In Celebration of Black History Month

In 1985, he became the first African-American to earn Master status in Traditional Tae Kwon-Do. 

From 1976 to 1990, he was the first African-American to serve as Chairman and Chief Instructor of the Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota Region of the American Chung do Kwan Tae Kwon-Do Association (ACTA). During his tenure, he was responsible for supervising 18 Instructors and presiding as Chief Testing Judge for more than 15,000 students, including 3,000 Black Belts.

In 1999, he was a guest Judge at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs for Regional Tae Kwon-Do competition in preparation for the 2000 Sydney Games.

In 2002, he became the first African-American promoted to 7^th Dan.

He has personally developed an impressive 511 Distinguished Black Belts, including 10 Master Instructors (5^th and 6^th Dans), and 96 Junior Black Belts (those who earned their Black Belts as children and young adults, ages 6 thru 15).

His students range in age from an 85 year old Catholic nun, to 5 year olds learning the values of Discipline, Courtesy, and Respect. They range in skill from agile students capable of flying 20 feet laterally to devastate a target to those capable of breaking 5 boards. They range in athletic ability from those who enjoy burning up to 2000 calories per class, to those who need crutches or wheel chairs for mobility.

Last year, he presided as Chief Judge over our 216^th Promotional Testing. With his Instructor’s approval, he promoted his most senior student to 6^th Dan. Until now, such honor has been reserved for the Grand Masters.

He has been the Chief Instructor of the UNI Tae Kwon-Do Club for 28 years.
 

Master Joseph Philip
Celebrating 37 years in the Art

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