Welcome to my TKD page.

I got into the martial arts in 1984. The first year was more of a casual basis. I had a friend, John, who was a talented, hard-working guy and, seeing some small kernel of desire and potential, he got me into his school, Kang's Black Belt Academy, on a gratis basis. We worked out all of the time and became good pals. Later, we went to basic training together, got ROTC scholarships together and became commissioned Officers in the US Army together. My second year of college I took it more seriously. Kang's was blessed with some extremely talented people -- on a level I haven't found since. The chain of schools closed in 1990 but for a brief golden age in the '80s it was the place to be. It was good for me that I could go for free ... I was in college on a scholarship and had no money, no gi, no equipment. Now I have all kinds of cool equipment of course and don't work out nearly as much -- but buying the fun toys is a nod of thanks to the young, hard-working guy who got me where I am today.

Today I suppose I am a wanderer, a missionary of the martial arts seeking something beyond rank and fighting. I'm not sure what I'm looking for ... I guess I just want the ART in martial art. Every country I visit I arrange to visit a school and get a workout in. It doesn't always happen. Some are in areas too dangerous, like Turkey, and sometimes my luggage doesn't arrive, like Canada, but it's always with the intent of getting in a workout.

Listed below are a few of the better known TKD federations. You'll note the absence of any Tang Soo schools because I don't know of any reputable ones online. If you know of one send it along.

ITU

ITF

WTF

USTU

ATA