Traditional Taekwondo
I have been studying tradtional taekwondo under Grand Master Kwon Jae Hwa's system since 1999.  Master Kwon was chosen at age 29 to join a six man team sent to introduce taekwondo to the Western world.  Master Kwon formed the German Taekwondo Federation which has grown to more than 70 schools today.  Master Kwon was promoted to 7th dan in 1973 and founded the Taekwondo Center of North America in New York City.  He founded the Traditional Taekwondo Federation in 1993.  The Chief Instructors/owners at the Charlottesville International Black Belt Center have been James Hamrick, Virginia Hamrick, and John Oliver.  Rick Aust, Gilbert and Teresa Lopez, and Mark Lopez do most of the instruction at the present.


Master Kwon's Home Page

International Black Belt Center (Charlottesville Virginia)
 
My Taekwondo Story & Why I Practice TAEKWONDO (.pdf)

The essay above includes an account of the impact of bi-lateral quadriceps tendon tears on my training.  A version of this essay appeared in TAEKWON-DO PUR, a German Publication, in March, 2008.

This photo is from my black belt test, October 28, 2007, after eight years and two months (chronological time) of training.  I was 60 years old.  Master Kwon was, I believe, 72 at the time.
This display shows my belt history. There are two kups or stages per color in Master Kwon's system.  "K" on the belts refers to "kup." Each level has several requirements including new form(s), defense techniques, special or power techniques, and number of classes.  All new students begin at 10th Kup.  One is a 1st Kup before testing for black, or 1st Dan (roughly 1,000 - 1,500 classes).  Master Kwon's signature appears on my red belt.