AAU Taekwondo Dan Program Awards First Two Female 8th Dan Black Belt Certificates
01/11/2019
The AAU Taekwondo Program is happy and honored to announce on behalf of the national Dan Program the first two female 8th Dan Black Belt Certificates!
We are proud to have these two phenomenal women of such stature and quality as part of the AAU Taekwondo National Program.
First to Grandmaster Katherine Wieczerza of Nashville, Tennessee. GM Wieczerza has been a part of the AAU Taekwondo since the 1990’s and tested for her 6th and 7th Dan through the AAU program. She served as the Southeastern District Director for seven (7) years, was inducted to the Martial Arts Hall of Fame and is considered to be one of the most top seminar instructors in the country. GM Wieczerza is currently the Director of Goju Shorei Weapon Systems Worldwide and this past fall was appointed as the National Chief Referee for Forms for AAU Taekwondo. GM Wieczerza tested on June 4th, 2016 for her 8th Dan with her instructor Soke Dave McNeill.
Second to Grandmaster Mechelle Smith of Albany, New York! GM Smith is one of the most accomplished practitioners in the sport Taekwondo. She holds fourteen (14) national titles, four (4) international titles, a world title, US Olympic Festival & US Olympic Team Trials medalist, and a 1992 US Olympic B Team member. She also took Gold in Korea, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Pan Am Taekwondo Championships. GM Mechelle Smith is also recently appointed the Head Female Coach for the National Point Sparring Team for AAU Taekwondo National Program. GM Smith tested for her 8th Dan with her instructor Grandmaster Les Zampino on her 57th Birthday!
First to Grandmaster Katherine Wieczerza of Nashville, Tennessee. GM Wieczerza has been a part of the AAU Taekwondo since the 1990’s and tested for her 6th and 7th Dan through the AAU program. She served as the Southeastern District Director for seven (7) years, was inducted to the Martial Arts Hall of Fame and is considered to be one of the most top seminar instructors in the country. GM Wieczerza is currently the Director of Goju Shorei Weapon Systems Worldwide and this past fall was appointed as the National Chief Referee for Forms for AAU Taekwondo. GM Wieczerza tested on June 4th, 2016 for her 8th Dan with her instructor Soke Dave McNeill.
Second to Grandmaster Mechelle Smith of Albany, New York! GM Smith is one of the most accomplished practitioners in the sport Taekwondo. She holds fourteen (14) national titles, four (4) international titles, a world title, US Olympic Festival & US Olympic Team Trials medalist, and a 1992 US Olympic B Team member. She also took Gold in Korea, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Pan Am Taekwondo Championships. GM Mechelle Smith is also recently appointed the Head Female Coach for the National Point Sparring Team for AAU Taekwondo National Program. GM Smith tested for her 8th Dan with her instructor Grandmaster Les Zampino on her 57th Birthday!
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