RENO, NEV.--After more than 35 years of studying and teaching Taekwon-
Do, Master Robert N. Wheatley understands that his most difficult
challenges are ahead of him as the recently elected President of the United
States International Taekwon-Do Federation (USITF). The USITF is affiliated
with the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) which has schools in
115 countries.
"Growing a national organization dedicated to teaching the true traditional
form of Taekwon-Do as developed by General Choi Hong Hi, is an exciting
opportunity," said Master Wheatley. "I am humbled by the support of many
martial artists and schools across the country and will dedicate my best
efforts to make the USITF an effective and strong organization.
"At the same time," Wheatley continued, "I am very aware of how difficult it
can be to persuade martial artists to adhere to the standards of the USITF.
Each martial artist has strong opinions about techniques and teaching. The
USITF will work to demonstrate to Taekwon-Do practitioners the benefits of
General Choi's scientific methods."
Master Wheatley is a 8th degree black belt and is an official International
Instructor/Examiner of the ITF. He has been teaching in America since 1983.
A native of Ireland, the 54-year-old Master began studying various
disciplines of martial arts while attending school in London from 1966-1970.
Although he practiced and developed proficiency in Kenpo, boxing and Jiu-
jitsu, Master Wheatley did not take formal exams in any of these arts.
Upon his return to Ireland in 1970, he was introduced to the spectacular
kicking and flying techniques of Taekwon-Do. Under the instruction of
Master Rhee Ki Ha, Master Wheatley and a handful of students began
practicing Taekwon-Do. By 1973, Master Wheatley had begun teaching as
an instructor for the Republic of Ireland Taekwon-Do Association in Dublin
and Arklow, County Wicklow.
Master Wheatley's career in Ireland, England and America garnered
numerous awards including:
• First in patterns and second in power breaking at the 1975 Irish National
Championships, which were presided over by General Choi and many other
Korean masters, including Master Rhee.
• At the 1977 Irish/European Championships, Master Wheatley took first
place in power breaking, third place in patterns and he captained the overall
winning sparring team for Ireland. Competitors from Ireland, England,
Scotland, Germany, Wales and Canada participated in the event.
• At Ireland's South Leinster Championships in 1980, Master Wheatley was
awarded first place in power breaking, second in sparring and third in
patterns.
Besides competing, Master Wheatley studied under General Choi for nearly
three decades at numerous seminars, private instruction and courses,
including General Choi's final Masters Course in Vienna, Austria in 2002.
(General Choi passed away June 15, 2002.) As a result of this lifelong study
of Taekwon-Do, Master Wheatley formally tested and has been awarded
numerous belts and titles:
• 1st degree black belt was awarded to Master Wheatley in 1976.
• In 1978, he tested successfully for 2nd degree black belt under General
Choi. Also in 1978, Master Wheatley passed his first International Instructor's
exam under General Choi.
• In 1979, Master Wheatley qualified as an International Umpire and Referee
under General Choi in Dublin.
• Still residing in Ireland, Master Wheatley successfully tested for 3rd degree
black belt in 1981. An Irish newspaper praised Master Wheatley as, "One of
Irelands most physically active and respected martial artists."
• In 1982, Master Wheatley passed the second International Instructor's
exam and was recognized as an official International Instructor of the ITF. An
additional Instructor course was completed in 1991 and he began teaching
Instructor courses in subsequent years.
• After moving to the United States in 1983 and becoming an American
citizen, Master Wheatley successfully tested for his 4th degree black belt
under a panel of Korean and American examiners headed by the President
of the United States Taekwon-Do Federation (USTF) Grand Master C. E.
Sereff.
• In 1984, Master Wheatley was appointed California State Director and
Regional West Coast Director for the USTF.
• In 1986, the "Who's Who of Martial Arts" honored Master Wheatley with a
features listing in their annual publication.
• His 5th degree black belt was awarded in 1987 under General Choi, Park
Jung Tae and Grand Master Sereff.
• Appointed as ITF Ambassador to Mexico in 1987 by General Choi.
• In 1989, Master Wheatley was inducted as the first Irishman and European
into the Karate Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.
• In 1992, Master Wheatley was elected as Vice President of the USTF and
was awarded his 6th degree black belt and overall high-test score for the
USA under a large panel of examiners headed by Grand Master Sereff.
• In 1994, Master Wheatley entered his team in the U.S. Nationals held in Las
Vegas where they won many individual medals and took home the overall
team spirit award. At the world championships in Malaysia, General Choi
announced that Master Wheatley was to be awarded the Outstanding
Instructor Medal for the ITF.
• At the 10th World Championships held in Russia in 1997, Master Wheatley
was selected to be an official judge for the event.
• In 1998, Master Wheatley was promoted to 7th degree black belt and Master
Instructor.
• Because of his career-long focus on power breaking, Master Wheatley was
appointed as the official power development and breaking instructor for the
USA in 1999.
• Master Wheatley was elected President of the USITF in 2002.
Teaching the art of Taekwon-Do has been the life-long avocation for Master
Wheatley and he has founded numerous schools during his career. In 1979,
for example, he opened the renowned Greystones School of Taekwon-Do in
County Wicklow, Ireland. Greystones became known throughout Europe for
its high standard of technique, superb fighters, national champions and
large membership.
After moving to America and becoming an American citizen in 1983, Master
Wheatley successfully ran schools in Santa Barbara and Lompoc, Calif. He
also opened another Taekwon-Do studio at Vandenberg Air Force Base in
California. This studio became the Region One headquarters for the USTF.
After moving to Reno, Nev., in 1995, he opened Reno's Wheatley Taekwon-
Do Academy.
Because of his dedication to teaching Taekwon-Do, Master Wheatley has
been asked during his career to apply his talents to instructional material
developed by the ITF. In 1984, he assisted General Choi and was featured in
the production of the 15-volume encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do. In 1990, he
also assisted General Choi in the production of a series of instructional
videotapes for the USTF. In 1999, at the request of General Choi's son,
Master Choi Jung Hwa, Master Wheatley assisted in the production of the
Taekwon-Do Legacy CD rom videotapes. He was featured performing
Taekwon-Do techniques for power breaking and power development.
Throughout his career, Master Wheatley has traveled frequently throughout
America and Europe to conduct seminars and courses on Taekwon-Do. In
2000, he ventured farther afield when he instructed a one-week Millenium
World Camp for the International Taekwon-Do Foundation New Zealand. His
seminars on power breaking are particularly popular.
Master Wheatley has a 23-year-old son, Paul, who is a 3rd degree black belt
in Taekwon-Do. Now married to Mala, a native of India, Wheatley's
stepchildren, Arjun and Shivani Dhingra are also students of Taekwon-do.
Shivani, 15, will be testing for her black belt in 2003 and 24-year-old Arjun is
a 4th degree black belt. Mala is the regional director for Maple Star Group
Homes and is a marriage and family therapist. She holds a green belt in
Taekwon-do.
Although, it might seem unlikely that Master Wheatley has any time to spare
for hobbies, he is a pilot, musician, and composer and writes poetry.
In addition to his duties as president of the USITF, Master Wheatley
continues to teach classes in Reno and is training in preparation for his 8th
degree black belt.
Blue Cottage Taekwon-Do would like express its gratitude to Master Jue for
his contribution to this article.
Do, Master Robert N. Wheatley understands that his most difficult
challenges are ahead of him as the recently elected President of the United
States International Taekwon-Do Federation (USITF). The USITF is affiliated
with the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) which has schools in
115 countries.
"Growing a national organization dedicated to teaching the true traditional
form of Taekwon-Do as developed by General Choi Hong Hi, is an exciting
opportunity," said Master Wheatley. "I am humbled by the support of many
martial artists and schools across the country and will dedicate my best
efforts to make the USITF an effective and strong organization.
"At the same time," Wheatley continued, "I am very aware of how difficult it
can be to persuade martial artists to adhere to the standards of the USITF.
Each martial artist has strong opinions about techniques and teaching. The
USITF will work to demonstrate to Taekwon-Do practitioners the benefits of
General Choi's scientific methods."
Master Wheatley is a 8th degree black belt and is an official International
Instructor/Examiner of the ITF. He has been teaching in America since 1983.
A native of Ireland, the 54-year-old Master began studying various
disciplines of martial arts while attending school in London from 1966-1970.
Although he practiced and developed proficiency in Kenpo, boxing and Jiu-
jitsu, Master Wheatley did not take formal exams in any of these arts.
Upon his return to Ireland in 1970, he was introduced to the spectacular
kicking and flying techniques of Taekwon-Do. Under the instruction of
Master Rhee Ki Ha, Master Wheatley and a handful of students began
practicing Taekwon-Do. By 1973, Master Wheatley had begun teaching as
an instructor for the Republic of Ireland Taekwon-Do Association in Dublin
and Arklow, County Wicklow.
Master Wheatley's career in Ireland, England and America garnered
numerous awards including:
• First in patterns and second in power breaking at the 1975 Irish National
Championships, which were presided over by General Choi and many other
Korean masters, including Master Rhee.
• At the 1977 Irish/European Championships, Master Wheatley took first
place in power breaking, third place in patterns and he captained the overall
winning sparring team for Ireland. Competitors from Ireland, England,
Scotland, Germany, Wales and Canada participated in the event.
• At Ireland's South Leinster Championships in 1980, Master Wheatley was
awarded first place in power breaking, second in sparring and third in
patterns.
Besides competing, Master Wheatley studied under General Choi for nearly
three decades at numerous seminars, private instruction and courses,
including General Choi's final Masters Course in Vienna, Austria in 2002.
(General Choi passed away June 15, 2002.) As a result of this lifelong study
of Taekwon-Do, Master Wheatley formally tested and has been awarded
numerous belts and titles:
• 1st degree black belt was awarded to Master Wheatley in 1976.
• In 1978, he tested successfully for 2nd degree black belt under General
Choi. Also in 1978, Master Wheatley passed his first International Instructor's
exam under General Choi.
• In 1979, Master Wheatley qualified as an International Umpire and Referee
under General Choi in Dublin.
• Still residing in Ireland, Master Wheatley successfully tested for 3rd degree
black belt in 1981. An Irish newspaper praised Master Wheatley as, "One of
Irelands most physically active and respected martial artists."
• In 1982, Master Wheatley passed the second International Instructor's
exam and was recognized as an official International Instructor of the ITF. An
additional Instructor course was completed in 1991 and he began teaching
Instructor courses in subsequent years.
• After moving to the United States in 1983 and becoming an American
citizen, Master Wheatley successfully tested for his 4th degree black belt
under a panel of Korean and American examiners headed by the President
of the United States Taekwon-Do Federation (USTF) Grand Master C. E.
Sereff.
• In 1984, Master Wheatley was appointed California State Director and
Regional West Coast Director for the USTF.
• In 1986, the "Who's Who of Martial Arts" honored Master Wheatley with a
features listing in their annual publication.
• His 5th degree black belt was awarded in 1987 under General Choi, Park
Jung Tae and Grand Master Sereff.
• Appointed as ITF Ambassador to Mexico in 1987 by General Choi.
• In 1989, Master Wheatley was inducted as the first Irishman and European
into the Karate Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.
• In 1992, Master Wheatley was elected as Vice President of the USTF and
was awarded his 6th degree black belt and overall high-test score for the
USA under a large panel of examiners headed by Grand Master Sereff.
• In 1994, Master Wheatley entered his team in the U.S. Nationals held in Las
Vegas where they won many individual medals and took home the overall
team spirit award. At the world championships in Malaysia, General Choi
announced that Master Wheatley was to be awarded the Outstanding
Instructor Medal for the ITF.
• At the 10th World Championships held in Russia in 1997, Master Wheatley
was selected to be an official judge for the event.
• In 1998, Master Wheatley was promoted to 7th degree black belt and Master
Instructor.
• Because of his career-long focus on power breaking, Master Wheatley was
appointed as the official power development and breaking instructor for the
USA in 1999.
• Master Wheatley was elected President of the USITF in 2002.
Teaching the art of Taekwon-Do has been the life-long avocation for Master
Wheatley and he has founded numerous schools during his career. In 1979,
for example, he opened the renowned Greystones School of Taekwon-Do in
County Wicklow, Ireland. Greystones became known throughout Europe for
its high standard of technique, superb fighters, national champions and
large membership.
After moving to America and becoming an American citizen in 1983, Master
Wheatley successfully ran schools in Santa Barbara and Lompoc, Calif. He
also opened another Taekwon-Do studio at Vandenberg Air Force Base in
California. This studio became the Region One headquarters for the USTF.
After moving to Reno, Nev., in 1995, he opened Reno's Wheatley Taekwon-
Do Academy.
Because of his dedication to teaching Taekwon-Do, Master Wheatley has
been asked during his career to apply his talents to instructional material
developed by the ITF. In 1984, he assisted General Choi and was featured in
the production of the 15-volume encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do. In 1990, he
also assisted General Choi in the production of a series of instructional
videotapes for the USTF. In 1999, at the request of General Choi's son,
Master Choi Jung Hwa, Master Wheatley assisted in the production of the
Taekwon-Do Legacy CD rom videotapes. He was featured performing
Taekwon-Do techniques for power breaking and power development.
Throughout his career, Master Wheatley has traveled frequently throughout
America and Europe to conduct seminars and courses on Taekwon-Do. In
2000, he ventured farther afield when he instructed a one-week Millenium
World Camp for the International Taekwon-Do Foundation New Zealand. His
seminars on power breaking are particularly popular.
Master Wheatley has a 23-year-old son, Paul, who is a 3rd degree black belt
in Taekwon-Do. Now married to Mala, a native of India, Wheatley's
stepchildren, Arjun and Shivani Dhingra are also students of Taekwon-do.
Shivani, 15, will be testing for her black belt in 2003 and 24-year-old Arjun is
a 4th degree black belt. Mala is the regional director for Maple Star Group
Homes and is a marriage and family therapist. She holds a green belt in
Taekwon-do.
Although, it might seem unlikely that Master Wheatley has any time to spare
for hobbies, he is a pilot, musician, and composer and writes poetry.
In addition to his duties as president of the USITF, Master Wheatley
continues to teach classes in Reno and is training in preparation for his 8th
degree black belt.
Blue Cottage Taekwon-Do would like express its gratitude to Master Jue for
his contribution to this article.
| Master of the Month |
| Master Robert Wheatley |
- Master Wheatley tested for - 4th Dan 1984 and took over the directorship of
California and the west coast for the USTF.
- 2002 Master Wheatley becomes President of the US-ITF under President Choi
Jung Hwa.
- Master Wheatley is known for his power breaking ability was European Champion
prior to moving to the United States.
- His school is located in Reno, Nevada.
- Married to Maula Wheatley and has 3 kids (Paul Wheatley, Arjun Dhingra, Neil
Dhingra and Shivani Dhingra).
- Master Wheatley had conducted many seminar around the world is the
Chairperson for the ITF Promotion and Disciplinary Board.
| Past Masters of the Month |
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