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| Sabom Nim Duane D. Pitcher and Sabom Nim Valerie M. Watson, CPA (SEE OTHER INSTRUCTORS, listed below)
Master Pitcher started training in Tang Soo Do in 1992, having joined with his
son Michael in a class that preached discipline, respect, self defense and
leadership skills. His other three
children, Aaron, Jeremy and Christie also began training at that time.
Michael (a Sam Dan) and Christie (a Cho Dan) continue to still train
today. Master Pitcher first trained
under Grandmaster Chun Sik Kim’s International Tang Soo Do Federation from
somewhere around the mid 90's until November of 2004.
(Master Pitcher suffered a devastating
loss when a fire burned his house completely to the ground.
He and his four children lost every single possession they owned.
Included in those were his Gup (under Black Belt) Certificates from his
previous instructor. So, Master
Pitcher guesses that the organization he used to train with had joined the ITF
about a year or so after he began training, which would put it around 1993.
Not having any records to consult, the exact year he joined the ITF as a
Gup is not known to him, and could have been later in the 90's.
However, he has his First, Second, Kyo Sa and Third Degree black belt
certificates hanging in the dojang (so they were not burned in the fire) that
verify the dates he tested for those ranks with the ITF.
He tested for his 4th degree Master in 2005, and 5th degree in 2009 in
front of an even more esteemed Board of several Grandmasters including GM David
Zacker, Supreme Great GM Bobby Bell (who stated "you're still my favorite kata
guy" during his O Dan test), GM Larry Jose, and other high ranking Masters
including Master Chris Bell (5th), Master Terry Shaw (6th), Master Alvin Thomas
(7th), and more.)
In 2004 he met several Tang Soo Do practitioners in the Metro Detroit area.
This opened the door to a whole new undiscovered world of Tang Soo Do Masters
and Grandmasters right here in our own backyard, along with skilled and
legendary instructors from other styles, that Master Pitcher began training
with, and continues to train with today.
Master Pitcher began
teaching the same classes he had previously attended in the school gymnasiums,
only a few years after his own training had begun.
By February of 1997 he achieved the rank of Cho Dan, and in October of
1998, successfully tested for Kyo Sa (certified professional instructor) under
Grandmaster Chun Sik Kim. Master
Pitcher went on to test for E Dan in February of 1999, and Sam Dan in February
of 2002, also under Chun Sik Kim. As stated above Master Pitcher left his
previous instructor in 2004, which means by default he left the ITF as well, but
went on to test for his 4th degree Master in 2005, and 5th degree in 2009 in
front of an even more esteemed Board of several Grandmasters including GM David
Zacker, Supreme Great GM Bobby Bell (who stated "you're still my favorite kata
guy" during his O Dan test), GM Larry Jose, and other high ranking Masters
including Master Chris Bell (5th), Master Terry Shaw (6th), Master Alvin Thomas
(7th), and more. These certificates,
signed by the five highest ranking testing board members, are also hanging in
the dojang.
In August of 1998,
Master Pitcher left his previous career to pursue opening his own karate school.
He met with Grandmaster C. S. Kim and received his approval,
encouragement, and moral support.
Together with his wife, Master Valerie Watson whom he met at “Karate Camp” in
June, 1997, they opened Farmington Tang Soo Do (now known as World Class
Institute of Martial Arts) on December 1, 1998.
Master Pitcher has
successfully competed in a multitude of tournaments, with 1st, 2nd,
and 3rd place trophies and medals regularly adorning his walls in all
events, and especially in weapons, breaking and hyungs.
One of his favorite achievements was at the 8th World
Championship International Tang Soo Do Federation Tournament in Panama City,
Panama in which he earned the Gold Medal in Black Belt Forms.
At the “Battle of
Detroit” tournament on March 17, 2007, Grandmaster Dr. Ibraham Ahmed, together
with the Mayor of Dearborn, John O’Reilly, presented Master Pitcher with the
“2007 Martial Arts Leadership Award.”
Master Pitcher was one of the first-ever to be selected for this honor.
In 2002 Master Pitcher was voted "Man of the Year-Tang Soo Do" by USA Martial
Arts, and in 2008 received Instructor of the Year and was inducted into the
TSDMAS Hall of Fame.
Master Valerie Watson
began training with her son, Master T. J. Norton – when T.J. was only five.
A little more than 4 years later, they tested for Cho Dan in front of
Grandmaster Chun Sik Kim; E Dan 2 years later (also with the ITF); Sam Dan 3
more years after that; and Master (Sa Dan) nearly 4 more years after that!
Master Watson had also tested in front of Grandmaster Chun Sik Kim for the title
of Kyo Sa (certified professional instructor) in 2003.
She was one of the few candidates that year that passed the grueling day
in front of the ITF Board for Kyo Sa.
T.J. and Valerie have both trained under Master Pitcher since they were 7
gups, and are the first students that Master Pitcher has promoted to Master!
Master Watson, also a
CPA, had spent 12 years with the "big" international public accounting firms,
but left her last position as Director of Tax with an International Consulting
Firm in April, 2003 to teach karate and run the World Class Institute of Martial
Arts full-time. She has been the
director of several large-scale tournaments, and together with Master Pitcher,
has been Director of the Tang Soo Do Division for the esteemed Battle of Detroit
tournament for many years. She was
the recipient of the “Most Valuable Black Belt Award” with a former
organization, and the very first-ever to receive the Martial Arts Leadership
Award, jointly presented by Grandmaster Ahmed and the Mayor of Dearborn, John
O’Reilly at the Battle of Detroit in March, 2007. In 2008 Master Watson
was awarded Instructor of the Year, and in 2009 was inducted into the Tang Soo
Do Martial Arts Society Hall of Fame.
World Class Institute
of Martial Arts proudly hosted a seminar in July, 2006, by Grandmaster Kang Uk
Lee, Dan #70, 10th Dan, and one of the most senior students of Hwang
Kee, as well as President and Founder of the United Kingdom Tang Soo Do (Soo
Bahk Do) Federation. Master Pitcher
received a prestigious "Award of Excellence" from Grandmaster Kang Uk Lee for
his contributions to the martial arts and Tang Soo Do.
Master Pitcher and
Master Watson were awarded the first-ever School of the Month award by
Grandmaster David Zacker, through his Tang Soo Do Martial Arts Society.
And in 2008 World Class Institute of Martial Arts was voted The Best School.
In 2009, World Class
Institute of Martial Arts was voted "Best Martial Arts School" in the Channel 4
Vote for the Best contest! And in 2010 Grandmaster Delford Fort honored
Master Pitcher and Master Watson at his annual Spirit of Detroit Tournament,
with an award for their commitment to the martial arts and community service.
Other Active WCIMA Black Belt Instructors: Master T.J. Norton, Kyo Sa Michael Pitcher, Kyo Sa Allen McMillan (Canton Head Instructor), Sam Dan David Green, Kyo Sa Barry Green, E Dan Justin Lane, E Dan Austin Charest, Kyo Sa Christie Pitcher, Kyo Sa Ransom Posh, Kyo Sa Dan Tara Hernes, E Dan Thomas Gerrish, E Dan James Green, E Dan Patrick Long, E Dan Jessica Bullion, Cho Dan Jon Stanis, Cho Dan Kevin Chambo, Cho Dan Lila Currie, Cho Dan Warren DiCicco, Cho Dan Nick Moniuszko, Cho Dan Justin Pitcher and Cho Dan Ella Wilson. (Please note, the other black belts from Canton are not included above. You can read all about these fine instructors at cantonkarate.com, or visit Canton Karate's facebook page to learn more.) World
Class Institute of Martial Arts:
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