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Wilson, NC -
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    HEAD INSTRUCTOR:
    Master Matt Mercer

    • Over 30 Years of Martial Arts Experience
    • 6th Degree Black Belt
    • Certified Senior Master Instructor
    • Degree in Business Administration
    • Instructor for Barton College
    • Certified Wilderness First Responder
    • Certified in First Aid & CPR (Red Cross)
    • Chapter Leader for the National Pathfinder Youth Organization
    • Certified Instructor for The Pathfinder School LLC.
    • Certified in Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Wilderness Self Reliance
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    *Click to see certificate*
ABOUT MASTER MERCER

click              Matt Mercer is the Master Instructor of the Wilson Branch of Grand Master Dong's School. Master Mercer has been studying the martial arts for over twenty-seven years and has earned the rank of 6th degree black belt (Senior Master). He has been teaching martial arts to children and adult students in Wilson for over 20 years. Master Mercer, with the guidance of Grand Master Dong, has led numbers of his students to the black belt level. In addition to the regular school classes, Master Mercer also teaches martial arts for the Physical Education Department of Barton College. Master Mercer currently trains on a weekly basis with Grand Master Dong to continue his own personal advancement in the martial arts. This is to ensure that he is able to teach the highest quality classes available to his students.
              In addition to teaching self-defense, Master Mercer is enthusiastic about sharing the benefits of the martial arts with others. He believes that martial arts training can make major improvements in a student's life. His motivation begins with helping others to accomplish their goals. Master Mercer believes that the martial arts are for everyone, young or old. He knows that everyone who is willing to try can succeed in the martial arts. His personal goal is to become the best martial artist he can be in order to help his students accomplish whatever goals they may set for themselves in their training. He is always willing to lend personal attention to each of his students because he cares about their individual progress in the school. Whether teaching classes at the school, visiting the local academic schools to talk with children about martial arts values, or leading self defense and awareness seminars for local groups, Master Mercer is always willing to share with the community.


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INSTRUCTOR:
Master Bob Treadwell
  • Over 20 Years Experience
  • 5th Degree Black Belt
  • Certified Master Instructor
  • B.S. Degree in Zoology (NC State)
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ABOUT MASTER TREADWELL

       Instructor Bob Treadwell began his training in the martial arts in 1969 studying Karate. He trained for several years but by 1976 he eventually got out of the martial arts. In 1998, Master Treadwell decided it was once again time to continue that journey that he had begun so many years earlier. He and his son Richard decided together to begin training at Dong's Martial Arts School in Wilson. In 2001, Master Treadwell finally achieved his long time goal of earning his 1st degree black belt. Over the next ten years Master Treadwell spent many hours as a volunteer teaching assistant at the school while he also continued his own training. In October 2011, Bob was promoted by Grand Master Dong to the rank of 5th Degree Master Black Belt. In December of the same year, Master Treadwell became a full-time instructor at Dong's Martial Arts Wilson Branch. Master Treadwell is a very dedicated martial artist and passionate about sharing the martial arts with our students.

ABOUT GRAND MASTER DONG

Grand Master Dong holds a 9th Degree Black Belt in Kum Do (Korean Sword).
  • 9th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do
  • 9th Degree Black Belt in Kum Do (Sword)
  • 9th Degree Black Belt in Ta Kyuk Do
  • Master's Degree in Physical Education
  • Honorary Doctorate Degree
  • Inductee into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame 2017
  • First Speed King of the World Master Champion 1999
  • Published Author of Several Books
  • Producer of Eight Martial Arts Videos
  • Has Trained More Than 7500 Black Belts
  • Has Guided 40+ Students to Master or 5th Degree Black Belt

        Grand Master Seung Gyoo Dong has studied a variety of martial art forms since his childhood, gaining experience in Tae Kwon Do, Kung Fu (praying mantis style), Kum Do, and Weaponry. He holds a 9th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, Ta Kyuk Do and in Kum Do (sword). Grand Master Dong also holds a Master's Degree in Physical Education. In his career which has spanned over 50 years, Grand Master has trained over 7,500 students to black belt level. Some of these students have gone on to win state championships and full-contact championships. Awarded the title of master in 1970, the next year he moved to the United States and he began teaching in the Washington, DC. area. May 1st 1973, he opened his first school in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Later he moved to Charlottesville, and on October 1st 1981, he established HQ in Richmond Virginia.

        Grand Master Dong is not content to rest on past accomplishments. As an example to his students on his continuing commitment to his own training and advancement, in November 1999 he competed in the first world grand masters' King of The World Tournament in Korea. In this prestigious competition, Grand Master Dong won the title, SPEED KING OF THE WORLD. On December 3, 2017, Grand Master Dong was inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame.

        Grand Master Dong is also very active in the local community. Through his direction and the efforts of the school's students, more than $813,000.00 has been donated to the Children's Hospital. Funds came from Kick-A-Thons, annual school tournaments, and student donations. There are currently over 20 studio locations on the East Coast, Australia and Puerto Rico.

        Grand Master Dong's students learn the true art of Tae Kwon Do. This means that not only will they learn self-defense, but they will grow mentally and philosophically through their training. Foot maneuvers and special advanced techniques, including Um Yang Su, that were formerly taught only from master to master come together with the theories, philosophies, and mental disciplines of traditional Tae Kwon Do to form the martial art in the truest since of the word.

        Once black belt level is obtained, training does not stop. In fact, Grand Master Dong has personally designed a curriculum that will lead advanced students from first degree black belt through ninth degree (grand master level). Grand Master Dong's Curriculum consists of five parts: Tae Kwon Do, Ta Kyuk Do, Weaponry (Kum Do), Internal Wellness and Yu Ga Kwon. These five styles combine together to give the students of Dong's School a physical and mental balance that not only helps them excel in martial arts, but in every aspect of life.

        Grand Master Dong is the author of two texts on Tae Kwon Do, Progressive Sparring and Sparring Structure. In 2005, his novel "Where is my Black Belt?" was published and nationally distributed. In late 2015 Grand Master Dong's newest publication "Martial Arts Mastery: Evolution of Training" was released on Amazon. Grand Master Dong has also been featured on the cover of the international magazine, Tae Kwon Do Times. Local newspapers and television stations have featured Grand Master Dong countless times for his tireless efforts to raise money for charitable organizations as well as his selfless sharing of his time and talents to help others to achieve their goals. Grand Master Dong continues to instruct classes on a weekly basis at the Headquarters Branch School in Richmond, Virginia.



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