Grand Master David Zacker, 8th Dan

Born in Dearborn, MI in 1956, Grand Master Zacker endured a challenging life as a youth. With no father figure in the picture, his family moved to River Rouge, MI in 1960. David Zacker's challenges heightened when his mother passed away in 1963, leaving his grandmother to raise him, his brother Ed and his sister, Suzanne, by herself. The family lived in a small suburb just outside of Detroit, Michigan, and after the Detroit riots broke out, David Zacker’s Grandmother decided it was time for him to learn to defend himself. 

David Zacker and Ed first began training in Chung Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do with Mr. Steve Kelley, a black belt who had just returned home from Korea. Mr. Kelley’s nephew, Allen Tacket, was a friend of Grand Master Zacker’s and thus his journey began, training with Ed and Allen. During this time, David Zacker would watch classes being taught by then Master Dale T. Drouillard in the church basement of Our Lady Of Lourdes, across the street from his house in River Rouge, and finally his grandmother enrolled him to train.

Continuing his journey, David Zacker trained under Mr. Manuel Salis, Jr. in the early 70’s. Mr. Salis was one of the top students of the infamous Mr. Ed Ormanian at the Ecorse Rowing Club. David Zacker recalls the training being hard and disciplined, with his gup tests held at the legendary Korean Karate Academy in Allen Park, originally formed by Master Ed Ormanian, Master Dale Drouillard and Master Gary Hasson. Master Ormanian trained under and with the founder of Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do, Grand Master Hwang Kee, and Hwang Kee's son, Master H. C. Hwang. 

David Zacker continued to train with Master Ormanian's club through the 70's. Many great fighters were born from that club including Maurice Tubbs, Gerald Martin, John Glenn, Jim Cook, Steve Salas, Dennis Salas, and more! The hardest part of training back then, recalls Grand Master Zacker, was the knuckle push ups and korean hops which were nothing compared to sparring the likes of Aaron Ormanian (son of Ed Ormanian) and the now late Ed Malley                                                                        

In 1980, David Zacker began training under the late Grand Master Jae Joon Kim, Dan #38. Grandmaster Jae Joon Kim started his training in Tang Soo Do in 1945 under the direct guidance of Grandmaster Hwang Kee. Grand Master Jae Joon Kim went on to become the President & Founder of the World Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do Federation. However, when Grand Master Kim was still headquartered in Detroit, MI, it was at his headquarters that Grand Master Zacker received his black belt training under the direction of Jae Joon Kim’s son, Saul M Kim. Kim's Karate was also responsible for training the body guards for then Mayor of Detroit, Coleman A. Young, in self defense. DavidMaster Zacker remained with Grandmaster Jae Joon Kim until he moved his headquarters to Florida in 1987.

It was after that time that David Zacker returned to Grand Master Drouillard for a short time at the YMCA in Wyandotte, MI, and trained again with Master Ormanian in Allen Park, MI. Master Ormanian trained him in traditional Chinese weapons as well as Tang Soo Do. David Zacker also trained at Wynn's Tang Soo Do with the late Eli Wynn.

In the 1980's, David Zacker opened his first school at the American GI Forum hall in Detroit. He taught traditional Tang Soo Do and weapons. His students won many titles on the open tournament circuit and the Michigan karate circuit. David Zacker also began teaching students of Tae Kwon Do in traditional weapons forming a bond with other clubs. David Zacker turned out many fine martial artists from that old club.

Also in the 1980’s, David Zacker began training in Shotokan Karate and Aki Jujitsu, along with his Tang Soo Do training, under Grand Master Bobby Bell of Detroit. Training and fighting with Master Bell was full contact. David Zacker recalls that the training was intense and that the closed door training sessions sometimes lasted into the early hours of the morning. Master Bell also trained his students in the weapons of Japan and Okinawa. David Zacker further trained extensively in bunkai (applications) and pressure points within the katas/hyungs with Grand Master Bell. David Zacker formed a lasting friendship with Grand Master Bell and on October 22, 2005, awarded his friend and teacher a life time achievement award at his tournament the “War On The Floor”.

Thanks to his finely tuned self defense, bunkai, and martial arts skills, David  Zacker accepted positions to work as private security, and was hired as a personal body guard in Detroit, Michigan during the 1980’s.

In 1990  David Zacker was Awarded Instructor of the Year.

In the early 1990's, he opened a club at the Renaissance Youth Center in Detroit ,MI. He also opened another club at the Latino Outreach Center in Detroit, MI. David Zacker was the first to have a club alongside the PAL boxing team, where he taught for free in his spare time, to help the inner city kids of Detroit find an alternative to drugs and gangs and violence. He brought them off the street corners and taught them to believe in themselves. Again, David Zacker's students won many titles on the open karate circuit.

During the 1990’s David Zacker became a member of the NWMAA under Master Daniel Stanton.

In the early 1990’s, David Zacker was appointed Director of Security in the City of Dearborn, Michigan along with being sworn in as an ordinance officer. David Zacker was responsible for the security for the Dearborn Twin Towers, Ford World and Ford Motor Credit.

In early 1992, David Zacker joined Grandmaster Chong Su Kim's Pan Am Tang Soo Do Federation. David Zacker opened the first Michigan chapter of the Pan Am Tang Soo Do Federation, Zacker's Tang Soo Do, on Livernois in Detroit, Michigan until 1998. Again David Zacker's students attended and won many tournament championships.

The 1990's also saw David Zacker working in the hospital systems with violent patients in the emergency rooms and psychiatric floors and the mentally challenged, performing safety-first restraints on such patients.

In 2002, David Zacker joined the Korea Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do Society of Korea, under Y. H. Kim. He also formed “Michigan Tang Soo Do” and opened a club sharing space with another instructor of Judo and Isshinryu karate, showing a brotherhood between the two arts.

In 2003, David Zacker was inducted into the history of Tang Soo Do in the USA when he formed his own group the “Tang Soo Do Martial Arts Society”, keeping the name “Michigan Tang Soo Do” for his school, and the TSDMAS for his international organization.

Also in 2003, David Zacker was commissioned by author Len Losik to assist with the writings of Mr. Losik’s books on the Kwans of Tae Kwon Do. David Zacker is acknowledged in the book for his contributions with relation to the history of the Korean arts.

In June of 2004, David Zacker moved Michigan Tang Soo Do to a new location in Lincoln Park, Michigan and followed his lifelong dream to operate his school full time.

Also in 2004, David Zacker was listed in the book “The Greatest People of Tang Soo Do” by author Len Losik, which, according to editorial reviews, boasts that “The Greatest People of Tang Soo Do identifies many of the Korean and American people that have helped to make the Tang Soo Do style of Korean martial arts one of the most popular and versatile styles of all time.”

In November, 2004, David Zacker was promoted to 8th Dan by the World Il Do Kwan Federation, and is listed as 8th Dan in the United States Dan Registry.

In December 2004,  Grand Master Zacker joined the World Il Do Kwan Federation and was appointed Michigan Representative for the WIF-USA. He is a member of the WIF Technical Advisory Council (TAC). Michigan Tang Soo Do Headquarters was also designated an official WIF-USA Black Belt Testing Center. This, along with his Tang Soo Do Martial Arts Society, continues to reach out across the globe with international members.

In June, 2005, Grand Master David A. Zacker was inducted into the 2005 International Martial Arts Hall Of fame, WIF, was awarded the lifetime achievement award for lifelong commitment and contributions to the art of Tang Soo Do, and was sponsored into the prestigious International Assembly of Sokeship, Founders and Headmasters (IASFH)

It was during 2005 that Grand Master Zacker also became a member of the World Stunt Association, assisting filmmakers with Martial Arts fight scenes. His headquarters school was also selected to become the State of Michigan representative as an official World Stunt Association Training center.

In October, 2005 Grand Master Zacker, along with his wife Christy and student John Shafer, hosted the first annual “War On The Floor Tournament” sponsored by the Tang Soo Do Martial Arts Society, and was once again awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Grand Master Zacker has been featured in Black Belt Magazine, and Tae Kwon Do Times Magazine for various feats including the formation of his international organization the Tang Soo Do Martial Arts Society; his promotion to Grand Master; and for an article written by Craig T. Marks, Marissa Marks’ father, entitled "Marissa's Heroes" where the Tang Soo Do Community, under the direction of Grand Master Zacker, came together to help a special little girl.

Grand Master Zacker has been featured on Fox 2 news and his school featured on Channel 7 news.

In 2006, Grand Master Zacker became a life member of the organization “Karate For Christ”.

In October, 2006 Grand Master Zacker opened the Trenton Karate Academy in Trenton, Michigan where he teaches and attends every class still today.

On January 1, 2007, Grand Master Zacker officially formed his “Ho Shin Ki Do” system and philosophy.

In February, 2007 Grand Master Professor Robert Bell and Grand Master Delford Fort of Detroit are awarded lifetime memberships into the Tang Soo Do Martial Arts Society by Grand Master Zacker. Also awarded lifetime memberships are Professor Bells sons, Master Chris Bell and Master Aaron Bell, and his daughter, Nikia Bell.

In February, 2007, Master Chris Bell along with Master Aaron Bell began teaching Jujitsu and grappling at the TSDMAS headquarters in Trenton, Michigan.

In March, 2007 as a show of brotherhood and diversity, Grand Master Zacker received membership in and was awarded 8th Dan in the World Martial Arts College. The President and Founder of the World Martial Arts College, Grand Master Dr. Ibraham Ahmed, received membership in and was awarded 8th Dan in the Tang Soo Do Martial Arts Society.

On March 17, 2007, Grandmaster David Zacker was awarded a Grand Masters Award at the Battle of Detroit in Dearborn, Michigan. The award was presented by Grandmaster Ibraham Ahmed, and the Mayor of Dearborn, John B. O’Reilly, Jr.

In March, 2007, Grand Master Zacker became a member of ICE (Individuals Conquering Excellence Martial Arts Federation) founded by Detroit Karate legend Grand Master Delford Fort.

Also in March, 2007, at a Black Belt Dan testing of the Tornado School of Martial Arts headed by Grand Master Bobby Bell, and hosted by the Yellow Tigers School of Martial Arts owned by Grand Master Delford Fort, with the entire Chicago School present along with some of Detroit’s karate greats and legends, Grand Master Professor Bobby Bell el awarded Grand Master Zacker an 8th Dan certificate signed by all the members of Detroit and Chicago, thus allowing Grand Master Zacker membership into the Tornado School Of Martial Arts. Grand Master Delford Fort was also awarded the esteemed membership.

In September, 2007, Grand Master Zacker and His Tang Soo Do Martial Arts Society were featured in the British Magazine “Tae Kwon Do and Korean Martial Arts”.

On September 16, 2007, Grand Master Zacker became a member of the WSBBA under Grand Master Kevin Taylor, the world record holder for speed brick breaking. Stating that you’re never too old to start, Grand Master Zacker desires to try for a new record and title.

In September, 2007, Grand Master Zacker became a member of and was appointed to the Board of Directors for the United Martial Arts Society (UMAS).

On September 23, 2007, Grand Master Zacker was appointed as Vice President of the WIF USA World Il Do Kwan Federation.

On September 24, 2007, Grand Master Zacker became a member of the NKMAA National Korean Martial Arts Association.

Grand Master Zacker’s current affiliations include: