Master of the Year
Master Michael Mertens
Master Michael Mertens began his Tae Kwon
Do training in 1983 in Syracuse, New York,
under Master Th omas Hernandez. After
achieving his green belt, Mertens went on
to train with Master Hernandez’s instructor,
Grandmaster Sun Chong. While studying under
Grandmaster Chong, Mertens earned his black
belt and became a successful competitor at
both the state and national level, and captain of
the Cornell University sparring team. He was
a three-time New York state champion and a
two-time collegiate national bronze medalist.
After college, Grandmaster Chong invited
Mertens to join him in opening new dojangs
in the larger city of Buff alo, New York.
According to Mertens,“I was honored by the
request, and said yes to the idea right away.
No other opportunity appealed to me as
much as a future in the Tae Kwon Do fi eld.
I greatly admired Grandmaster Chong’s
vision and commitment to run schools that
would be innovative and professional.”
Over the next twenty-fi ve years, Grandmaster
Chong and Master Mertens would become
business partners and create one of the
most successful Tae Kwon Do organizations
in the United States. Th ey expanded to
fi ve locations and achieved an incredible
active count of over 2,300 students.
Together with Grandmaster Chong,
Master Mertens developed the marketing,
curriculum, and teaching methods used in
their dojangs, as well as throughout their
nationwide World Class Tae Kwon Do
Association. He also designed an after-school
fundraising program called World Class
Kids that brings Tae Kwon Do to thousands
of elementary school children each year.
Master Mertens has greatly contributed to
the professionalism, standards, and systems
used by successful dojangs throughout the
U.S., and he continues to have tremendous
enthusiasm and drive to share his message.
“I fi rmly believe that Tae Kwon do has
tremendous value in today’s society. Th e
principles of respect, courtesy and self-discipline
can positively impact every relationship. I love
helping with the personal development of Tae
Kwon Do students and instructors. I consider it
a great honor to watch them grow and contribute
to our community. Th at is why I am so passionate
about sharing Tae Kwon Do with everyone!”taekwondotimes.com / January 2018 21