| Master Gantner |
I. along with my father, Mr. Jay Gantner, started training in Taekwon-do in 1973 at the age of 11
under Mr. Steve Cooper in Manchester, New Jersey. Mr. Cooper served in the U.S. military in
the early60's and learned Taekwondo while stationed in Southe Korea. Although his instructor
was from the Moo Noo Kwan, Mr. Cooper received his degree certification from General Choi
Hong Hi and the ITF. I was trained by Mr. Cooper in the ery strict military format learned from
his instructor in Korea. The training was very serious and by today's standardswould be
considered brutal. But this demanding training forged in me a solid foundation in the
fundamental techiques and a training ethic that would allow me to excel in my future
endeavors in Martial Arts.
In 1978, Mr. Cooper closed the Dojang and relocated to another state. My father and I were
forced to look for a new place to train. Over the course of several years we enrolled at and
trained in every Martial Arts school in our area. We practiced Japanese karate, Kempo, Judo,
Hapkido and Tang-soo-do. These systems were interesting and a few instructors were
excellent teachers notably Master J.H. Kim and Master Art Bains. However the best of them
fell short of the level of skill and expertise we aspired to under Mr. Cooper and our heart
remained in Taekwondo..
1973 - I started practicing ITF Taekwondo at the age of 11 under Mr. Steve Cooper in
Manchester New Jersey. When Mr.Cooper left our state there were no Taekwondo Instructors
in our area and I was forced to practice other styles.
1977 - During this time I studied Okinawan Karate under Master J.H Kim, Kempo under Master
Art Beins and TangSooDo under Master Kum Sung.
1981 – Tests for 1st degree under Master Kum Sung Woo in Tang Soo Do Moo Do kwan.
1982 - While practicing under Master Kum Sung I visited South Korea and meet Doc. Un Yong
Kim at the Kukkiwon. The purpose of this trip was for Master Sung to affiliate with the WTF.
1983 - I rejoined the ITF under Mr. Jim Murray and the USTF headed by Master Chuck Seriff.
Throughout the 1980’s I traveled frequently and became a seasoned competitor while
participating in ITF Championships throughout the USA and Canada.
1986 – tested and promoted to 2nd degree by Mr.Jim Murray in Pottstown PA.
1987 - I attended my first International Instructor training courses conducted by Grand Master
Park Jung Tae and then continued there after to attend nearly every seminar and training
course he taught throughout USA and Canada.
1987 - I was selected as a USA team member and represented the USA at the ITF World
Championship in Budapest, Hungary and won the Gold metal in power test.
From Budapest we traveled to Zagreb, Yugoslavia and participated in the 20th year
anniversary Good will Games.
1988 – Attended 5 day International Instructor course Conducted by GM Park in Ajax Canada.
1989 – Hosted GM Park to come to New Jersey to conduct 7 day International instructor course.
1989 – Tested and promoted to 3rd degree by Master Chuck Seriff in Connecticut.
1989 - I again represented the USA at the ITF International youth and student games in Pyong
Yang, North Korea. Attend training seminar conducted by GM Park at this event.
1989 - I was appointed region 4 Director of the USTF by Master Chuck Seriff.
1990 - I was asked by Grand Master Park Jung Tae to attend as a Charter member the first GTF
Congress meeting in Toronto, Canada.
Throughout the early 90’s I traveled to Toronto Canada often, many times at the request of
Grand Master Park to receive personal training and to assist him in the development of the
GTF hyungs.
1991 – Tested and promoted to 4th Degree by GM Park. Early promotion was granted due to the
attendance of many seminars and personal instruction from GM Park.
1992 - I was requested by GM Park to organize the east coast Instructors and as a result the US-
GTF was formed and I was elected the first President. Later I served as Chairman of the US-GTF
executive board.
Since then I attended and participated in the following:
1993 – 1st GTF World Championship in Moscow ,Russia as official USA representative.
1995 – 2nd GTF World Championship in Sardinia, Italy.
- Tested and promoted to 5th degree by GM Park in Rimini Italy.
2000 – 3rd GTF World Championship in Rimini , Italy.
- Tested and promoted to 6th degree by GM Park in Toronto Canada.
2001 – The Last International Instructor training Coarse taught by GM Park.
2002 – Attended Funeral service of my teacher and mentor Grand Master Park
Jung Tae on April 11 in Toronto, Canada.
2003 – Appointed Secretary General of the GTF by Executive board.
- Assisted in teaching International training course Kula Lumpur, Malaysia
2004 – 4th GTF World Championship Arkhangelsk , Russia.
2005 – GTF European Cup Sardinia, Italy.
- Tested and promoted to 7th degree by promotions committee.
2006 - 5th GTF World Championship Italy.
2007 – 6th GTF World Championship Greece.
- Traveled to Malaysia at request of PGTF to conduct Instructor training course.
2008 – 1st GM Park Jung Tae World Cup Toronto, Canada.
2009 – 7th GTF World Championship Kula Lumpur Malaysia.
2010 – Conducted training seminar in Puerto Rico.
http://njmastertkd.pcassists.net/index.html
under Mr. Steve Cooper in Manchester, New Jersey. Mr. Cooper served in the U.S. military in
the early60's and learned Taekwondo while stationed in Southe Korea. Although his instructor
was from the Moo Noo Kwan, Mr. Cooper received his degree certification from General Choi
Hong Hi and the ITF. I was trained by Mr. Cooper in the ery strict military format learned from
his instructor in Korea. The training was very serious and by today's standardswould be
considered brutal. But this demanding training forged in me a solid foundation in the
fundamental techiques and a training ethic that would allow me to excel in my future
endeavors in Martial Arts.
In 1978, Mr. Cooper closed the Dojang and relocated to another state. My father and I were
forced to look for a new place to train. Over the course of several years we enrolled at and
trained in every Martial Arts school in our area. We practiced Japanese karate, Kempo, Judo,
Hapkido and Tang-soo-do. These systems were interesting and a few instructors were
excellent teachers notably Master J.H. Kim and Master Art Bains. However the best of them
fell short of the level of skill and expertise we aspired to under Mr. Cooper and our heart
remained in Taekwondo..
1973 - I started practicing ITF Taekwondo at the age of 11 under Mr. Steve Cooper in
Manchester New Jersey. When Mr.Cooper left our state there were no Taekwondo Instructors
in our area and I was forced to practice other styles.
1977 - During this time I studied Okinawan Karate under Master J.H Kim, Kempo under Master
Art Beins and TangSooDo under Master Kum Sung.
1981 – Tests for 1st degree under Master Kum Sung Woo in Tang Soo Do Moo Do kwan.
1982 - While practicing under Master Kum Sung I visited South Korea and meet Doc. Un Yong
Kim at the Kukkiwon. The purpose of this trip was for Master Sung to affiliate with the WTF.
1983 - I rejoined the ITF under Mr. Jim Murray and the USTF headed by Master Chuck Seriff.
Throughout the 1980’s I traveled frequently and became a seasoned competitor while
participating in ITF Championships throughout the USA and Canada.
1986 – tested and promoted to 2nd degree by Mr.Jim Murray in Pottstown PA.
1987 - I attended my first International Instructor training courses conducted by Grand Master
Park Jung Tae and then continued there after to attend nearly every seminar and training
course he taught throughout USA and Canada.
1987 - I was selected as a USA team member and represented the USA at the ITF World
Championship in Budapest, Hungary and won the Gold metal in power test.
From Budapest we traveled to Zagreb, Yugoslavia and participated in the 20th year
anniversary Good will Games.
1988 – Attended 5 day International Instructor course Conducted by GM Park in Ajax Canada.
1989 – Hosted GM Park to come to New Jersey to conduct 7 day International instructor course.
1989 – Tested and promoted to 3rd degree by Master Chuck Seriff in Connecticut.
1989 - I again represented the USA at the ITF International youth and student games in Pyong
Yang, North Korea. Attend training seminar conducted by GM Park at this event.
1989 - I was appointed region 4 Director of the USTF by Master Chuck Seriff.
1990 - I was asked by Grand Master Park Jung Tae to attend as a Charter member the first GTF
Congress meeting in Toronto, Canada.
Throughout the early 90’s I traveled to Toronto Canada often, many times at the request of
Grand Master Park to receive personal training and to assist him in the development of the
GTF hyungs.
1991 – Tested and promoted to 4th Degree by GM Park. Early promotion was granted due to the
attendance of many seminars and personal instruction from GM Park.
1992 - I was requested by GM Park to organize the east coast Instructors and as a result the US-
GTF was formed and I was elected the first President. Later I served as Chairman of the US-GTF
executive board.
Since then I attended and participated in the following:
1993 – 1st GTF World Championship in Moscow ,Russia as official USA representative.
1995 – 2nd GTF World Championship in Sardinia, Italy.
- Tested and promoted to 5th degree by GM Park in Rimini Italy.
2000 – 3rd GTF World Championship in Rimini , Italy.
- Tested and promoted to 6th degree by GM Park in Toronto Canada.
2001 – The Last International Instructor training Coarse taught by GM Park.
2002 – Attended Funeral service of my teacher and mentor Grand Master Park
Jung Tae on April 11 in Toronto, Canada.
2003 – Appointed Secretary General of the GTF by Executive board.
- Assisted in teaching International training course Kula Lumpur, Malaysia
2004 – 4th GTF World Championship Arkhangelsk , Russia.
2005 – GTF European Cup Sardinia, Italy.
- Tested and promoted to 7th degree by promotions committee.
2006 - 5th GTF World Championship Italy.
2007 – 6th GTF World Championship Greece.
- Traveled to Malaysia at request of PGTF to conduct Instructor training course.
2008 – 1st GM Park Jung Tae World Cup Toronto, Canada.
2009 – 7th GTF World Championship Kula Lumpur Malaysia.
2010 – Conducted training seminar in Puerto Rico.
http://njmastertkd.pcassists.net/index.html
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