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Of modest height and slender build, his physique hardly suggests a man capable of inflicting a fatal blow against an attacker. However, at age 49, Jae Chul Shin is an accomplished martial artist who holds an eighth degree black belt and is founder and grandmaster of the World Tang Soo Do Association.
Shin also is a successful businessman. Not only does he own and operate two karate schools -- one of them in New Jersey -- but as grandmaster it is his duty to oversee and consult in the operation of over 200 schools throughout the world. Currently, the membership stands at 20,000 and includes 2,000 black belt students and instructors. Undoubtedly, Shin's most popular student was Chuck Norris of karate film fame.
America's perception of the martial arts has changed considerably over the years, Shin says.
"When I first came to this country almost 20 years ago, Americans' interest in karate was limited to the self-defense aspect only," he explains. "Today, however, many Americans have adopted the art as a way of life. The study of Tang Soo Do does not promote violence. Rather, it provides a way of thinking and acting that will guide you in all areas of your life and make you a better person."
Tang Soo Do is a Korean classical martial art which was influenced by the fighting tactics used during the T'ang Dynasty of China. From 1909 to 1945, the practice of...