come through his doors, and has promoted over three thousand students to the rank of black belt and beyond. But his instructional skills extend well beyond Sacramento, CA. He is the lead instructor for the Martial Arts Industry Association and in 1992 earned “Instructor of the Year” from the U.S. Martial Arts Association. His love for teaching and developing others led him to sharing his teaching methods via seminars around the world on several continents and more recently online through The Satori Alliance, a martial arts association dedicated to raising the standard for Martial Arts Instructors through Instructor Certification and Ranking.
Today, Hanshi Kovar is recognized worldwide as an innovator of best practices for ethical martial arts school operation. He believes strongly in doing business in a way that puts students and the martial arts first, in line with his guiding principles. He realized early on in his career as an instructor that to build a great team, defining and documenting his processes would be key to long-term success. And document he did! Dave Kovar has been a prolific author and has produced countless video, online, and written series on curriculum, teaching, business systems, and more. His methods have been shared through a long list of industry-organizations. He founded ProMAC, the Professional Martial Arts College to help share a deeper level of what he’s learned about running a successful martial arts business with school owners around the globe. In 2010, he was honored to be named the recipient of the Martial Arts Industry Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Clearly, his impact in the industry has been wide-felt though the last four decades.

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 Well TKD school.
I ran this and Hastings TKD until leaving full time instructing to join the Ambulance service.
I now train in solitude in North Devon and once the pandemic is over will be visiting Master Phil Lear at Vision to train with him and his students.

I spend my time researching mindfulness and meditation now and am the producer of the Calming Anxiety podcast show.

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 students each week. He was, for a time, in a partnership with his teacher in 11 schools in California’s Bay Area and owned a school located in Hilo, Hawaii which is now owned and operated by his former student, BJ Penn.

For several decades before his retirement in 2019, Tom was in service to the international martial arts community as a business consultant and curriculum designer. The programs he designed focused on altruism and his “Out of the dojo and into the world” approach to marketing, teaching, and rank testing.

He designed programs such as The Ultimate Black Belt Test, The 6-Tasks Character Development Program, The Random Acts of Kindness Program --and for 15 years ran an annual “build-vention,” a martial arts business convention that was held in rural Alabama and had participants raising money for --and then building --homes and other structures to benefit people in need. His efforts in Alabama brought a quarter of a million dollars in donations and was a catalyst for more than 40,000 man-hours of volunteer labor.

Now retired from consulting, Tom is working on his Bachelor of Fine Arts, with a specialty in printmaking at Boise State University.

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 was, for a time, in a partnership with his teacher in 11 schools in California’s Bay Area and owned a school located in Hilo, Hawaii which is now owned and operated by his former student, BJ Penn.

For several decades before his retirement in 2019, Tom was in service to the international martial arts community as a business consultant and curriculum designer. The programs he designed focused on altruism and his “Out of the dojo and into the world” approach to marketing, teaching, and rank testing.

He designed programs such as The Ultimate Black Belt Test, The 6-Tasks Character Development Program, The Random Acts of Kindness Program --and for 15 years ran an annual “build-vention,” a martial arts business convention that was held in rural Alabama and had participants raising money for --and then building --homes and other structures to benefit people in need. His efforts in Alabama brought a quarter of a million dollars in donations and was a catalyst for more than 40,000 man-hours of volunteer labor.

Now retired from consulting, Tom is working on his Bachelor of Fine Arts, with a specialty in printmaking at Boise State University.

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-Zen, a Canadian Martial art & Meditation, www.iwzf.org
• Author of the self defence book-" Enough is Enough”
• Author of TAEKWON-DO CURRICULUM TEXT BOOKS
• Author of “Martial Art Business Management”
• Producer of the Self-Defence DVD “Enough is Enough”
• Producer of the 24 TAEKWON-DO PATTERNS - DVDS Series
• Producer of the TAEKWON-DO CURRICULUM DVDs
• Producer of the WU-ZEN Videos
• Producer of “ TAEK CHO DVD
• 1984 World Champion – 4" ITF World TKD Championship- Glasgow, Scotland
• 1982 Champion-Intercontinental Cup- Quebec, Canada
• 1985 winner of the “Outstanding Ontario Youth award” for Athletic Achievement
• In 1994 received the “Outstanding Instructor Award” from General Choi Hong Hi
• Founder/Principle of the INTERNATIONAL TAEKWON-DO CORRESPONDENT
SCHOOL
• Founder of "SOFT FIST'- A Canadian version of Tai-Chi
• Founder of “TAEK CHO'- Aerobic Kickboxing exercise
Phap Lu was born in Saigon, Vietnam in 1956. At the age of 13, he started Taekwon-Do
training and received his 1" Degree Black Belt at the age of 15. He then became an
Instructor at the famous Ohdokwan Taekwon-Do School in Vietnam.
In 1979, Master Lu came to Canada . In 1982 Phap Lu won first place in Free Style
Breaking Techniques at the Inter Continental Cup in Quebec City. He also helped the
Canadian Team place 1 overall at the same tournament. Phap Lu was a Gold Medalist in
the 4th World Taekwon-Do Championship held in Scotland in 1984. Over 45 countries
participated and Grand Master Lu helped lead the Canadian Team to be the victorious
Grand Champions.

2

In 1989, the Founder of Taekwon-Do, General Choi Hong Hi, askedGrand Master Lu to
assist him with International Instructor's Seminars around the World. Grand Maste Lu
assisted General Choi with International Instructor's Seminars until the General’s death in
2002.
On an academic level, Grand Master Lu earned his MBA Degree from the University of
Ottawa in 1998.
Grand Master Lu established the Chan Hun International TaeKwon-Do Federation in

2013 with 50 affiliated countries members. As well Grand Master Lu founded the Wu-
Zen, a Canadian Martial art & Meditation system.

Grand Master Lu has dedicated his life to continue to uphold the Founder, Gen. Choi
Hong Hi, original TaeKwon-Do techniques, his philosophy to the next generation through
conducting international seminars, work-shops, World Championships, Conferences.
Grand Master Lu has also volunteered his free service to teach people who would like to
learn about the method of Wu-Zen meditation for a healthy life-style.

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-Zen, a Canadian Martial art & Meditation, www.iwzf.org
• Author of the self defence book-" Enough is Enough”
• Author of TAEKWON-DO CURRICULUM TEXT BOOKS
• Author of “Martial Art Business Management”
• Producer of the Self-Defence DVD “Enough is Enough”
• Producer of the 24 TAEKWON-DO PATTERNS - DVDS Series
• Producer of the TAEKWON-DO CURRICULUM DVDs
• Producer of the WU-ZEN Videos
• Producer of “ TAEK CHO DVD
• 1984 World Champion – 4" ITF World TKD Championship- Glasgow, Scotland
• 1982 Champion-Intercontinental Cup- Quebec, Canada
• 1985 winner of the “Outstanding Ontario Youth award” for Athletic Achievement
• In 1994 received the “Outstanding Instructor Award” from General Choi Hong Hi
• Founder/Principle of the INTERNATIONAL TAEKWON-DO CORRESPONDENT
SCHOOL
• Founder of "SOFT FIST'- A Canadian version of Tai-Chi
• Founder of “TAEK CHO'- Aerobic Kickboxing exercise
Phap Lu was born in Saigon, Vietnam in 1956. At the age of 13, he started Taekwon-Do
training and received his 1" Degree Black Belt at the age of 15. He then became an
Instructor at the famous Ohdokwan Taekwon-Do School in Vietnam.
In 1979, Master Lu came to Canada . In 1982 Phap Lu won first place in Free Style
Breaking Techniques at the Inter Continental Cup in Quebec City. He also helped the
Canadian Team place 1 overall at the same tournament. Phap Lu was a Gold Medalist in
the 4th World Taekwon-Do Championship held in Scotland in 1984. Over 45 countries
participated and Grand Master Lu helped lead the Canadian Team to be the victorious
Grand Champions.

2

In 1989, the Founder of Taekwon-Do, General Choi Hong Hi, askedGrand Master Lu to
assist him with International Instructor's Seminars around the World. Grand Maste Lu
assisted General Choi with International Instructor's Seminars until the General’s death in
2002.
On an academic level, Grand Master Lu earned his MBA Degree from the University of
Ottawa in 1998.
Grand Master Lu established the Chan Hun International TaeKwon-Do Federation in

2013 with 50 affiliated countries members. As well Grand Master Lu founded the Wu-
Zen, a Canadian Martial art & Meditation system.

Grand Master Lu has dedicated his life to continue to uphold the Founder, Gen. Choi
Hong Hi, original TaeKwon-Do techniques, his philosophy to the next generation through
conducting international seminars, work-shops, World Championships, Conferences.
Grand Master Lu has also volunteered his free service to teach people who would like to
learn about the method of Wu-Zen meditation for a healthy life-style.

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 city ,and conducting many seminars there also with well known GM's and Masters like Gm Sanders ,Master Kruk ,Gm Kang ,Master Lee Jongmok.


Currently working and teaching based in Greece Thessaloniki city together with GM Vasilis Alexandris and fully working for HQ Europe ,organizing and participating in ITF Taekwon Do HQ Europe Federation

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 Organisations:ITF HQ Korea January 2018 to Present
ITF 1976 to 2018
AETF 1976 to 2018

Started Training:UKTA/ ITF Tae Kwon-Do 6th January 1976 in Elgin, Scotland under one of the most prolific instructors in the UK at the time the late Mr. J.C.Scott.

Promotion:10th Kup to 1st Kup Graded by FGM Rhee Ki Ha (FGMR)

Black Belt Promotion Dates:1st Degree3rd September 1978 (FGMR)
2nd Degree25th September 1983 (FGMR)
3rd Degree10th August 1986 (FGMR) 4th Degree26th August 1989 (General Choi & FGMR)
5th Degree25th September 1994 (GM McCallum)
6th Degree25 October 1999 (General Choi)
7th Degree6th January 2005 (GM Trân Triêu Quân)
8th degree6th January 2018 (ITF HQ Korea)

International Courses:International Instructors Course – Vienna 1990
International Instructors Course – Scotland 1991
International Umpires Course – Venice 1995
International Umpires Course – London 1996
International Instructors Course – Dublin 1999
International Instructors Course – Scotland 2002
International Instructors Course – Belgium 2004
International Instructors Course – Dublin 2005
International Instructors Course – Australia 2006
International Instructors Course – Scotland 2012
International Instructors Course – Scotland 2019

National Courses:Attended UKTA Instructors and Umpires Courses annually from 1979 to 1987 with FGMR
Attended UKTF Instructors and Umpires Courses annually from 1987 to 2018
Delivered UKTF Instructors Courses 2002 to 2018

Current and Other Duties:ITF HQ Scotland Black Belt Grading Examiner
ITF HQ Scotland Technical Director
ITF HQ Europe Special Advisor Committee member
Korean Kickboxing Instructor and Examiner
Sports Scotland Martial Arts Coach Verifier

Schools:Elgin School of Tae Kwon-Do 1976 – 1979 - student
Founder Forres School of Tae Kwon-Do in 1979 - instructor
Founder Gateshead School of Tae Kwon-Do in 1986 – instructor
Founder Fence Houses (Durham) School of Tae Kwon-Do in 1989 – instructor
Founder Longbenton (Newcastle) School of Tae Kwon-Do in 1990 - instructor
Dunbar Black Belt Academy 2003 – 2005 – senior instructor
ITF TaeKwon-Do Scotland 2005 – present - Consultant Master Instructor

Other fitness qualifications: Kickboxing Master Instructor/Examiner, NCFE in Personal Training - Exercise Prescription - Circuit Training - Exercise to music, Fatburn Extreme instructor, Cardio-kickboxing instructor.

I have also attended many National and International Tournaments as a competitor (1978 to 1997), and latterly as a black belt from 1979 as an umpire, corner referee, centre referee, and jury president.

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 the 'Outstanding Instructor Medal' from the International Taekwon-Do Federation in 1994. He attained 8th dan black belt in 2013 and became a member of the ITF Technical and Instruction Committee in 2015.

In 2015 he launched the on-line instructions platform TKDCoaching.com which has since grown to become the go-to teaching resource for ITF practitioners and instructors alike.

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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, allowed GM KJN Cariati to learn the original Taekwondo technique in its most authentic form.  In between 1991 and 2002, he traveled with the late Founder as Personal Assistant throughout North America, South America, and Europe, which marked the most valuable period in his life.  Living and working side-by-side with the Founder no doubt has equipped GM KJN Cariati with excellent knowledge in the original Taekwondo technique developed in that last period of the Founder’s life.  GM KJN Cariati is one of a handful non-Korean who has earned the privilege of being a direct disciple of the Founder.  This undoubtedly makes GM KJN Cariati a true heritage in the original martial art of Taekwondo.
After the Founder passed in 2002, GM KJC Cariati joined hands with a few other senior Taekwondo practitioners to preserve the Founder’s legacy by forming the International Ch’ang Hon Taekwon-Do Federation.  GM KJN Cariati was elected as the Executive Vice President in the Founding Congress in 2003, and was elected to be the President of ICTF four years later in 2007.   GM KJN J Cariati has been unanimously elected as the Chairman of ICTF under a perpetual term by the Executive Committees in 2017.
Today, GM KJC Cariati stands as a Ch’ang Hon Style Taekwondo Martial Art Icon.  His unselfish character drives him to impart the most authentic original Taekwondo techniques to the Taekwondo practitioners throughout the world in invitational seminars and events.  As a true Ch’ang Hon Style Taekwondo martial artist, GM KJN Cariati’s contribution to the betterment of original Taekwondo martial art is unmatched and beyond comparison. 

ICTF Chairman
ICTF President
Grandmaster KJN Joe Cariati, 9th Dan