Grand Master, Professor Monte W Beghtol, founder of Western Michigan Tae Kwon Do
The history of Western Michigan Tae Kwon Do begins with Professor Monte W Beghtol. In
1963, Pf Beghtol began training and progressed to black belt with Ernie Leib founder of
the American Karate System. At his 1st Dän testing, Pf Beghtol was fortunate enough to
spar with Mr. Bill “Super-foot” Wallace and Tadashi Yamashita both excellent
men and well known in the martial arts. Pf Beghtol began training in 1967 with
Mr. Edward B Sell from Detroit in Tae Kwon Do Chung Do Kwan. Mr. Sell formed
The U.S. Chung Do Kwan Association, of which Pf Beghtol was the Vice-President
for many years. September 30, 1973, Pf Beghtol earned his 4th Dän testing before
Dr. Un-Yong Kim in Detroit, MI. This achievement made Pf Beghtol the 2nd Non-Asian
in the world to achieve the rank of Kukkiwon Certified 4th Dän Black-Belt surpassed
only by Mr. Edward Sell.
Pf Beghtol formed Western Michigan Tae Kwon Do 1980-1981. The purpose was to grow
beyond the limits of traditional TKD and explore all techniques that can aid in
self-defense in a practical way. Pf Beghtol teaches techniques from every
imaginable source. His philosophy is simple and expressed in the phrase
he coined many years ago "If it works on me today, its Tae Kwon Do tomorrow."
Imitation being the supreme form of flattery, some others now use similar
phrasing.
Pf Beghtol continues to honor us by teaching on Wednesdays at the Grand Haven venue,
Griffin Elementary School, from 6pm-8pm, as well as at the association black belt
workouts every 6 weeks. His teachings transcend the martial arts and if we let them,
help us to be better people, more disciplined, self-confident and thus able to be more
compassionate and understanding with others in the rest of our daily lives.
