Alex Cannella, Sah Bum Nim

 

Alex Cannella began training in Taekwondo Moo Duk Kwon under Herman Beal (Dan bon #8908) while in the United States Air Force.  Mr. Cannella received his first dan from the Korea Tae Kwon Do Moo Duk Kwan Association (Seoul, Korea) in 1967 and his 2nd dan from the same organization in 1972.  In 1973, he received a “Letter of Commendation” from the Korea Tae Kwon Do Moo Duk Kwan Association; being recommended for this award by Mr. Beal’s instructor, Master John Chu of Texas.  Mr. Cannella’s 3rd through 5th dan promotions were with through Kukkiwon in Seoul, Korea.  Mr. Cannella retired from active teaching around 1990 and has the Taekwondo rank of 6th dan.  He is the creator of the Shurguard martial arts board holder (hand protector), a product Mr. Vaillancourt has used weekly since its creation in the late 1980s.

 

        Breaking c. 1996.

 

Mr. Cannella & Mr. Vaillancourt 

               (ME - 2010).

Glenn Smits, Sah Bum Nim

 

Mr. Smits began training around 1961 in Jujitsu and got his 1st dan in 1970. He started training in Taekwondo not too long after that under Grand Master LEE, Kwang Jae (Dan bon #305), earning a 1st dan in 1975. He received his subsequent Taekwondo promotions up to 7th dan in 2001 from GM LEE.  A long time school owner, Mr. Smits has dan ranking in several other Korean arts and retired from Taekwondo in 2002.  Mr. Smits has instructor certification in Arnis and has trained in the Chinese martial arts.  He is a professional Registered Nurse (RN) and an acupuncturist, having taught acupuncture at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in New York City.

 

 

Mr. Smits & Mr. Vaillancourt

           (CT, 2007)

PRESENT AND PAST MENTORS

 

Grandmaster KIM, Chung Il

Grandmaster KIM, Chung Il (Dan #475) is the President of the International Association of Korean Martial Arts (IAKMA).  As Kwan Jang Nim of the IAKMA, Grandmaster Kim is a 10th degree black belt.  He has been training in the Korean martial arts for over 51 years and teaching for over 40 years. His instructor in Korea was Master OH, Se Joon (Dan #26), who taught at the Seoul YMCA MDK branch. Master OH was a student of Grandmaster HWANG Kee, Moo Duk Kwan's founder.

Grandmaster KIM’s original roots are in Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan, but he also holds Grandmaster rank in Taekwondo.   He was a member of the Korean police force and trained the Korean police for three years in self defense tactics and techniques.  An excellent technician, Grandmaster KIM was well known in the Moo Duk Kwan for his kicking and sparring prowess.

Grandmaster KIM, Chung Il has been teaching in the U.S. since 1970, coming to Michigan at the request of Grandmaster KIM, Jae Joon (Dan #38).   He is also a former Chairman, Board of Directors, U. S. Moo Duk Kwan.  Grandmaster KIM, Chung Il currently oversees IAKMA activities and teaches Black Belt classes in Tang Soo Do and Taekwondo at Kennedy's Martial Arts Academy in Elk Grove, Illinois.

Mr. Vaillancourt joined the IAKMA in 2007 and has been fortunate to have been able to train with Grandmaster KIM, Chung Il.

Mr. Vaillancourt and dan students travel to Chicago and train with Grandmaster C. I. Kim  (10/2011)

Grandmaster KIM, Jae Joon

In April of 1945, KIM, Jae Joon enrolled in Grandmaster Hwang Kee’s Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan Dojang in Seoul, Korea. Grandmaster Kim became a devoted and gifted student of Tang Soo Do under Grandmaster Hwang Kee earning his black belt (MDK Dan Bon #38) in 1947 at the third Moo Duk Kwan promotion test. In 1955 Grandmaster Kim gave an exhibition at the 1st International Goodwill Tang Soo Do Tournament.  During 1967 and 1968 he was awarded the 8th Dan and appointed president of the Moo Duk Kwan in the United States by Grandmaster Hwang Kee. In 1969, he formed the American Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do Federation in Detroit, Michigan.  With the success of his federation, Grandmaster Kim moved the federation’s headquarters to Brandon, Florida in 1987 and renamed it the World Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do Federation.  On April 7, 1990, in recognition of his worldwide promotion of the Korean martial arts, the Kukkiwon promoted Grandmaster Kim to 9th degree black belt (#01000025).  In 2004, Grandmaster J.J. Kim was inducted into the Tae Kwon Do Times Hall of Fame and on April 22, 2006, Grandmaster Kim was inducted into the Taekwondo Grandmasters Society Hall of Fame. For over 50 years Grandmaster Kim had been a devoted teacher and inspiration to all who come in contact with him. Grandmaster Kim passed away suddenly from cancer on January 9, 2007.  The world’s martial art community considered Grandmaster Jae Joon Kim a Master’s Master. 

 

The Vaillancourts are proud to have been able to train and learn from Grandmaster Jae Joon Kim and were his loyal students until his death in 1/2007.

Grandmaster KIM, Jae Joon makes his first trip to South Dakota for a Tang Soo Do seminar for Vaillancourt's Spearfish (Dana) and Belle Fourche (Mary Ellen) dojangs (1992).

 

Michael D. Friello, Sah Bum Nim

Michael D. Friello began his martial arts training in the summer of 1972.  His first two years of study were in the Okinawan Uechi-Ryu Karate system, followed by two more years studying Japanese Shotokan.  Mr. Friello earned a 1st kyu brown belt in Karate before he began his training in Taekwondo.  

In 1976, Mr. Friello began training in Taekwondo Moo Duk Kwan under Mr. Alexander Cannella of Delmar, New York, followed by six years (until c. 1990) under Grand Master BAI, Won Keun of New Jersey.  Mr. Friello has served as the National Chairman for AAU Tae Kwon Do since 1991.  He is currently ranked 7th Dan by the Kukkiwon/World Taekwondo Federation in Seoul, Korea. 

Mr. Friello was a successful tournament competitor and is a quality Taekwondo instructor.  He currently teaches at the Guilderland, New York YMCA.  His website address is: http://pilsungtkd.com/

 

Mr. & Mrs. Vaillancourt trained with Mr. Friello during graduate school (Dana) and while they lived in New York.

Mr. Friello performing a break while standing on glass (c. 1988).

Photograph by Dana Vaillancourt (all rights reserved)

 

Jeffery J. Hughes, Sah Bum Nim

Jeffrey J. Hughes started his Taekwondo training in 1972, while stationed in Korea with the US Military. In 1976, after returning to the United States, he organized and taught the first Taekwondo program at North Adams State College as a brown belt.  He received his 2nd dan in 1981 from Grand Master PARK, Jung Hwan of Astoria, New York.  Shortly afterwards, he began the Berkshire School of Tae Kwon Do.  He has also taught a Taekwondo program at Williams College.  Mr. Hughes is currently ranked 5th dan.

Mr. Hughes was a successful tournament competitor and is a quality Taekwondo instructor.  He currently teaches in North Adams, Massachusetts.  His website address is: http://www.berkshiretaekwondo.com/index.html

Mr. and Mrs. Vaillancourt trained with Mr. Hughes during undergraduate school.

Mr. Vaillancourt and Mr. Hughes (c.1980)