US Goodwill Tang Soo Do Founders
Founded in 2000, the US Goodwill Tang Soo Do Assocation was the vision of David L. Sgro and Steven J. Voelker. Each had already started their own Tang Soo Do organizations and recognized the need for brotherhood and fellowship between not only their schools but other Tang Soo Do schools who were no longer connected to larger organizations. Their vision was to create an assocation of schools that could meet for regional, national and international events to share technique through the spirit of competiton, clinics and seminars.
Steven Voelker, Kwan Jang, Pyong Hwa Kunin
With 30 years in the Martial Arts and a full time Instructor and Studio owner since 1985, Kwan Jang Nim Voelker is a wealth of knowledge. He Founded Pyong Hwa Kunin Tang Soo Do in 1998 and Co-Founded the International Goodwill Tang Soo Do Association (IGTSDA) in 2000. He is on the USA Executive Committee of the IGTSDA.
Kwan Jang Nim Voelker has trained under many of greats of Tang Soo Do, including KJN Charles Ferraro, KJN Hwang Hyun Chul, KJN Andy Ah Po, Dr. Robert Beaudoin and KJN Shin Jae Chul. He has a 7th Dan in Tang Soo Do, a 4th Dan in Shio Karano JuJitsu and a 1st Dan in Judo.
In addition to teaching full time at Middlesex Tang Soo Do Academy, Kwan Jang Nim Voelker teaches Tang Soo Do and Combatives to the Cadets at the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London Ct. Kwan Jang Nim Voelker has coached TEAM USA in 1999 England, 2001 Greece, 2002 Holland, 2003 England, 2005 South Africa, 2006 Greece, and 2007 USA.
Kwan Jang Nim Voelker has often noted “we don’t just teach kick and punch, we develop champions for life”.
Studio Information:
Middlesex Tang Soo Do Academy
1363 Boston Post Rd
Old Saybrook, CT 06475
(860) 388-6300
sjvoelker@comcast.net
David Sgro, Kwan Jang, San Kil Tang Soo Do
Over 35 years ago David L. Sgro started his martial arts training in GoJu Ryu with the late Hanshi Ralph Vergalitto. In College he studied Tae Kwon Do Moo Duk Kwan with Mr. Michael Enright and Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan with Kwan Jang Nim Charles Ferraro (his primary TSD Instructor) and Mr. Roger PetroRoy. He has studied Japanese Ju-Jitsu with Soke Reidner, Soke Larlee and O'Sensei Porter. He studied Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with Royce Gracie. He trained in Arnis (Stick/Knife Fighting) with Greg Alland. In addition Kwan Jang Nim HC Hwang was also a strong influence on his Tang Soo Do (Soo Bahk Do). He is a 7th Dan in Tang Soo Do and a student of Kwan Jang Nim Song Ki Kim (Song Tan, Korea), who is the President of the World Dang Soo Do Union.
He was on TEAM USA in England in Aug 1986, Seoul, Korea in 1989 and Argentina, 1991. On May 30 1996 he formed San Kil Tang Soo Do (Mountain Path Way of the China Hand). He has Co-Coached TEAM USA in London 1999, Athens 2001, London July 2001, Holland 2002, Athens 2006, and USA 2007. In Oct 2000 he and Kwan Jang Nim Steve Voelker Co-Founded the International Goodwill Tang Soo Do Association (IGTSDA) and the United States Goodwill Tang Soo Do Association (USGTSDA). He has served as a Combatives Instructor for the US Special Forces, 82nd Airborne, and 18th Airborne Corp. He is a 5th Dan in Jujitsu, Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Certified Stick/Knife Fighting Instructor, and the founder of FIGHT CUT COMBATIVES (his Military Combatives system has been taught to the US Special Forces, 82nd Airborne, and 18th Airborne Corp to over 2,000 Soldiers). He is known at FT Bragg as a "Force Multiplier" meaning he has trained hundreds of "Trainers" in "Train the Trainer" Combative Courses. Techniques and Combatives Concepts taught through FIGHT CUT are currently being used in the GWOT (Global War on Terror) by both the US Special Forces and the US Army.
Plans are currently being made for the 5th IGTSDA Championships for June 2010 in Seoul, Korea.
Studio Information:
Academy of Christian Martial Arts
FIGHT CUT COMBATIVES ACADEMY
Marketfair Mall
1916 Skibo Rd Suite 210
Fayetteville, NC 28314
(910) 860-1234
dsgro@sktsd.com