Congratulations to Dr Grandmaster Nick Donato on a double happiness occasion for earning his Doctor of Philosophy in Martial Arts Science from the West Coast University Panama and being conferred the highest rank of 9th Degree Black Belt as a Grandmaster in Taekwondo.
Dr Grandmaster Nick Donato is a very senior martial artist with 54 years of combat martial arts training, of which 48 years are fabulously Taekwondo. Having trained numerous top notched instructors, Dr Grandmaster Nick Donato has set a no-retirement goal in his martial art career imparting the knowledge and essence of martial arts as he passes on the legacy entrusted to him by his martial arts mentors such as Grandmaster Joe Onopa and Grandmaster James Kellers. He has taught, lectured, trained and graded in many countries including but not limited to Australia, USA, Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Taiwan & Korea.
Besides managing Kwon Bop Do Federation as a leader, Dr Grandmaster Nick Donato also operates The Personal Defense Studios - The PIT offering martial arts training and health enhancement programs to 300 strong members of all ages. Dr Grandmaster Nick Donato was nominated for “The Pride of Australia” Award in 2018 and he won “Grandmaster of the Year – Australia” Award from the World Head of Family Sokeship Council in 2019.
ITC is honored to have Dr Grandmaster Nick Donato onboard our family as Advisory Board Member and Signatory Governance Board Member while representing ITC as Authorized Representative in Australia.
ITC congratulates Dr Grandmaster Nick Donato with salutation of “Sasungnim yeh, Kyong yeh, Taekwon”.
#########################################################################################################
#########################################################################################################
#########################################################################################################
#########################################################################################################
#########################################################################################################
#########################################################################################################
Termination of
Membership Affiliation
The following individuals’ affiliations with ITC
have been terminated
with their ranks revoked.
They are not authorized to use ITC logo or represent ITC
in whatever manner from the dates stated below.
From September 6, 2022
onwards
Australia
Australian TaeKwon-Do Ki-DoKan International
Edward Brian Scott
From December 9, 2022
onwards
Africa
Republic of Congo
Inter Club Taekwondo & Never Stop Taekwondo
Claude Pascal Mabiala
#########################################################################################################
#########################################################################################################
2024 Year End Message
2024 is a blissful year to ITC. While many organizations are stagnant in growth, we have three new affiliates onboard the ITC family namely Elite Martial Arts from Kirkland, WA, USA; Master Shu-Yang Wu of Dragon National Martial Arts Club (龙族武道俱乐部); SEDO Martial Art from Ethiopia; and Rajshahi Division Taekwondo Association from Bangladesh.
In ITC family, we are humbly grateful and blessed to have Pioneer Grandmaster Kong Young Il who is the true living Legend in the history of Taekwondo onboard our family as Honorary Chairman, He is a father figure to all of us.
In the Tactical Defense Solutions Department, we have awarded Master Ken Daugherty in the United States and Sbn Ismael Natalino De Meira of Dragon Taekwondo E Artes Marciais in Brazil with the certification of “Tactical Instructor” in Close Protection &Security. In addition, we also have a couple candidates working towards their certification in Australia.
In high ranking promotion division, we have awarded Master Nick Donato the highest rank in Taekwondo as the newest IX Dan Grandmaster in the ITC family. The award will be conferred in February’2025.
ITC is proud and happy to have earned the respect and loyalty of quite a few affiliates and followers who continue to promote ITC in their respective regions with passion and diligence. To name the most prominent, we have our EVP, Grandmaster Rick Stanford who wore the ITC dobok to receive the Platinum Pioneer Award when he got inducted into the Golden Gate Hall of Honors; our AVP, Grandmaster Daniel Ong who has helped to promote the academic sector and has successfully awarded a few academic degrees to the students in his territorial market; our Media Relations VP, Senior Master Silvio Simac who would not hesitate to promote ITC in appearing in his social media releases with ITC dobok; Master Nick Donato in Australia who have certified all his black belts with ITC certification; Senior Master Tika Ram Thakuri who diligently promotes ITC in Nepal in many occasions; Senior Master Lori Hallmark who has certified a few of her students with ITC certificates; Master Antonio Reis Deneval and his student Sbn Ismael Natalino De Meira, both of them never stop to promote ITC in their dojang operation; Sbn Yaranga Ghislain Mesmin who host events with only ITC banner since he became affiliated with us; BSbn Kennedy Quaye who awarded his color belt students with only the ITC certificates; etc. The respect, loyalty, and support from these officials are priceless and ITC is indebted to all the works they have done for ITC.
In the academic sector, 2024 became a remarkable year for our Master Nick Donato in earning his Doctor of Philosophy in Martial Arts Science from the West Coast University Panama. The authorship of his book entitled “The Memoirs of Master Nick Donato – My Journey As An Aussie Martial Artist” was granted for transfer credit under the Recognition of Previous Learning (RPL) system by the WCU Panama Faculty in addition to his decades of experience in martial arts as an instructor with tens of thousands of students and followers under his wings. Master Donato will become Dr Grandmaster Nick Donato in Feb’2025.
Last but not least, ITC is gearing towards becoming a more professional tactical defense solutions provider with the appointment of Dr Grandmaster Al Farris as our Tactical Defense Solutions Vice President. Grandmaster Farris is a Law Enforcement Instructor, Rangemaster, Senior Firearms & Head Defensive Tactics Instructor, & Self-Defense Instructor. He holds three Master Use of Force certifications in law enforcement and instructs the Force Continuum as one of the highest ranked martial arts Law Enforcement Officers cum Instructors in the United States Law Enforcement arena.
As we rhyme the tune of “Auld Lang Syne” to 2024 and welcome the New Year of 2025, we want to thank all of you for your support. We look forward to working with you more closely in the years to come as we contribute to the betterment of martial arts together under the iconic name of ITC together. We wish you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year in 2025.
Dr Grandmaster G Ong; PhD, IX Dan
Founder & President
#########################################################################################################