Meet Joongkwan Sunsa Massan Ghorbani: Fighter, Philosopher, and Pioneer! 🥋

Grandmaster Massan Ghorbani's journey is nothing short of epic. Starting as a shy and quiet little boy, he overcame a local bully at the age of 7 and escaped a kidnapping attempt at 13. From these early challenges, he grew into one of the best knockdown karate fighters in Iran and later, one of the top full-contact fighters in Ireland. 📸

He became one of DJN Ji Han Jae's top students and assistants, achieving the prestigious 10th Dan Black Belt and Gold Belt, along with the special title Joongkwan Sunsa in Sin Moo Hapkido and Sin Moo Associations, directly from Doju Ji Han Jae, the founder of the style. 📸

SGM Ghorbani has competed in numerous national and international tournaments, including Sosai Mas Oyama’s knockdown karate Kyukushin Kai championships. He was a knockdown karate champion in his weight division in Iran before moving to Ireland. Once in Ireland, he became a holder of many World and European Kickboxing titles and a former World Silver and WAKO European Champion since January 1986. 📸

With the new age in martial arts and evolving fighting skills, Joongkwan Sunsa Ghorbani believes Hapkido must technically upgrade to maintain its original objectives and goals, which are to improve physical, mental, and spiritual health, as well as the ability to defend oneself against any old or new fighting styles or skill sets. 📸

Ghorbani emphasizes that leading armies in the world consistently strive to build superior weapons, and countries with superior weapons and technology are considered leading civilizations. However, traditional martial arts have always taught ethics, morals, and character building, focusing on self-development, life skills, and self-defense. These practices have proven beneficial to both mental and physical health and conditioning. 📸

A martial arts instructor is a teacher, a leader, and a monk with immense responsibility towards themselves, their students, and their community. A teacher can become a light in the darkness and help others open their third eyes, but they must also guard against losing their own light in the overwhelming darkness of greed and politics. The battle between light and darkness exists in all of us and has been since the very beginning. This is not Yin and Yang, which complete each other, but rather the battle of the good wolf and bad wolf, a story told by an American native chief to his grandson. 📸

SGM Massan Ghorbani teaches and promotes a positive outlook, helping others focus on the positive, attract good, and develop the best within each individual. He also teaches self-control and self-discipline to win the ongoing inner battle between the good and the bad wolf within us. 📸

Ghorbani's life is filled with trials and errors, and he is eager to share the do's and don'ts for both on and off the mat situations based on his hard-earned lessons over the past fifty years. He shares his life challenges and victories with eager and determined students willing to learn and avoid making the same mistakes or reinventing the wheel. 📸

The root of all victories is honesty, and the root of honesty is strength. We must always strive to be strong physically, mentally, and spiritually to remain honest, healthy, happy, and successful. 📸

Grandmaster Massan Ghorbani's legacy of strength and wisdom continues to inspire many, proving that with dedication and resilience, one can overcome any obstacle. 📸💪

About the Author

Miss Tatsu @misstatsu @misstatsunee creates vlogs 🍝 Living in Philippines. Eczema survivor and food adventurer. Crafter and passionate VA 💌 For business and collaborations send me a message: https://twitter.com/MissTatsuNee

Meet Kancho Garry Bergin, 9th Dan: The Journey of a Martial Arts Maestro! 🥋

Garry's martial arts journey began in 1982, training under the legendary Prof. George Canning Sr., 10th Dan, at the Phibsboro Dojo. His early years were molded by the profound teachings and rigorous discipline of one of martial arts' most esteemed figures. 📸

Fast forward to 1996, Garry ventured into the world of Judo after some training sessions with the legendary Charlie Hegarty at Colaiste Ide. He joined the Coolmine Judo Club, where he had the privilege of training under Olympian Kieron Foley for a time. This phase of his journey was all about intense training and deepening his martial arts expertise. 📸

In 2000, Garry reached a significant milestone, earning his Judo black belt through the Batsugun system, which requires a judoka to achieve an immediate promotion by winning a streak of consecutive matches in a designated competition or grading. He later continued his Judo training with Ray Stears at Portmarnock Judo Club and was awarded his 2nd-degree black belt in 2003. 📸

But Garry's passion for martial arts didn't stop there. He dedicated several years to training in Tae Kwon Do under the guidance of Pat White in Finglas East. 📸

Adding to his extensive training in traditional martial arts, Garry also trained with Andy Ryan at Team Ryano (formerly known as SBG Northside) in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This experience added a new dimension to his already diverse martial arts repertoire, showcasing his versatility and adaptability. 📸

From 2015, Garry trained under the revered Tom Foley, 10th Dan, in Kokuryu Kai. In 2018, Garry's leadership and dedication were further recognized when he was appointed Secretary General of the Kokuryu Kai International by Grandmaster Tom Foley. Under the late Tom Foley's expert guidance, Garry was awarded his 9th-degree black belt in 2024. 📸

But wait, there's more! Garry's prowess in martial arts isn't confined to training alone. He boasts an impressive track record of victories in numerous titles and championships. His skills and competitive edge were consistently demonstrated in the All Style Tournaments held in Aughrim Street, Dublin, where he has fond memories. 📸

About the Author

Miss Tatsu @misstatsu @misstatsunee creates vlogs 🍝 Living in Philippines. Eczema survivor and food adventurer. Crafter and passionate VA 💌 For business and collaborations send me a message: https://twitter.com/MissTatsuNee

You won't believe the life of Hanshi Eddie Morales, 9th Dan: From Gangs to Goju-Ryu Master! 🥋

In the 1950s, Eddie Morales' family moved from Puerto Rico to the gritty streets of New York City. Born in Manhattan and raised in Brooklyn's Williamsburg, Eddie's childhood was anything but peaceful. The 1970s were rough, with gangs running the streets of all five boroughs. 📸

Raised in a school of hard knocks, Eddie began his martial arts journey as a young child, scavenging for any information he could get his hands on before eventually finding formal training. 📸

According to Eddie, "Williamsburg Brooklyn had a sense of darkness that only the residents can see and feel. It felt like something was going to happen at any moment. Anyone living in NYC at that time knows what I’m talking about. Every small incident turned into a battle for survival, and it was never a fair fight." 📸

His father was a quiet man dedicated to God, work, and family, maintaining a disciplined household. His mother, however, had a no-nonsense approach to life—she once chased two hoodlums off the roof with a baseball bat! Talk about a tough upbringing. 📸

The family eventually moved to Park Slope, another Brooklyn neighborhood, and Eddie's dedication to martial arts only grew stronger. He trained every day, eventually learning under Grandmasters Aaron Banks and Master George Bradley in Japanese Goju-Ryu. 📸

As Eddie recalls, "The Dojo was as hardcore as you can get, with two hours of nonstop Karate practice followed by an hour of fighting, five days a week. The fighting was brutal, and bumps and bruises were a regular occurrence like any other Dojo in NYC at that time." 📸

The mid-1970s saw Eddie excelling in art at Pacific High School in Brooklyn. An art show at Aspira, a Latin community center, introduced him to people who would change his life forever. It was in the basement of this location that Eddie was first introduced to the Goju Karate system. 📸

Motivated by his newfound friends, Eddie found his way to the Tiger Dojo, run by Kyoshi Victor Vega, where he learned Chinese Goju and eventually earned his first-degree black belt. 📸

Eddie was also a singer-songwriter in the 1970s, performing in nightclubs, theaters, and on TV and radio in both English and Spanish. Talk about a multi-talented guy! 🎤📸

In the 1980s, Eddie began teaching at a Dojo in lower Manhattan with one of his instructors from Grand Master Aaron Banks' New York Karate Academy, Sensei George Bradley. For four years, he produced dedicated students who are still active in martial arts today. 📸

Eddie later moved to California, where he studied Kobudo (Traditional Okinawan weapons) and received a black belt in 1999 under Kyoshi Anthony Marquez. He also trained with Sensei Juan Benavides in Kobudo, Kensei Ryu, and Okinawan Goju. 📸

Throughout his journey, Eddie trained with notable martial artists, including Sensei Ben Otake, Sifu James Ibrao, and his best friend and training partner, Shihan Tom Serrano of the Gosoku Ryu system. Eddie emphasizes the importance of strong basics in any martial arts system: "Regardless of what system you study, whether it be traditional or eclectic, if you don’t have strong basics, you have nothing." 📸

In California, Eddie became involved in law enforcement and eventually taught defensive tactics, arrest and control, and use of force for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Academy and other local agencies. 📸

Eddie is also a published author with many books available on Amazon. He was a radio announcer on KCAA 1050 AM NBC News Radio and ran a successful martial arts online magazine called Martialforce.com for 24 years, featuring interviews with top martial artists from the East Coast and beyond. 📸

Eddie's favorite phrase is, "Karate is not what I do, it’s who I am." He believes that dedication and commitment are key: "Whether it’s martial arts or anything else in life, without a dedicated commitment to practice, you have nothing. You only get out of anything what you put into it, so put your heart behind it." 📸📸

About the Author

Miss Tatsu @misstatsu @misstatsunee creates vlogs 🍝 Living in Philippines. Eczema survivor and food adventurer. Crafter and passionate VA 💌 For business and collaborations send me a message: https://twitter.com/MissTatsuNee

Gōrudo RAMEN Review: Chicken Teriyaki Bento & Negi Miso Ramen

Hey foodies! 🍜✨ I recently visited Gōrudo RAMEN and let me tell you, it was a nostalgic trip back to the 90s anime era with a modern twist! The ambiance totally transported me to my favorite childhood anime scenes, but heads up, the music was a bit too loud for my taste. 🎶🔊

First up, the Chicken Teriyaki Bento—oh my goodness, it was a flavor explosion! The chicken was perfectly grilled, tender, and packed with that sweet and savory teriyaki sauce that I just couldn't get enough of. Paired with the fluffy rice and fresh veggies, it was a match made in heaven. 🍗🍚🥦

Now, let's talk about the Negi Miso Ramen. This bowl of goodness was everything I wanted and more. The rich, savory miso broth with a hint of garlic and green onion was so comforting. The toppings were top-notch—braised pork belly, perfectly cooked noodles, and that soft-boiled egg that just melted in my mouth. 🍜🥢🍳

Overall, Gōrudo RAMEN gets a big thumbs up from me for the delicious food and nostalgic vibes. Just a little tip: bring your earplugs if you're sensitive to loud music. 😅

About the Author

Miss Tatsu @misstatsu @misstatsunee creates vlogs 🍝 Living in Philippines. Eczema survivor and food adventurer. Crafter and passionate VA 💌 For business and collaborations send me a message: https://twitter.com/MissTatsuNee