Master Instructor Michael R. March

The Head Instructor of Mike March's Korean Karate is Master Instructor Mike March. He currently holds a 7th Dan (Degree) Black/Midnight Blue Belt in MDK Tang Soo Do. Master March is also the head of the United States Korean Karate Association, which he founded in the mid-70s.

Master March has won over 250 State and National level competitions in point sparring. He was the Captian fo the "Detroit All-Stars" Black Belt competition team that won the East Coast and Mid-West Team Champioinships. Even though he weighed in at the top of the Middle Weight division, Master March always fought in Heavy Weight! His teammates and sparring partners were the likes of "Monster Man" Everett Eddy, Johnny Lee, George Reynolds, Willy Adams, Robb Hogan, etc. In competition, he has (at one time or another) BEATEN some of the best fighters in the nation at that time. Fighters like Jeff Smith (7-time World Light Hvy Wt. Karate Champ, Black Belt Hall of Fame, coached US Karate Team); Ken Knudson (1971 Grand Champion Gold Cup, 1972 Top Ten Nationals champ, over 100 Champ titles); John Natividad (TSD stylist, member of Chuck Norris’ Championship Black Belt Team, world rated fighter, US Championship Karate Team member); Glenn Keeney (PKA & USKA member, Black Belt Hall of Fame member, founder of the PKC) and more. As a matter of fact, when Master March and John Natividad fought on the Redondo Beach Pier (Detroit All-Stars vs. Chuck Norris' Championship Team), Master March won by one point, but the Detroit All-Stars team lost by one point in a very close match.

Master March is a skilled Martial Artist who is also a gifted instructor. His skill and teaching style inspire all who train with him. He openly shares all he has learned with his students and will unselfishly guide them forward to their goals.

Check out the new photos of past magazine and newspaper coverage of Master March’s competitive career in Photo Album 2.

In 1965, Master March began training in Tang Soo Do with Master David J. Praim, co-founder of Korean Karate Clubs, Inc. Master March went on to become a member of the elite Karate Institute Competition and Demonstration Team. In his successful competition career, Master March won over 180 Local, State, National, and International trophies while competing in Black Belt Forms and Fighting. Master March also became the captain of the "Detroit All-Stars", undefeated Midwest National Black Belt Team. All five members were nationally ranked in fighting competition, undefeated in 4 years, and won a combined total of 800 trophies among its five members.

Lincoln Park, Michigan, circa 1975 The names of some prominent TSD instructors are listed. Master Mike March is the highest ranking student in this class. He is clearly seen at the far left of the photo

Master March was also a guest fighter with the Ohio Karate Institute Competition Team at Jhoon Rhee's Grand Nationals in Washington D.C. Master March was also a member of the Michigan Board of Directors of Karate Institute and the United States Tang Soo Do - Moo Duk Kwan Federation

Master March went on to be the founder and President of United States Korean Karate Association, an organization that is still active today. Many of his students who have opened up clubs of their own are members of the USKKA. Master March’s vision for the USKKA was (and still is) to promote the highest standards of physical and mental performance and discipline while training and teaching traditional Tang Soo Do the way it was taught by Grand Master Hwang Kee himself. Master March has trained with, and has been promoted by Grand Master Hwang Kee personally, so he knows from first hand experience what Grand Master’s standards of excellence were and what Tang Soo Do stands for.

Some of Master March’s accomplishments:

Bachelor's Degree in Education
Majors: Biology and Physical Education
Master's Degree in Educational Leadership
Master's Degree in Physical Education

Personally trained with Grand Master Hwang Kee, the Founder of Moo Duk Kwan - Tang Soo Do, and was promoted to 4th Dan by him in 1976.

Started first Korean Karate class for college credit in Michigan at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI.

Held first Intercollegiate Karate Competition in Michigan at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI.

Master March was one of the nation’s best fighters when he was actively competing in the ‘70s and early ‘80s. He has over a hundred state and national titles to his credit (in Forms as well as Fighting) and has had many of his students go on to successful competitive careers. He has been listed in magazines of the time like: Professional Karate, Summer 1973, Spring & Summer 1974, Great Lakes Region’s Top 10. He captained the East Coast & Midwest Black Belt Teams and was also ranked in the Top 10 by Official Karate Magazine in the mid-70s. He fought (and has beaten) many of the top fighters of that era, as evidenced by the coverage in most of the magazines of the time (his picture appears numerous times in these publications).

Please check out the Photo Album 2 page that highlights the magazine and newspaper coverage of Master March’s competitive career.

Master March was awarded his 7th Dan Black Belt on the 17th of October 2010 by KJN Chung Il Kim (10th Dan, Pin #475) in Chicago, IL. Long time student Master Floyd Soo also tested that day and was awarded his 6th Dan.