In 1991 Grandmaster Joseph Lupo Sr. alongside Grandmaster Moonsung Lee, opened the Moon S. Lee Taekwondo Institute in Whitestone, Queens, New York. Before the school was even officially open, a young teenage girl would walk in with her father to get some info on the new school in the neighborhood. Upon speaking to GM Joe, a decision was made immediately that this was where she wanted to continue her Taekwondo training. Quickly bonds were formed, Taekwondo families created, passion for the art was ingrained in our hearts through blood, sweat, tears, and wacks with the bamboo stick. Through rigorous training Alana learned how to handle her toughest opponent, life. Thirty Four years later, now a 4th Degree Master in the art, Alana Bari is kicking and punching and practicing the art she fell in love with from Grandmaster Joseph Lupo Sr.'s teachings, a man that inspired her and a generation of Martial Artists.

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Born in New York, raised in California, now based out of Georgetown, Texas, Master Cy Zamani has passed his fair share of ups and downs in life. The one constant that has always pulled him through the hardest of moments is Taekwondo. From the tragic loss of his father, and later his daughter, to a cancer diagnosis, the positivity that Taekwondo brought out in his life pulled him through. Three decades of Taekwondo competition helped Cy Zamani battle his toughest tests, inside and outside the ring. Now he pays it forward to the future generations of athletes in Taekwondo. His story is one of perseverance and loyalty to his craft.

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Master Carlos Villanueva, a 4th Dan Black Belt certified under the Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo) and the New York Black Belt Center, has been a lifelong Taekwondo practitioner under his father, Master Luis Villanueva. Born and raised in Tampa, Florida, his culinary career brought him to the lights of New York City. Here, he found a second home under Master Joseph Lupo Jr. and Master John Rodriguez at the NYBBC. It was a very patient and thorough search for the right Taekwondo school. But once found, he knew he had found the right spot in the Team Wolfpack community. It was not easy; the NYBBC's style of training is very tough both on the mind and physically. At 250 lbs, Carlos knew he had to make a change, not only to better his Taekwondo performance in competition, but for himself, for the betterment of his life. As a certified executive chef, he could use his extensive culinary skills to match his high-level Taekwondo work ethic to kick-start his weight loss and do all this while being a Type 1 diabetic. He made it happen with no easy task, but with a traditional old-school Taekwondo mindset where giving up is not an option. This episode was filmed live at the New York Black Belt Center during the East Coast USA Masters Team seminar. With a live studio audience present and eager to ask Master Carlos about his tremendous journey.

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Sensei Kai Leung, a world-recognized Shotokan Karate Instructor, immigrated to the United States in the early 1960s. A seasoned Goju-Ryu Karate competitor and instructor, Leung's life changed when he met the late Toyotaro Miyazaki, who brought traditional Shotokan Karate to New York.

Leung quit his New York City schoolteacher job and closed his Shotokan Karate dojo in Whitestone, Queens, to work alongside Sensei Miyazaki at the Shotojuku Dojo in Astoria, Queens. Sensei Miyazaki's impact on Sensei Leung's life was profound, forging a relationship that became the catalyst for his expertise in the history of not only his martial art but all other martial arts that originated from the Asian continent.

Sensei Leung talks to us about the "true meaning" of martial arts in a literal, figurative, and spiritual way, delving into the connections across different styles from various parts of the world. He has trained countless fighting champions, Hollywood actors, and award-winning musicians, but he maintains a humble decorum even with his success as a coach and competitor. Sensei Kai Leung is a "True Martial Artist" who continues to teach his craft every day while keeping the legacy of Master Miyazaki alive and strong.

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When most young kids in the 1980s wanted to be Ralph Macchio (Daniel LaRusso) from the Karate Kid movies, Eric Ruiz wanted to be Mr. Miyagi, a teacher of martial arts.

As a teenager, he started learning Taekwondo. Once he gained his footing and built a strong foundation, he began learning other forms of martial arts. Black belts in Taekwondo & Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (under Professor Rob Gutierrez), Eric has also achieved rank in Jeet Kune Do, Jun Fan Gung Fu, Muay Thai Kickboxing, and Combat Submission Wrestling under Sensei Erik Paulson.

Eric understood that to be a good and real teacher of the arts, he needed to immerse himself into the competition world. To teach fighting, one must have fight experience is his mindset. How can you know if a technique works, if you've never used it or been hit by it, was the question he asked himself. This approach set the groundwork for the opening of his school, Ringsport Muay Thai, located in Whitestone, Queens, New York.

A trainer to champions in MMA and Muay Thai is his greatest accomplishment, in his opinion. He is humble in his talk of being a champion professional Muay Thai fighter, having spent time in Thailand. Molding martial artists is his passion. Molding them through real life and in-ring experience. A model that many instructors should follow in their pursuit of teaching excellence.

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Before she became one of the most fearsome Taekwondo competitors on the planet, Grandmaster Mechelle Smith began Taekwondo in 1979 as an introverted teenager training at Grandmaster Les Zampino's school, the Northeast Taekwondo Academy in Rotterdam, NY. Training during a time when women were few on the training floor, she persisted and took the leap into competition, losing every tournament over the next two years.

Smith persevered, becoming a national champion and a potential team member for the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea, but a controversial decision robbed her of that opportunity.

Again, Smith refused to back down and returned to training. Her new attitude earned her a Gold medal at the 1992 Pan American Championships and a massive victory over the reigning Olympic gold medalist from Korea, cementing her as one of the greatest athletes to ever compete for the USA.

With an impressive competition resume, she opened MW Taekwondo in 1998 to teach the next generation of martial artists "her way" against a male-dominated industry. Twenty-five years later, she is the National Team Coach for the AAU, and at 60 years old, Grandmaster Smith stepped back onto the mats one more time to win gold medals at the Masters Games in Italy and Korea.

Master Joseph Lupo Jr. chats with this phenomenal fighter, coach, and teacher to share her stories and experiences with the world and prove why it's never too late to put on the uniform.

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In sports, we always talk about "legends" that paved the way for the present modern-day superstars. Whether it's Michael Jordan in basketball, Wayne Gretzky in hockey, or Pele in soccer....the list is endless. In the short history of Taekwondo and open-style martial arts tournaments, Mark Williams is a name that always comes up in conversations. 5x Grand Champion of S. Henry Cho's All-American Open. It is an event that boasts Chuck Norris as a 2x Grand Champion. An event that was fought in the hallowed halls of Madison Square Garden, the house Muhammad Ali "built."

A student of Grandmaster Kim, Ki-Chung, in New Jersey. Master Mark Williams goes into detail about the tough training endured and the mentality of the fighters of the past. Where competition teetered along the lines of an actual fight, not a sport. He speaks to us of his most formidable opponents and those who paved the way and inspired him to greatness.

Stories of a generation of the past that laid the foundation for today. The methods might not work today, but the stories only give us a greater appreciation of the sport in the modern era.

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Master Joe takes a trip to Texas for the US Masters Cup Taekwondo Championships! Masters aged Taekwondo athletes (aged 33 and up) from across the United States and the world converged in Houston from January 17th through the 18th, 2025 for an epic tournament made just for them.

This event featured international competitors from the USA, Spain, Sweden, Great Britain, Mexico, Iceland and Holland, competing in sport poomsae (forms), sparring, and the Team Combat event. USA Masters Team Captain and founder Master Trinity Tongg Osborn speaks to us about what the US Masters Team represents and the importance of the US Masters Cup to the older aged athletic community. The sacrifices that are made and the obstacles that are overcome by athletes participating in this prestigious event.

We talk about the benefits of sport both physically and psychologically for the participating athlete. How the true victory is not in the color of the medal, but simply just stepping onto the competitive mat. BBWOL is on scene at the event interviewing participating athletes and coaches who talk about their life experiences and how this event is important to them. Master Trinity ends the episode with a heartfelt emotional message on her goals for the USA Masters Team and how much the team means to her.

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Follow the Black Belt Way of Life podcast on:

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