Master Anna Gong Promoted to 6th Dan

Taekwon-do International is pleased to announce the promotion of Master Anna Gong to 6th Degree Black Belt on November 1, 2014 at Glen Ridge Taekwon-do, Montclair, NJ.  The presentation was made by Master James Marr on behalf of Grandmaster Kim, and Master Marr read the following announcement from Grandmaster Kim:

I've known Master Gong from early 70's when she competed in patterns around NY area, and she was one of the top performer in patterns then.  She came to me 1988 and wanted to start from a white belt, while I also knew she was a black belt from Grandmaster S. Henry Cho's organization.  She was a very close friend with late Grandmaster Ruben Casanova - they began training together in Bronx NY ... now the rest is the history ... Master Gong has illness and yet she gave her best effort to practice and I am promoting her to 6th Dan which has been long over due

SJ Kim

Master Gong responded after her promotion with the following essay.  Click below for the complete text:

A Tribute to Friendships
Master Gong is deeply saddened by the loss of her long-time friend Master Ruben Casanova who was a student of Grand Master Suk Jun Kim since the early 1970's.  This loss created a large void in both Grand Master Kim and Master Gong lives.  Their friendship goes way back to GM Kim's Bergenfield NJ TKD School and their common bond and passion for taekwondo.

Master Gong and Master Casanova first crossed paths in Junior High School #125 around 1967 when they were two skinny 12-year-old kids living in the Bronx.  Master Gong's grandfather signed her up to Sihak Henry Cho Bronx satellite school.  One evening, in walked Ruben, his uncle Danny and his maternal grandfather.  All of them were enrolled in the same S Henry Cho satellite school.  All were practicing diligently every day, sometimes two classes per evening.  This was the beginning of 47 years of friendship.  (more ...)


Complete text of Master Gong's heartfelt and touching essay (PDF)