Grand Master Ah Po's Early Years of Martial Arts

Grand Master Andy Ah Po began his martial arts training early in his youth in Hawaii. At age 6 he began studying Sil Lum Gung Fu. During his early school years in the islands he achieved Black Belts in Jiu Jitsu, Aikido, and Japanese Karate. He left the islands in 1959 to join the U.S. Air Force.

The year 2012 marks Grand Master Ah Po's 65^th year in the martial arts. He began studying Tang Soo Do in 1959. 2011 marks Grand Master Ah Po's 52^nd year as a Tang Soo Do practitioner. He opened his own martial arts studio in Carmichael, California in 1966 and continues to teach at his current studio in Sacramento.

Championship Titles Held

During the 1960's and 70's, Grand Master Ah Po held several national and international championship titles in both forms and free-fighting competition in the "open" tournament circuit including the California and Northwestern United States Heavyweight Championship titles and a Grand Champion title in the prestigious Long Beach International Championships that was sponsored by the legendary Ed Parker. He retired from competition in 1972 and has gone on to train and coach other National and International Tang Soo Do Champions including his son, Master Anthony Ah Po, his daughter, Master Annette Ah Po, Master Sandra Russell, and Master Curtis Mata. In addition, he has coached several California Tang Soo Do teams over the years that have successfully brought home the "gold" on several occasions in team fighting and team forms at National and International Tang Soo Do competitions.

Tang Soo Do Organizations Served

Grand Master Ah Po was a Charter Member of the U.S. Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation, formerly the U.S. Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation. For over 27 years, Grand Master Ah Po served the Federation as a member of the Board of Directors and in the capacity of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer. He also served as Regional Examiner as well as a member of the Technical Advisory Committee of the federation, as an appointee of Grand Master Hwang Kee, founder of the Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan. He also served as personal escort to the late Grand Master Hwang Kee and his wife who is also deceased.

Grand Master Ah Po is credited with founding the original name of the Federation and also wrote its original Charter and By Laws. In addition, he wrote the Federation's competition rules manual and developed many of the procedures and testing forms that are still in use by that organization today.

In the year 2002, Grand Master Ah Po resigned from the U.S. Soo Bahk Do Moo Do Kwan Federation, Inc. and founded the Tang Soo Do Martial Way Association, Inc. (formerly known as the Tang Soo Do Moo Do Kwan, Assoc. Inc.) because he felt that the federation was no longer serving its members as defined by the original founding purposes and Charter of that organization. The primary purpose of his association is to continue the original Tang Soo Do teachings and philosophy of the late Grand Master Hwang Kee.

In addition to heading his own Tang Soo Do association, Grand Master Ah Po serves as the personal instructor and senior advisor to Grand Master Charles Ferraro, founder of the Tang Soo Do Mi Guk Kwan Association, Inc. Grand Master Ah Po is affiliated with The Universal Tang Soo Do Alliance and its founder, Grand Master Darryl Khalid.

An Active Martial Artist and Role Model

Over the years, Grand Master Ah Po has traveled to and conducted hundreds of seminars in all designated regions of the United States as well as in Hawaii, Germany, and Australia. He is a world-renowned martial artist and was inducted into the World Karate Union's Black Belt Hall of Fame in 1999. Since that time, he has also been twice inducted into the U.S.A. Black Belt Hall of Fame and into the Tang Soo Do Mi Guk Kwan Association's Hall of Fame.

Grand Master Ah Po is also well known for his demonstrations involving the utilization of "Ki" or internal power. The types of Ki demonstrations he has become well known for are unique to him and him only. Practitioners from a variety of styles often seek him out for his martial arts expertise. He has also received many awards over the years from several martial arts organizations which not only continue to recognize him for his martial arts skills and expertise but which also acknowledge his integrity and contributions to the martial arts community at large.

Grand Master Ah Po's Current Dan Rankings and Certifications

In 2002, members of the Tang Soo Do Mi Guk Kwan Association, Inc. awarded Grand Master Ah Po with a 9th Dan Tang Soo Do certification in that system.

In the year 2000, Grand Master Ah Po was promoted to the 8th Degree Black Belt ranking by Grand Master Hwang Kee of the Korean Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Association, thus making him only one of 5 individuals who were actually promoted to that Dan rank by the late Grand Master Hwang Kee. However, since he resigned from the U.S. Soo Bahk Do (MDK) Federation, Inc. shortly thereafter, he was never presented with his certificate by the successor of that organization.

In recognition of this terrible injustice, Grand Master Chung Il Kim of the International Korean Martial Arts Association awarded Grand Master Ah Po with an 8th Dan Tang Soo Do Certificate as a symbol of recognition of the 8th Dan promotion that he received from the late Grand Master Hwang Kee and to replace the certificate that he never received from the late Grand Master's successor. The award ceremony was held at the 2005 All Tang Soo Do International Championships that were held in New Orleans, Louisiana and which was sponsored by the Tang Soo Do Mi Guk Kwan Association.

Grand Master Ah Po's Philosophy as a Senior

Grand Master Ah Po is often referred to as "The Godfather" of Tang Soo Do by Tang Soo Do practitioners and is highly respected. He has always been known to take his role as a Tang Soo Do Senior very seriously and continues to stress this philosophy. He believes that as a Tang Soo Do Senior his primary role is to serve his juniors and his students. At a recent Ko Dan Ja Shim Sa (testing) ceremony, Grand Master Ah Po stated,

"The greatest of all gifts that we have to offer as human beings is to serve others."

This is a statement and philosophy that he truly lives by and continues to demonstrate through his actions...

Tang Soo!

Revised 07/13/2010

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