Robert J Saal, President

Hanshi Robert Saal started martial arts Taekwondo with Il-Joo Kim in January 1966. He was promoted to first and second degree status by Mr. Kim and Mr. Chull Hee Park. In 1972 Hanshi George Anderson left Mr. Kim and started the Central Taekwondo Association and Hanshi Saal went with George Anderson and followed him from 1966 until his death in 2009. Hanshi Saal became a renowned coach and competitor in open tournaments until joining the AAU around 1975. As part of the AAU whose karate program became known as the USA Karate Federation Hanshi Saal coached many competitors in national and world karate competitions over the last 30 years. Also, around 1975 Hanshi Saal started Judo and Jujitsu under Hanshi Anderson and T.R. McClanahan and became involved with the Police Self Defense Instructor program. He was elected President of Kwanmukan in 2009 at the death of Hanshi George Anderson.
Certifications
  • Class A National Referee and Pan American Referee license
  • Tai-Ho Jitsu Qualification PSDI Law Enforcement International
Coaching
  • National and International Coach from 1975-1995
  • Two World Karate Federation (formerly WUKO) World Championships
  • Coached Central and South America Junior Pan American Championships
  • Assistant Instructor in Police self-defense seminars with Masters Robert Trias and Hanshi George Anderson
  • Coached Four National teams with a bronze and two subsequent gold and one silver
  • Baseball coach for ten years winning ten divisional and two State Championships.
  • Strength and fitness coordinator at the high school level
Accomplishments
  • Lead the Junior team and Junior Pan American Championships to first place in Costa Rica in 1986
  • Founding member of Police Self Defense Institute (PSDI) and a Founding Directors
  • Inducted into Black Belt Hall of Fame
  • Founding Director of the United States Jujitsu Federation
Competition
  • Competed in Kumite from 1967-1975 in Taekwondo on the East Coast and Canada