Taekwon-do International is pleased to welcome National Black Belt Academy, of Conway, Arkansas, to Taekwon-do International. The school opened in February 2019 and is led by 8th Degree Chief Master Brice Bishop. Chief Master Bishop previously owned Norwalk Taekwon-Do Academy in Norwalk, CT from 1985-2014. Master Bishop began his Taekwon-Do training in 1978. Dedicating himself to the art, Master Bishop earned his black belt in 22 months. While still a First-Degree Black Belt, he was promoted to Chief Instructor of the Texarkana Taekwon-Do Academy in Texarkana, Texas in 1981. He was also instrumental in forming the United States Taekwon-Do Federation, which at the time was based in North Little Rock, Arkansas. In 1983 he was promoted to second-degree black belt and became the Chief Instructor at the USTF headquarters where he also held the position of Director of Operations. In 1985, Master Bishop– then 3rd Degree Black Belt, relocated to Norwalk, Connecticut and established the Norwalk Taekwon-Do Academy. Shortly after, he founded the North American Taekwon-Do Association, a governing organization that holds high standards for its members and member schools. Master Bishop continued his martial arts education by training in many different styles including western boxing, Shaolin Long Fist Kung Fu, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Kali, Yuwara, Hapkido, Aikido, Muay Thai, and Iaido. Master Bishop continued to travel back and forth to Arkansas no less than two times a year to conduct tournaments, teach seminars, and hold camps, as well as be a guest judge at testings for Arkansas are Taekwon-Do schools. In July of 2006, Master Bishop was promoted to 7th Degree Black Belt at a testing held in Las Vegas, Nevada. The prestigious testing panel was comprised of some of the world's most senior Grand Masters, including Grand Master Nam Tae Hi. Grand Master Nam is considered the Grand Master of Grand Masters, and was instrumental in creating Taekwon-Do. Master Bishop is also a founding member of United Taekwon-Do Alliance where he held the position of Sr. Vice President for 6 years. He has the distinct honor of being one of the first two inductees into the United Taekwon-Do Alliance Hall of Fame. On March 15, 2014, Master Bishop tested and was promoted to the rank of Chief Master – 8th Degree Black Belt earning rank recognition with the United Taekwon-Do Alliance, United World Taekwon-Do Association and the Korean Taekwon-Do Moo Duk Kwon. Master Bishop is highly sought after to teach seminars, camps and special workouts. He has taught all over the United States, as well as in Europe and Central America. Comments are closed.
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