Vice Chairman of the WTA to Attend Mid-Atlantic WTA Regional Championship on May 11th!
Dear master instructor, instructor, school owner, fellow black belt,
As you know, I am hosting a tournament May 11th sanctioned by a new organization to our area, the World Taekwon-Do Alliance (WTA). While most of you know very little about this organization, they are a truly international organization. The USA chapter is very strong out West and in the South. They also have an excellent Dan Certification Program. They host Black Belt Camps/Retreats each summer in the beautiful Ozark Mountains at their lodge. The WTA host several National Championships each year as well as participate in International Championships abroad (this year in Canada, England, and Russia). I, too, am still learning about the organization and I like what I’m seeing! Their Black Belt athletes are very, very talented. Some of the best I’ve seen anywhere.
I am excited to announce the Vice Chairman of the WTA Grand Master Scott McNeely, 9th Dan will be attending the May 11th Mid-Atlantic WTA Championship to meet and greet everyone as well as answer questions, concerns comments, etc., about the WTA. I hope all of you with an interest in finding out more about the WTA get a chance to talk with GM McNeely. He’s extremely personable and easy going. Please find time to introduce yourself and chat with GM McNeely while at the Championship on May 11th.
Yours in TKD
Master Roger Cavanaugh
Tournament Director
Grand Master Scott McNeely
As a fifteen-year old student of Taekwon-Do, Scott McNeely began his Taekwon-Do career in Hot Springs, Arkansas under Mr. Robert Hardin. Today, with a thirty-three- year teaching career that is ongoing, Grand Master Scott McNeely enjoys status as one of the highest ranked, active practitioners of Taekwon-Do who does not have a Korean heritage. Noted as being the “Youngest Instructor to have achieved the 9th degree Black Belt from the original pioneers of Taekwon-Do”. His communication skills, charisma, and commitment to the martial art are unprecedented and are a source of continuing inspiration to his students and the living pioneers of Taekwon-Do.
Some highlights of Grand Master McNeely’s career include the following:
1972 – Earned 1st Degree Black Belt
1973 – Began teaching in Benton, Arkansas
1975 – Founded the first Taekwon-Do training school in Fort Smith, Arkansas
1981 – Assumed the role of Regional Chief of Instructor for the American Taekwon-Do Federation as a 4th Degree Black Belt.
1983 – Assumed the role of Vice-President, United States Taekwon-Do Federation
1986 – Began training with Grand Master Cho, Pung Que
1986 – In Houston, T
exas, trained with the Founder of Taekwon-Do, General Choi Hong Hi
1986 – Inducted into the International Karate Hall of Fame with Bill “Super Foot” Wallace
1987 – Coached and led the first USTF Team to compete internationally at the 5th ITF World Championships in Athens, Greece.
1990 – Assumed the role of President of the United States Taekwon-Do Federation
1990 – Co-founded the Global Taekwon-Do Federation
1990 – Began training with Grand Master Park Jung Tae in Toronto, Canada
1990 – Developed the USTF Instructor Training Manuals.
1994 – Assumed the role of Secretary General of the Global Taekwon-Do Federation
1994 – Demonstrated at the GTF World Championships in Sardinia, Italy, unveiling a new pattern designed by Grand Master Park.
1994 – Along Grand Master Park, served as GTF ambassador throughout Europe and North America.
1994 – Tested under Grand Master Park Jung Tae for 7th Degree Black Belt in Toronto, Canada.
1994 – Led a training excursion comprising fifty-one black belts to Yong In University in Seoul, South Korea to train with the gold medal Olympic Fighting Team
2002 – Tested under Grand Master Park Jung Tae for 8th Degree Black Belt in Hot Springs, Arkansas during the USTF Grand Nationals.
2002 – Formed the World Taekwon-Do Alliance after the death of Grand Master Park Jung Tae.
2004 – Assumed the role of USTF Chairman.
2004 – Assumed the role of President, Legacy Unity Vision Films, LLC, an entity founded to produce a feature length documentary on Taekwon-Do
2005 – Met and began training with Grand Master Kong Young Il.
2005 – Assumed the role of Vice-President, International Chang Hon Taekwon-Do Federation.
2006 – Tested for 9th Degree Black Belt before the Pioneers of Taekwon-Do in Las Vegas, Nevada during the First WTA Tournament.
2006 – Assumed the role of Executive Vice-President of the newly organized World Taekwon-Do Alliance.
2010– Attended the Taekwon-Do World Championships in Teleford, England.
Became involved with Taekwon-Do International as a member country. (Gold medal won by Mr. Steven Miller in the heavy weight division. Student of Grand Master Robert Hardin, CTF.)
