Welcome, Grandmaster Andreas Granzow!
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We welcome our new 9th Dan Grandmaster Mark Nathanson!
"First off, let me start by saying how completely honored and humbled I am with this promotion. Reaching this goal was something I always strived for, but never knew if I would achieve...and now it has become reality. When Grand Master Kim called me to let me know of his decision, I was of course thrilled, but the best part of that conversation was that he mentioned to me that whatever his legacy will be, I will always be a part of it. Just to be considered in that way is an honor in itself, and I am truly grateful.
My Taekwon Do journey began in 1974. Call it fate, destiny, or just luck, but as a young boy I had decided that I wanted to learn martial arts, and I walked into a small school in Bergenfield New Jersey, and met a man by the name of Master Kim. He was not the owner of the school at that time (he later would be), but he was the head instructor for a man named Master Lee, and it was Master Kim that signed me up to start classes. Again, fate, destiny, luck...? but I had no idea I was meeting a man that is likely one the greatest Taekwon Do practitioners in the world, and a man that would forever more shape my growth from a boy to a man.
I have continued with Grand Master Kim until this day (taking brief chapters away as I attended college and medical school), and have the distinction of being the only individual who started with GM Kim as a white belt, and now reached this ultimate level of 9th degree Grand Master.
As I reflect on this moment, it honestly is not about me, but it is more about those who have surrounded me during my journey. Grand Master Kim has created Taekwon Do International, a union of schools that is remarkable. It is this union, this gathering of students, teachers, masters, and Grand masters that should be celebrated with my promotion. Taekwon do International has supported, nurtured, and helped me grow into the master instructor I have become, and I would be remiss not to mention those individuals. There are many, and I can't name them all, but several stand out.
Grand Master Tony Morris of Asheville Sun Soo, Asheville North Carolina, Grand Master James Marr of Marrs Taekwon do, Cleveland Ohio, and Grand Master John Meany, and Master Laura Giletti, Glen Ridge Taekwon Do, Montclair New Jersey. These schools, and their entire Taekwon Do familes have welcomed me into their schools, and their homes to allow me to teach, train, and judge. Special thanks goes to Master Giletti, and Grand Master Meany who have welcomed me as a constant presence in their school to assist with their classes.
No individual reaches the level of 9th degree without support, and it is this Union, this gathering of phenomenal individuals who have allowed me to attain this goal, and for that I am forever grateful.
Of course my ultimate gratitude is with Grand Master Suk Jun Kim. Without him, none of this, my achievements, the multiple schools, the Union, would have been possible.
Again, fate, destiny, luck...but on that day in 1974, my life changed forever...thank you all.
With gratitude and humility,
Grand Master Mark N Nathanson.
My Taekwon Do journey began in 1974. Call it fate, destiny, or just luck, but as a young boy I had decided that I wanted to learn martial arts, and I walked into a small school in Bergenfield New Jersey, and met a man by the name of Master Kim. He was not the owner of the school at that time (he later would be), but he was the head instructor for a man named Master Lee, and it was Master Kim that signed me up to start classes. Again, fate, destiny, luck...? but I had no idea I was meeting a man that is likely one the greatest Taekwon Do practitioners in the world, and a man that would forever more shape my growth from a boy to a man.
I have continued with Grand Master Kim until this day (taking brief chapters away as I attended college and medical school), and have the distinction of being the only individual who started with GM Kim as a white belt, and now reached this ultimate level of 9th degree Grand Master.
As I reflect on this moment, it honestly is not about me, but it is more about those who have surrounded me during my journey. Grand Master Kim has created Taekwon Do International, a union of schools that is remarkable. It is this union, this gathering of students, teachers, masters, and Grand masters that should be celebrated with my promotion. Taekwon do International has supported, nurtured, and helped me grow into the master instructor I have become, and I would be remiss not to mention those individuals. There are many, and I can't name them all, but several stand out.
Grand Master Tony Morris of Asheville Sun Soo, Asheville North Carolina, Grand Master James Marr of Marrs Taekwon do, Cleveland Ohio, and Grand Master John Meany, and Master Laura Giletti, Glen Ridge Taekwon Do, Montclair New Jersey. These schools, and their entire Taekwon Do familes have welcomed me into their schools, and their homes to allow me to teach, train, and judge. Special thanks goes to Master Giletti, and Grand Master Meany who have welcomed me as a constant presence in their school to assist with their classes.
No individual reaches the level of 9th degree without support, and it is this Union, this gathering of phenomenal individuals who have allowed me to attain this goal, and for that I am forever grateful.
Of course my ultimate gratitude is with Grand Master Suk Jun Kim. Without him, none of this, my achievements, the multiple schools, the Union, would have been possible.
Again, fate, destiny, luck...but on that day in 1974, my life changed forever...thank you all.
With gratitude and humility,
Grand Master Mark N Nathanson.
