About Us

About Us

Egg Harbor Township, Hamilton Township and EHT PAL Recreation Departments

and

YI’S MARTIAL ARTS INSTITUTE

MARTIAL ARTS CLASSES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS

The recreation departments and Yi’s Karate Institute are very proud to accept this opportunity to introduce you to the Martial Art of Tang Soo Do. This is the program that we’ve offered for over 15 years in Egg Harbor and Hamilton Townships. This program has been very successful and our students ranging from beginner to Black Belt, have distinguished themselves time and again at tournaments throughout the Tri-State area and Europe.

Master Instructors:

Master Martin Carson 7th Degree Black Belt: He started his training in late 1972 at Shin Karate Institute in Burlington, NJ under Grand Master Jae Chul Shin the founder of US Tang Soo Do Federation under Grand Master Hwang Kee of Korea and later organized and now heads World Tang Soo Do Association . At this time Grand Masters Chung Sik Kim and Ki Yun Yi were sent from Korea to teach here for Korean Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwon (Soo Buk Do) Federation headed by Grand Master Hwang Kee. So Master M. Carson had the training and knowledge of three of the best known instructors in the United States then and now to start his training and building of skills to teach. He received his Black Belt in 1974 from Korea and Korean Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwon Federation and his Black Belt number from them is 19484.During his long and illustrious career Master M. Carson opened his first gym in Egg Harbor Township in late 1979 when he had received his 3rd Degree Black Belt. Master M. Carson has produced students who hold ranks as high currently thru 5th Degree Black Belt who still train with him now. Master Carson teaches classes in both Egg Harbor and Hamilton Townships. Also in 2006 Master M. Carson was recognized by many prominent Grand Masters in the Korean Martial Arts for his diligence and promotion of the Korean Martial Arts both here in the states and Europe. This led to a few awards for him including Martial Artist of the Year from a body of Grand Masters in both Tae Kwon Do and Tang Soo Do in Pittsburg, Pa in May of 2006 at one of the largest tournaments held on the East Coast.

Other accomplishments are:

…being acknowledged in the late 70's as the top forms competitor in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware by Black Belt Magazine,

…Traveling to Hong Kong and mainland China on the US Tang Soo Do Team in August 1984 to tour and compete there.

…In October of that same year he received his Master Instructors certification under World Tang Soo Do Association.

…He currently holds a 7th Degree Black Belt and International Master Instructors certification with International Martial Arts Association

…and is the Secretary General of I.M.A.

…In 2006 received Martial Artist of the Year at National All Martial Arts Championship

Has won 8 Grand Champion trophies along with over 100 first thru third places in tournaments along the east coast.

Master Carson's back hook kick

	Master Raymond Carson 5th Degree Black Belt: He started training in 1977 at Yi's Karate Institute in Woodbury, NJ with Grand Master Ki Yun Yi. Master R. Carson has competed in tournaments here on the East Coast, and has been teaching for 30 years. He received his 1st. Degree Black Belt in 1980 in Egg Harbor Township at his brother’s gym. He also teaches in both gyms which blends his knowledge and skills to help build great students in the gyms.
	Master Fred Hair 5th Degree Black Belt: He started his training in 1980 with Master M. Carson and is a certified principal and teacher in elementary school lending many teaching talents to the students training. Master F. Hair teaches the monthly Black Belt classes for the students from both gyms.
	Master Pat Carson 5th Degree Black Belt: She started training with Master M. Carson in Burlington at Shin Karate Institute also in 1972 but left training to raise a family and is now back again. Master P. Carson was also listed as the top woman's fighter in the late 70's by Black Belt Magazine for New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. She is a certified teacher and is part of the testing board for the gyms. Master P. Carson has over 100 trophies in free fighting from first place to third, though when she was competing there were no Grand Champion trophies in the women's divisions.
	Master Chuck Vertolli 5th Degree Black Belt: He started training in 1986 in Vineland, NJ under Master D. Reed with Yi's Karate in Vineland, he moved to Master M. Carson at Cho Dan Bo and has been training and teaching for him ever since. Master C. Vertolli teaches the tournament free fighting classes held on Sundays for students interested in competing in open tournaments. Master Vertolli won Grand Champion in men's free fighting at the Garden State Tournament in Woodbury NJ and has over 30 first thru third place trophies to his credit. Check out VinelandMartialarts.com for Master Vertolli's gym.
	Master Wade Dix 4th Degree Black Belt: Master Dix started training in January of 1993. Martial arts have become a major part of his life. He enjoys training, teaching and competing. Through competition, Master Dix has accummulated a totol of over 100 first through third place trophies and 6 Grand Champion trophies in free fighting and forms. He plans to continue training, teaching, and competing.

Instructors:

3rd Degree Black Belts:

Rich Walters, Angie Walters, Nancy Barberi, Joe Barberi, Bonnie Griffiths, Joe Griffiths, Kristy MacCain, Barb Polun, Robert Barrett and Mitch Polun.

Assistant Instructors:

2nd Degree Black Belts:

Steve Perri, Jack Shanker, Jeff Dix, Brenda Schenker, Jennifer Mazziotto, Karen Dimacale, Donna Papaycik and Christine Papaycik.

All of the listed instructors are certified each year through I.M.A. to keep their skills and the Associations standards up to date. This allows students training in a certified I.M.A. school to train in any of our other schools as well as at the main school with Grand Master Yi if needed.