USTF Region III Banner

Founded in 1973, the mandate of the USTF is to teach and promote Taekwon-Do according to the guidance of the late General Choi Hong Hi, originator of Taekwon-Do.

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USTF Info - Regional Director Info - State Director Info - Newsletters

United States Taekwon-Do Federation Region 3

Welcome to the official United States Taekwon-Do Federation's (USTF) Region 3 website. Region 3 is composed of eight states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Each state that has at least one USTF school has a State Director and the region has a Regional Director. The Regional Senior Masters and Masters, the Regional Director, and each State Director report to Sr. Grand Master Sereff and Grand Master Sereff. State Directors oversee all USTF activities within their respective states and the Regional Director oversees USTF activities within the region.

Grand Master Earl Weiss (IX Dan) and Senior Master F. M. Van Hecke (VIII Dan) provide valuable input into the direction of Taekwon-Do activities within the Region III. The Region Director is sixth dan Marianne Armstrong. Grand Master Weiss oversees Taekwon-Do activities for the state of Illinois, seventh dan Master Ron Britt oversees the state of Ohio, sixth dan Mrs. Marianne Armstrong and fifth dan Mr. Charles Giotto oversee the state of Michigan, and fifth dan Mrs. Jacqueline Karpinsky takes care of Wisconsin. Indiana, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Minnesota do not have any USTF schools at this time, so there is no State Director.

The USTF was formed in 1973 and has been affiliated with the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) under the leadership of Choi, Hong Hi, founder of Taekwon-Do. Sr. Grand Master Sereff was a most loyal student of General Choi and he continues to uphold the integrity of Chang-Hun Taekwon-Do. Sr. Grand Master Sereff was the first non-Korean ITF master in the world and first ITF Grand Master in the United States. He has served as Secretary General and Vice President of the ITF.

The USTF has the highest ranking ITF female in the world, as General Choi awarded Grand Master Renee Sereff her well-deserved ninth dan. Both Sr. Grand Master Sereff and Grand Master Sereff have been on the cover of the prestigious Taekwon-Do Times martial arts magazine. The USTF also has within its organization Grand Master Mike Winegar, the first person to achieve ninth dan status under the instruction of Grand Master Sereff.

There are many non-USTF Taekwon-Do groups in Region 3; however, members of the USTF are at a great advantage. First, the USTF has members who are second to none in their history with the founder of Taekwon-Do, in their character, and in their skill. The USTF was the first federation in the United States to develop and publish books and videotapes on the sequential content requirements for rank advancement at the national level. The USTF was the first federation to organize and publish at the national level detailed information on Step-Sparring, Tournament Rules and Regulations, and a summary Patterns book. The USTF is a national federation with standardized requirements that promote the consistency and integrity of Taekwon-Do. High standards of quality are also promoted through certification requirements of USTF students. These include: Instructor, Referee, and Hosin-Sul courses. The USTF holds national level tournaments and World Camp (where participants from various countries come together in fellowship and learning). Another benefit of being a member of the USTF is the presence of an external monitoring and governing body that validates rank and prevents the questionable practice of internal self-promotion within a group. The USTF is federation of committed individuals with strong passion for learning and growing together in a positive culture of community.

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Ms. Marianne Armstrong, VI Dan

Region III Director

6733 Vantage Drive SE
Caledonia, MI 49316
616.498.2706

Mrs. Armstrong's Email

Read Mrs. Armstrong's Martial Arts Resume

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Region III serves members in the the following states:

Illinois

State Director: Grand Master Earl Weiss, IX Dan

10024 Skokie Blvd. #240
Skokie, IL 60077
847.679.5580
Grand Master Weiss' Email

Indiana

State Director: (currently vacant)

Indiana does not currently have
a state director. Interested
practitioners should contact Mrs. Armstrong.

Kentucky

State Director: (currently vacant)

Kentucky does not currently have
a state director. Interested
practitioners should contact Mrs. Armstrong.

Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

State Director: Mrs. Marianne Armstrong, VI Dan

6733 Vantage Dr.
Caledonia, Michigan 49316
616.498.2706
Mrs. Armstrong's Email

Michigan (Upper Peninsula)

State Director: Mr. Charles Giotto, V Dan

440 Peterson Avenue
Ishpiming, Michigan 49849
906.485.1366
Mr. Giotto's Email

Minnesota

State Director: (currently vacant)

Minnesota does not currently have
a state director. Interested
practitioners should contact Mrs. Armstrong.

Ohio

State Director: Master Ron Britt, VII Dan

123 Main Street
Anytown, IL 60045

Master Britt's Email

West Virginia

State Director: (currently vacant)

West Virginia does not currently have
a state director. Interested
practitioners should contact Mrs. Armstrong.

Wisconsin

State Director: Mrs. Jacqueline Karpinsky, V Dan

312.234.2505
Mrs. Karpinsky's Email

 

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