Frank Massar

Frank Massar is a British martial artist. He currently holds the rank of 9th Dan in Taekwondo and is the founder of Massar Taekwondo Association. He has achieved six “Combat Hall of Fame Awards”, and holds several national and international competition titles. He is also featured in many magazines and books. He studied under Won Kuk Lee and also under Pak Hae Man of Chung Do Kwan. Massar received his Dan qualification directly from Kukkiwon (WTF) and graduated from Chung Do Kwan. Massar's precept is to share his knowledge of martial arts with the community at large and keeps in constant contact with educational associations to achieve this end.

Early life
Massar was born in North London and began learning martial arts from an early age. Massar was first introduced to Japanese karate through his brothers. Before the age of 10, Massar had begun to study judo. Shortly thereafter he was introduced to taekwondo, by Steve Lee. Under Lee's tutelage, Massar's skills developed very quickly and he was soon noted for his fitness, flexibility and kicking style. Massar's eagerness to learn eventually compelled him to become a student of C.K Kok, who was instrumental in expanding his knowledge of Chinese Kung Fu especially the skills of breaking, weaponry, conditioning, medicine and healing, aspects of which can be evident in his freestyle classes.

Asia
Park Hae Man, then and current Vice-president of World Taekwondo Chung Do Kwan trained Massar to ultimately become a Grand Master from the late seventies. Park continues to train Massar.

Massar travelled extensively throughout Asia and the Far East from 1979 to 1984. He became friends with Kong Fu Tak while training in the YMCA in the mid seventies. They decided to travel all over Asia and the Far East and it was during these travels that they became involved in Muay Thai and Massar was instrumental in helping Kong Fu Tak take Thai Boxing to Hong.

United States


Massar first met the late Cha Sok Park (President of the Pan American Taekwondo Union) in the 80s. Their friendship developed over the years and under Park's tutelage, he learnt the martial art of Hapkido, which he has successfully incorporated into his freestyle classes. Park invited Massar to join his Union. Park then introduced Massar to another, even greater Taekwondo figurehead, the late Won Kuk Lee, attributed with developing Taekwondo as a martial art. He was awarded the 9th degree black belt by Lee in Washington USA.

Europe
Although Massar travelled to Asia and America frequently, he maintains his presence in Europe. He was keen to partake in competitions personally, for which he received much accolade, and he encourages his students to be similarly active. Massar's students includes Sarge Durakli, Carlos Moseley, Gladiator's Saracen and Radar. Massar retains his hardcore taekwondo gyms, along with his freestyle martial centres. Many of his martial gyms are located in London.