Kidohae (Korea Kido Association) rank of 6th Dan in Hapkido. Heattained his current
Kidohae Rank of 6th Dan in 2002 and Kukkiwon rank of 6th Dan in 2003.
Master Tapia has been certified as a Class A Referee, United States Taekwondo Union
and a Class D Referee, United States Amateur Athletic Union Taekwondo Program. He is
also a Past Treasurer and 1998 "Chief Instructor of the Year" of the now defunct USTU
Nevada State Taekwondo Association.
Master Tapia began practicing Taekwondo in New York City in 1978. Under
GrandMaster Richard Chun he attained Kukkiwon rank of 1st Dan in 1983. Master Tapia
became a student of the late GrandMaster Pong Ki Kim in 1985 and began training in
Hapkido while serving as Chief Taekwondo Instructor. Master Tapia was a Chief
Instructor for eleven years before opening his own Taekwondo Academy in 1993. He
opened his first Hapkido Academy in 2001.
After the death of GrandMaster Pong Ki Kim, Master Tapia became a student of his
current Seniors, Taekwondo GrandMaster Chung Jong-Oh and Hapkido GrandMaster
Kambiz Moghaddam.
Master Tapia moved from New York to Las Vegas in 1997. After serving as Chief
Instructor for prominent local GrandMasters D.S Kim and Byong Kook Oh, he founded
his own World Academy of Taekwondo and Hapkido in 2001.
Master Tapia is the Founder and current President of the Latin-American International
Taekwondo Federation. he is the guiding force behind the LAITF High Performance
Athlete Development and Athlete Support programs as well as a staunch supporter of the
nevada Youth Olympic Taekwondo League and TEAM NEVADA.
In addition to developing numerous State and National titlists Master Tapia's Competition
Record includes;
* 1988 European Taekwondo Champion.
* 1992 & 2002 US National Taekwondo Champion.
Master Tapia continues to compete as circumstances allow.
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