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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 train still 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 addition, in 2009, World Class Institute of Martial Arts was voted "Best Martial Arts School" in the Channel 4 Vote for the Best contest!
A letter from a young boy hangs in the dojang of the World Class
Institute of Martial Arts and is addressed:
“Dear Mr. and Mrs. Tang Soo Do.”
Master Pitcher and Master Watson say that they dare to dream of the day
they could actually live up to such an honor as “Mr. and Mrs. Tang Soo Do,”
but posted the letter nonetheless to remind themselves of the importance of what
they do and how significantly Tang Soo Do affects the lives of others.
The day they received that letter, Master Pitcher and Master Watson knew
the hard work opening their own school was worth it.
Other Active WCIMA Black Belt Instructors: Master T.J. Norton, Kyo Sa Michael Pitcher, Kyo Sa Bill Martin (Taylor), Kyo Sa Allen McMillan (Canton), E Dan Nick Schulz, E Dan Tyler Cooley, E Dan David Green, Kyo Sa Barry Green, E Dan Ryan Odien, E Dan Nolan Case, E Dan Justin Lane, Cho Dan Austin Charest, Cho Dan Christie Pitcher, Cho Dan Jared Rashid, Cho Dan Kevin Callaghan, Cho Dan Erin Uhelski, Cho Dan Jo Rayburn, Cho Dan Ransom Posh, Cho Dan Kathy Green, Cho Dan Dane Morrow, Cho Dan James Green, Cho Dan Tara Hernes, Cho Dan Colin Krupp, Cho Dan Thomas Gerrish, Cho Dan Jon Stanis, Cho Dan Patrick Long, Cho Dan Matthew Spohr, Cho Dan Mason Halseth, Cho Dan Jessica Bullion, Cho Dan Hannah Knupp. (Please note, other than the Taylor and Canton school owners that are students of Master Pitcher's, the other black belts from those schools are not included above. You can read all about these fine instructors at cantonkarate.com, and victorymartialartsandfitness.com, or visit Canton Karate's and Victory Martial Arts' facebook page to learn more.) World
Class Institute of Martial Arts:
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