……a little about Mr. Weisberg

In my professional life outside of Taekwon-Do, I was a public school teacher and administrator for 32 years up to my retirement in June of 2018. I taught middle school for eleven years and then the remainder of my career I taught high school and then was a high school administrator and principal. I possess both a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and Master’s Degree in School Leadership plus additional graduate hours of coursework after that.

A brief background of myself as it relates to Taekwon-Do starts with a life altering journey beginning in 1975. That was the year I started my Taekwon-Do training which has continued over the years and decades as a student and instructor.

This journey began with first training in Moo Duk Kwon. I was taught by Manual Rodriguez, starting in 1975 at the age of seventeen. Mr. Rodriguez moved from New York City to my area in Illinois, USA. Mr. Rodriguez was a direct student of Grand Master Richard Chun and trained at the Richard Chun Taekwondo Institute in New York City. I also traveled to New York to train on occasion with Grand Master Richard Chun and his students.

After watching a local demonstration in 1978 by Mr. Mack Newton and his students from the Newton Taekwon-Do Center, I immediately inquired and ultimately joined Mr. Newton’s school that same year. Mr. Newton and the Newton Taekwon-Do Center were members of the International Taekwon-Do Federation back when there was one ITF. My instructor, Mack Newton, also coached the USA team at the 3rd World ITF Championships in Argentina in 1981. Shortly thereafter, Grand Masters Mack Newton and Gwen Hall formed the American Taekwon-Do Coalition (ATC).

In 1981 I received my 1st Degree Black Belt. In 1983, I received my 2nd Degree Black Belt. Within a few months after that, my instructor moved out of state. I continued to train with my instructor by traveling several times to his new out of state location. My instructor Grand Master Mack Newton passed away in 2024.

Even though I continued to train and teach after my instructor relocated, being tested for promotion was not important to me. Training, teaching, sharing the art of Taekwon-Do, and having disciplined students that reflected strict Taekwon-Do expectations and high standards was my barometer for success.  Though I did test successfully for 3rd Degree Black Belt in 2020, thirty seven years after my last promotion. Grand Master Marcel Bedard tested and promoted me for 3rd Degree.

On August 2nd, 2025, I was tested and successfully passed for 4th Degree Black Belt by Grand Master Vjacheslav Semenkov, who is the President of the Latvian Taekwon-Do Federation. Assisting Grandmaster Semenkov during this 4.5 hour examination was Mr. Oleksandr Dymtruv, 5th Degree ITF Black Belt.

My Taekwon-Do teaching career began in 1979 through 1985 at a branch school of the Newton Taekwon-Do Center. I then started my own school in 1987, the Weisberg Taekwon-Do Center. I taught through 2005. Due to my position and time commitments in public education as an administrator and later high school principal, I had to stop teaching in 2005, though I continued to train on my own. I would like to emphasize that I never stopped training, never took time off. Of course, later when I had my two hips replaced, I took time to heal and rehabilitate and then resumed my training. In 2018 I returned to teaching Taekwon-Do and reopened the Weisberg Taekwon-Do Center and continue to this day.

Over the years in addition to Taekwon-Do, I taught kickboxing classes, fitness classes, and Women’s Self Defense classes and workshops. I was also a high school Cheerleading coach. Taekwon-Do contributed to my success for all these endeavers.

I am currently sixty-six years old, and my physical abilities basically have not changed over the years. My passion and “never give up” attitude have continued in Taekwon-Do. My instructor instilled with us the philosophy of Pil Sung. I have taught hundreds of students of all ages over the years. I continue to train and teach others to be their best, have goals, and to never give up in any aspect of their life.

Mr. Weisberg

CORE QUALIFICATIONS

•Skilled in the martial art of Taekwon-Do

•Accomplished instructor of Taekwon-Do

•Women’s Self-Defense instructor

•Fitness instructor

•Cheerleading coach

TAEKWON-DO

•Began continuous training in Taekwon-Do 1975 to Present

•Resumed and currently teaching Taekwon-Do for various park districts and cooperatives: Itasca, Medinah, Roselle, and Wood Dale           2018 to Present

•Participated in various workshops, courses, seminars, promotion tests, and visits to other schools                              1978 to Present

•Taught Taekwon-Do in Itasca, Illinois                        1990 to 2005

•Taught Taekwon-Do in Evanston, Illinois School District         1989 to 1991

•Taught Taekwon-Do in Elk Grove, Illinois  1987 to 1990  

•Taught Taekwon-Do at Willow Recreation Center in Hoffman Estates, Illinois                                                     1981 to 1985

•Taught Taekwon-Do at Vogelei Barn in Hoffman Estates, Illinois                                                                     1979 to 1981

FITNESS AND KICKBOXING

•Kickboxing instructor at the South Barrington Club in South Barrington, Illinois                                                         1997 to 2004

•Kickboxing instructor for children at the South Barrington Club in South Barrington, Illinois                                      2002 to 2003

•Fitness instructor at Bally Fitness throughout the Chicago suburbs                                                                               1990 to 2001

•Fitness instructor at the Charlie Club in Mt. Prospect, Illinois                                                                                  1985 to 1990

WOMEN’S SELF-DEFENSE    

•Facilitated Women’s Self-Defense workshops in the Chicagoland area                                                                           1987 to 2012

CHEERLEADING  

•Cheerleading coach at the high school level             2003 to 2005

TAEKWON-DO CERTIFICATION, FORMAL EDUCATION, SPECIALIZED TRAINING

•4th Degree Black Belt ITF Taekwon-Do                     August 2, 2025

•3rd Degree Black Belt ITF Taekwon-Do                     November 13, 2020

•3rd Degree Black Belt ICTF Taekwon-Do                    October 22, 1985

•2nd Degree Black Belt ITF Taekwon-Do                      October 22, 1983          

•Awarded 2nd Degree Black Belt WTF Kukkiwon         September 5, 1994

•1st Degree Black Belt ITF Taekwon-Do                     April 22, 1982

•Master of Arts in School Leadership--Concordia University, River Forest, IL

•Illinois K-12 Administrator License

•Bachelor of Science in Education--Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL

•Illinois 6-12 Professional Educator License

•Associate of Arts Degree--Harper College, Palatine, IL

•4-Year Apprenticeship Program, Cabinetmaking--Washburne Trade School, Chicago, IL

•Journeyman Cabinetmaker