MacDermott's Tang Soo Do Association

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MacDermott's Tang Soo Do Association's Instructors are highly certified and qualified Black Belts that have dedicated time in their Martial Arts careers to teaching the art they love. All Instructors are required to have a set amount of successful assistant teaching time under a current Instructor, a C.O.R.I criminal background check, have to have attained at least a 1st Degree Black Belt, and have gone through MTSD's certifying process. Not all students awarded a Black Belt go on to teach, only a select few of the organization's Black Belt's are teachers of the Art. The following page is dedicated to Masters and Certified Instructors, giving you a deeper background of their qualifications and accomplishments.

From time to time adult Black Belts will be asked to teach a class for an absent Instructor.

Master Carl H. MacDermott III

5^th Dan Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do

Chief & Founder of

MacDermott’s Tang Soo Do Association

Sah Bum Nim MacDermott

Master MacDermott began studying Tang Soo Do in Bridgewater, MA, in 1973 under the instruction of Thomas Sylvester, 2nd Dan Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do. In 1980 Mr. MacDermott received his Black Belt and began teaching.

He received his 2nd degree in 1986, his 3rd degree in 1991, his 4th degree in January of 1996 (under the instruction of Master Richard Byrne, 6th degree Moo Duk Kwan, Tang Soo Do) and his 5th Degree in December 2006 (under the instruction of Master Victoria DeMarco, 6th degree Moo Duk Kwan, Tang Soo Do).

Mr. MacDermott was voted Black Belt of the Year in 1991, and in 1992, was voted into the American Tang Soo Do Hall of Fame.

Mr. MacDermott is also an experienced teacher of the handicapped and has used Tang Soo Do as a method of improving flexibility and coordination.

Master Bill Martin

Rank: 5^th Degree Black Belt

Title: Certified Master Instructor, Sah Bum Nim

Sah Bum Nim Martin

Master Martin has been involved in the Martial Arts for 40 years and has been instructing since the early 1970"s. His career began as a 13 year old student of Mr. James Mattie in the Japanese Art of Shotokan. He advanced to become an instructor for him and remained with Mr. Mattie until the school eventually closed in the late 1970"s.

Master Martin wanted to continue training

in the Martial Arts and began his Tang

Soo Do studies in 1978 under Mr. Tom

Sylvester and then continued his advanced

studies under Grand Master Richard Byrne.

Master Martin was a frequent and successful tournament competitor during the 1980"s and 1990's, retiring from competition in 1996.

He and Master MacDermott have developed specialized programs and offer seminars in street smart self-defense, self-defense classes for women, and self-defense against guns, knives, and clubs. They also offer a "High Energy" class to increase endurance and sharpen fighting skills through combination punching and kicking drills.

Master Martin enjoys teaching children and adults and guiding them as their self-esteem, technical skills, and confidence grows. He is currently co-instructing at the Bridgewater Fitness Center with Master MacDermott.

Master Christopher D. Delmonte

Rank: 4^th Degree Black Belt

Title: Certified Master Instructor, Sah Bum Nim

Master Delmonte began studying Tang Soo Do in 1991 at the Cedar Street School in Bridgewater, under the instruction of Master Carl H. MacDermott, III 5^th degree Master, Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do. In 1994, Master Delmonte received his black belt under the direction of Grandmaster Chun Sik Kim and Master Richard Byrne. Master Delmonte then received his 2^nd degree in 1996, and his 3^rd degree in 2000. In 2006, he was promoted to the rank of 4^th degree Master,Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do.

Master Delmonte has participated in numerous demonstrations and tournaments promoting the requirements and rewards of Tang Soo Do. Master Delmonte continues to teach youth classes at the Bridgewater Fitness Center on Wednesday

Master Scott R. Hile

Rank: 4^th Degree Black Belt

Title: Certified Master Instructor, Sah Bum Nim

Sah Bum Nim Hile

Master Hile began studying martial arts with MacDermott's Tang Soo Do in 1993 under Evan Lampros, 4th Degree Moo Duk Kwan, Tang Soo Do. He began teaching when he earned his Black Belt in 1997 and became the instructor of the East Bridgewater YMCA school, for Master MacDermott, that same year and is currently still the instructor there.

He earned his 2nd Degree in 1999, 3rd in 2002, and 4th in 2006, all under the instruction of Master MacDermott and Master Martin.

Master Hile created a Demo Team, in

1999, that is responsible for performing all demonstrations within the local communities. From 2000-2002, he was a co-instructor of a Middle School (grades 5-8) after school program that was funded by a 3 year Federal grant.

Master Hile assists Master MacDermott and Master Martin in conducting weapons seminars, self-defense seminars, and teaching women's self-defense. He enjoys helping people of all ages, physical and mental limitations, and disabilities succeed in achieving their goals in life and martial arts.

Master Sean Peters

Rank: 4th Degree Black Belt

Title: Master, Sah Bum Nim

Mr. Peters began in 1993 with Master Lampros at the Bridgewater Fitness Center. There he went up the ranks with just senior to him, Master Hile. Mr. Peters studied under Master Lampros for three years, then achieved his first degree in 1999, under the instruction of Master Hile, a first degree at the time, and Master Martin.

During his first year as a black belt he taught classes at the Bridgewater Fitness Center. He taught there for 8 years. During this time Mr. Peters taught MacDermott's Tang Soo Do to the after school program at the elementary and junior high schools. Under the instruction of Master MacDermott he achieved his second degree in 2001, and his third degree in 2004. Most recently, Mr. Peters achieved his fourth degree in 2008 with the help of Master Hile. While undergoing learning and teaching he was a strong contributor to Master Hile's Demo Team.

Through the years Mr. Peters has assisted Master MacDermott with the youth and adult women's self defense classes, as well as other tasks that has helped MacDermott's Tang Soo Do grow into what it has become today.

Out side of Martial Arts Mr. Peters graduated with honors from Stonehill College, is a Certified Paramedic and Firefighter.

Mr. Daniel J. Cunningham

Rank: 3^rd Degree Black Belt

Title: Certified Instructor, Kyo Sa Nim

Mr.Cunningham has been apart of the MacDermott’s Tang Soo Do Kyo Sa Nim Cunningham

family for over twenty years. He started in the art in 1987 and
continued on to get his 1st Degree Black Belt in the fall of 1991 under Grand Master Kim. In the fall of 1993 he was again honored with his second degree Black belt also under Grand Master Kim. After an organizational Split, Mr.Cunningham tested for 3rd Degree black belt under Master MacDermott in the fall of 1996 and became the Instructor of our Taunton YMCA branch.

Mr.Cunningham continues giving back to the Art, and has remained the Instructor of the Taunton YMCA branch studio. He is currently a Certified Firefighter and Paramedic with the Seekonk Fire Department. You can find him at his Taunton YMCA studio teaching children’s and adult’s classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Mr.Cunningham is currently a candidate for 4^th Dan (Master).

Mrs. Lori Beth Hopgood

Rank: 3^rd Degree Black Belt

Title: Certified Instructor, Kyo Sa Nim

Kyo Sa Nim Hopgood

Mrs. Hopgood began studying martial arts with MacDermott's Tang Soo Do in 1994 under William Martin, 5th Degree Moo Duk Kwan, Tang Soo Do. She began teaching when she earned her Black Belt in 1998 and became the one of the instructors of the Bridgewater Fitness Center school youth classes, in the same year.

She is currently the highest-ranking female member of MacDermott’s Tang Soo Do. She earned her 2nd Degree in 2000, 3rd in 2003, and is expecting to earn her Master’s in 2007, all under the instruction of Master MacDermott and Master Martin.

Mrs. Hopgood aided in the successful creation of a Demo Team, in 1999, that is responsible for performing all demonstrations within the local communities. From 2000-2003, she was a co-instructor of the Bridgewater Middle School (grades 5-8) after school program that was funded by a 3 year Federal grant.

Mrs. Hopgood assists Master MacDermott and Master Martin in teaching women's self-defense. She enjoys helping people of all ages, physical and mental limitations, and disabilities succeed in achieving their goals in life and martial arts. She believes that everyone learns at an individual pace, and that patience and discipline are paramount in teaching martial arts.

Ms.Kate Chuilli

Rank: 2^nd Degree Black Belt

Title: Certified Instructor, Kyo Sa Nim

Kyo Sa Nim Chuilli

Ms. Chuilli has achieved over nine years of Martial Arts Experience. She started her Tang Soo Do career under Master Scott Hile (4th Dan Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do) and later received her 1st degree black belt under Master Carl MacDermott (5th Dan Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do) in November of 2004. Later, in November of 2006 she received her 2^nd Degree Black Belt. Ms. Chuilli currently cross-trains in the art of Chinese Kempo under the tutelage of Professor Shawn Gallagher (9th degree) and Professor John Hatfield (8th degree). Her cross training allows her to maintain a unique and interesting way of teaching others.

Beginning in December of 2003, Ms.Chuilli began assisting in the teaching of the Bridgewater Youth class along side the head Instructors at the time(Chris Delmonte, Lori Hopgood, and Sean Peters). Shortly after receiving her 2nd Dan, Ms.Chuilli was promoted to the title of Kyo Sa Nim(Certified Instructor) and began teaching full-time in January of 2007, after a shift of Instructors. She continues to run the youth branch at the Bridgewater Fitness Center. As a teacher, she's seen first hand that anything can be achieved through keeping good character, putting forth a consistent effort, and never being afraid of hard work.

Ms. Chuilli is an avid tournament competitor and judge. In August 2005 Ms. Chuilli became the Grand Champion of open-handed forms at the Bay State Karate Championships. She has aided Master McDermott and Master Martin in many of their endeavors, including seminars, clinics, and demonstrations. She is currently the coach of the Demonstration Team and has been since 2007. She also handles all publications(flyers, forms) necessary for the school. In addition, she is the web designer and has designed and completed the 4th edition of the MacDermott's Tang Soo Do Training Manual. Ms. Chuilli is currently a candidate for 3rd Degree black belt and will be eligible in November 2009.

Mr.John Sullivan

Rank: 2nd Degree Black Belt

Title: Certified Instructor, Kyo Sa Nim

Kyo Sa Nim Sullivan

John began studying martial arts as an undergraduate student at Northeastern University. For four years he learned the Japanese Art of Shotokan, through the Japan Karate Association. In 2002, under the guidance of Master Carl MacDermott and Master Martin, he began studying the Art of Tang Soo Do. He obtained the rank of Cho-Dan (1^st Degree Black Belt) in May, 2006 and E-Dan in June, 2008. Currently, John is studying for the rank of Sam-Dan (3^rd Degree) and has been the Instructor of the East Bridgewater YMCA School since April, 2007.

Martial arts are a strong presence in John’s family. His thirteen year old son, Brendan, is an E-Dan, having earned his 1^st black belt in May, 2005 and E-Dan in June, 2008. His daughter (9), Courtney, is a 2^th Gup (red belt). Both of his children attend class with him at the Bridgewater Fitness Center (home school for MacDermott’s Tang Soo Do). The Sullivan family regularly participates in demonstrations, assists in Women’s Self Defense courses and other school activities.

John enjoys teaching children and adults alike. He believes that there is potential in everyone and through hard work and persistence, everyone’s goals can be met and their full potential can be realized.

Click here to learn about a down south affiliate of MacDermott's Tang Soo Do taught by former student Bob Irving. Read up about his new school, and about Mr.Irving.