Founder of Combat Hapkido John Pellegrini
The founder of modern Combat Hapkido Grandmaster John Pellegrini has many accomplishments to his name and here is a list of them so that readers can learn much more about one of the leaders of the world of martial arts.
- 10th Dan Combat Hapkido – World Martial Arts Alliance
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9th Dan Hapkido – World Ki-Do Federation / Hanminjok Hapkido Association
• Founder / President “International Combat Hapkido Federation”
• 9th Dan TaeKwonDo – Founder “Independent TaeKwonDo Association”
• Founder / President of the “International Police Defensive Tactics Institute”
• Founder / President of the “Military Combatives Association”
• Founder / President of the “World Martial Arts Alliance”
HALL OF FAME INDUCTIONS
• 1988 USA Korean Karate Association “Instructor of the Year”
• 1995 World Martial Arts Hall of Fame “Diamond Life Achievement”
• 1996 – 1997 WHFSC Martial Arts Hall of Fame “Golden Life” – “Founder of the Year”
• 1996 Florida Martial Arts Hall of Fame “Pioneer”
• 1998 Martial Arts Masters, Pioneers & Legends Hall of Fame “Founder of the Year”
• 1998 – 2004 World Karate Union Hall of Fame “Outstanding Contribution to the Martial Arts”
• 1999 United Martial Arts Association Hall of Fame “Outstanding Contribution to the Martial Arts”
• 2000 United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame “Founder of the Year”
• 2001 Action Martial Arts Magazine Hall of Fame “Outstanding Contribution to the Martial Arts”
• 2003 United States Martial Artists Assoc. Hall of Fame “Golden Life Achievement”
• 2003 Masters Hall of Fame “Silver Life Achievement”
• 2003 Int. Assoc. of Martial Arts Hall of Fame “Outstanding Practitioner”
• 2004 Inducted in the “TaeKwonDo Times Magazine Hall of Fame for Hapkido”
• 2004 Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame “Instructor of the Year”
• 2005 Budo Int. Magazine Hall of Fame “Legend Grandmaster”
• 2006 Aaron Banks’ World Professional M. A. Hall of Fame: “World Renowned Hapkido Grandmaster”
• 2007 Artes Marciales Magazine Hall of Fame “Martial Arts Pioneer”
• 2007 Cinturon Negro Magazine (Spain) International Hall of Fame “Distinguished Founder”
• 2008 Inducted “Hall da Fama Das Artes Marciais Brasileiras”
• 2014 TaeKwonDo Times Magazine Hall of Fame “U.S. Grandmaster of the Year”
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2017 WHFSC Martial Arts Hall of Fame “Pioneer Award”
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2019 “Who’s Who in the Martial Arts Legends Award”
MAJOR MEDIA FEATURES
• March 1990 Cover feature “TaeKwonDo Times” Magazine
• 1991 Featured on “ESPY-TV: World of Martial Arts”
• 1992 “Who’s Who in the Martial Arts” – Karate International Magazine
• April 1994 Cover feature “TaeKwonDo Times” Magazine
• June 1995 Cover feature “Martial Arts Business” Magazine
• October 1996 Cover feature “TaeKwonDo & Korean Combat Arts” Magazine (UK)
• July 1997 Cover feature “TaeKwonDo Times” Magazine
• June 1999 Cover feature “Martial Arts Professional” Magazine
• October 1999 Article in the “Wall Street Journal”
• September 2000 Cover feature “Artes Marciales” Magazine (Latin America)
• June 2001 Cover feature “Martial Arts Business.com” Magazine
• September 2002 Cover feature “TaeKwonDo Times” Magazine
• June 2003 Cover feature “Black Belt” Magazine
• Featured in the 2003 Edition of “Who’s Who in the Martial Arts” Book.
• December 2004 Cover feature “Budo International” Magazine
• February 2005 Cover feature “Action Martial Arts” Magazine
• April 2005 Cover feature “Mundo Marcial” Magazine (Latin America)
• May 2005 Cover feature “Disciplinas” Magazine (Latin America)
• August 2006 Cover feature “Afghanistan Freedom Watch” Magazine
• January 2009 Cover feature “Black Belt” Magazine
• September 2009 Cover feature “Budo International” Magazine
• May 2012 Cover Feature TaeKwonDo Times Magazine
• July 2015 Cover feature “Budo International” Magazine
OTHER AWARDS, HONORS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Conducted training tours for US & Allied Troops in Afghanistan (2006) & Iraq (2008)
• Authored “Combat Hapkido: The Art for the Modern Warrior” 2009 by Black Belt Magazine
• Authored “Combat Hapkido: Intelligent Self Defense” 2009 by Budo Intl. Magazine
• Member “Hapkido Examination & Deliberation Committee” World Ki-Do Federation
• International Board Member “Hanminjok Hapkido Association”
• Instructor Certifications in Jeet Kune Do and Aikido
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2016 Awarded an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy Degree by the “Ordem Filosofica Mundial Vidya Ashram”
• Master Instructor Certification – “CaneMasters”
• Certified Instructor “Monadnock Expandable Baton”
• Member Board of Directors “International Disabled Self Defense Association”
• Member “International Law Enforcement Educators & Trainers Assoc.” (ILEETA)
• “Seminar Sensation” at the 1998 Chuck Norris’ Martial Arts Expo.
• 2002 – 2003 – 2005 Faculty Instructor at “Karate College” – Radford University
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Guest VIP Instructor at the Annual Jeff Speakman Kempo 5.0 World Championship
• Founding Member “World Black Belt”
• Honorary Fellow of the “National Law Enforcement Academy”
• 1980 & 1983 Editions of “Who’s Who in American Law Enforcement”
• 1982 Edition of “Who’s Who in Professional Security”
• Certified Firearm Instructor (NRA) – Certified Fitness Instructor (FAU)
• 1996 Awarded Commission in the “Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels”
• 2001 Appointed “Special Deputy Sheriff” – Buncombe County, NC
• 2009 Appointed “Reserve Police Officer” – Argentine Township, MI
• Awards & Commendations: Royal New Zealand Police College – Rome (Italy) Municipal Police – US Air Force – NYC Police Dept. –
Federal Air Marshall Service – NATO Forces Europe – US Army 10th Mountain Division – Costa Rica Police SWAT Team –
Colombia Air Force Anti-Terrorist Unit – US Office of Naval Intelligence – German Air Force & many other Police Depts. & Military Units around the World.
