Mu Han Total Martial Arts
About Us
Master Oh, Head Master of Mu Han Martial Arts headquarters, first started his martial arts journey as a child in Korea almost 50 years ago. After more than two decades of competing, he moved to the United States in 2000 and began doing martial arts demonstrations for the International Taekwondo Federation. His work doing demonstrations naturally led to a desire to open his own academy and continue fulfilling his desire to teach. As a result, Mu Han Martial Arts was born.
Master Oh opened the first location in 2003, and continued to open new locations in Massachusetts over the next two decades. Now, we are proud to have 3 locations in southeast Massachusetts with the North Attleboro school serving as headquarters. Our sister schools in Franklin and Taunton provide the same high-quality instruction for their surrounding communities.
Mu Han Total Martial Arts
Grand Masters
If you’re ready to find the perfect way to increase discipline, build character, and improve physical health, martial arts training is for you! For students young, old, and in between, we offer a variety of martial arts classes rooted in Korean tradition. Learn the foundations and techniques of Taekwondo and other martial arts while improving your overall well-being and self-worth.
HQ Mu Han Head Master
Master Oh
I was born on January 14th, 1971, Pusan South Korea. My father was a Master sergeant in the Marine Corp in Korea, and he was in the Korean war and Vietnam war as a marine. He was always strict with me since I was born and until now. When I was 3 years old, he decided to retire, and our family moved to Seoul Korea in 1974.
Beginning-
My father wanted me to grow up strong, mentally and physically so he put me in to Taekwondo School when I was 5 years old however, I really didn’t like to practice Martial arts back then.
I would skip Taekwondo School and my father found out and he was very disappointed in me, and I stopped training. After a year later some group of older kids took my shoes from me and when my father found out he wasn’t very happy about that, so he put me in another Martial Art, what we called Sip Pal Ki (old Korean military Martial Arts) and was forced to go. Somehow, I liked that School and my Master (Young Won Park 7th degree black belt Sip Pal Ki), so I studied under him until I got 2nd degree Black belt in Sip Pal Ki when I was 5th or 6th grade. After I got 2nd degree Black belt, I started to get interested in Martial Arts, so I started to practice a little more intensely and added in Taekwondo as well.
My Martial Arts:
When I was a teen, I studied very deep into Martial Arts. I also started competing.
- 1989’ 1st National Kung Fu Competition
- 1992’ 1st place Form, Spear and
-75Kg division Wu Shu sparring(San Ta) in Seoul Korea
- 1992’ Wu Shu Asian game International Team Trial I couldn’t keep going until 1994 because of my military service period.
- 1996’ Started working at Korea Professional Taekwondo Federation’s Head Master. This period I had practiced several different arts such as Aikido, Kumdo, Judo, Taekkyun, etc.
- 1997’ to 1999’ Demonstrated and taught at West Point, 707 Special Task Team, President Bodyguard camp and Special Force in Korea
- 1997 Participated as Korea International Team 1st World Professional Taekwondo Championship
- 2000’ Came to America for Martial Arts demonstration
- 2003’ Founded and opened 1st Mu Han Total Martial Arts
- 2008’ 2nd location Mu Han Total Martial Arts
- 2013’ 3rd location Mu Han Total Martial Arts
- 2014’ Served as Director of Technical Department in International Moon Moo Kwan Federation in US
- 2015’ Founded 501 c) US Future Leadership Foundation
- 2016’ Served as Director of Strategy at Korea Taekwondo Association in US
- 2022’ President of Korea Sports Council in Boston
- 2023’ CEO at GTA Taekwondo in US
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Master
Grand Master Kang
DISCIPLINES AND CERTIFICATIONS
Disciplines:
- Taekwondo – 8th Degree Black Belt
- Hapkido – 8th Degree Black Belt
- Kumdo – 8th Degree
- Kyeok Too Ki – 5th Degree
Certifications:
- Taekwondo Master Instructor (License)
- World Taekwondo International Referee
- Kyeok Too Ki Master Instructor
- Kyeok Too Ki International Referee
- Kukkiwon Hanmadang International Referee
- Korean Chiropractor Master
POSITIONS / TITLES
- 2018 – World Taekwondo Hanmadang Massachusetts State President
- 2017 – NEKTA (New England Korea Taekwondo Association) President
- 2016 – KTA in USA, Secretary General
- 2015 – KTA in USA, Northeastern Regional Vice President
- 2011 – Pan-American Kukkiwon Grandmaster’s Federation Executive Officer
- 2009 – Korean-American Olympic Taekwondo Association Referee Chairman
- 2008 – Hanmadang, International Referee Kukkiwon (World TKD Academy)
- 2008 – TKD Hanmadang, Ambassador in U.S.A.
- 2007 – The Greater Massachusetts State Taekwondo Association, President
- 2007 – N.E. Korean Tae Kwon Do Association, President
- 2004 – State of Georgia, Deputy Marshal
- 2003 – US Taekwondo Union – Referee of the Year
- 2001 – Korean-American Olympic Taekwondo Team Director, Boston
- 1999 – Korean-American Olympic Taekwondo Team Head Coach, New England
- 1990 – Director, Minister of Physical Education, Taekwondo Instructor’s License
Featured Cover Story. Taekwondo Times Magazine. (July 2002)
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Mu Han Total Martial Arts
Masters
Our Masters provide the highest quality instruction, rooted in traditional Korean martial arts disciplines like Taekwondo. Martial arts training provides many benefits, both physical and mental, for kids and adults alike. You’ll develop strength and balance, increase focus and confidence, and simply become an overall better person. We are also thrilled to offer summer camp and after-school programs for kids in Taunton. Ready to pursue the martial arts lifestyle? Come visit us and sign up today!
HQ Mu Han Communications Lead Instructor
Master Frongillo
Achievements:
- 2001 – 2003’ International Taekwondo
- 2003 – 2007’ First Degree World Taekwondo (This is where many different arts were added. Sip Pal Ki/Professional Taekwondo/Kumdo/Etc)
- 2007 – 2011’ Second Degree World Taekwondo
- 2011 – 2013’ Third Degree World Taekwondo
- 2013 – 2019’ Fourth Degree World Taekwondo/Fourth Degree Professional Taekwondo
- 2021 – Communications Lead Instructor for Mu Han Total Martial Arts
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HQ Mu Han Head Lead Instructor
Master Garafano
Beginning:
My Father didn’t have any “formal” Martial arts training in his life, although he took up boxing in his spare time and was “self-trained”. Growing up in his era, martial arts was practically unheard of until Bruce Lee started to popularize it, but even then, it wasn’t until sometime after that that it started to grow here on the east coast.
When I was born in 1997, my father already had himself convinced that at the age of 4 I will start martial arts. For someone that never had training, he understood its value. At 4 years old I started with Master Carl doing International Taekwondo. Somewhere between 4 and 6 years old I had started training with one of Master Carl’s instructors and his younger brother. A small gap of time had passed when I wasn’t training at all, that’s when my father found Master Oh. I was 6 years old when I started in 2003. I have been with Master Oh for 20 years now without stopping.
My Martial Arts:
From 4 years old until I was about 18, I didn’t like doing martial arts. However, I never stopped and kept learning.
- 2001 – 2003’ International Taekwondo
- 2003 – 2007’ First Degree World Taekwondo (This is where many different arts were added. Sip Pal Ki/Professional Taekwondo/Kumdo/Etc)
- 2007 – 2011’ Second Degree World Taekwondo
- 2011 – 2013’ Third Degree World Taekwondo
- 2013 – 2018’ Fourth Degree World Taekwondo/Fourth Degree Professional Taekwondo
- 2021 – Head Lead Instructor for Mu Han Total Martial Arts
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HQ Mu Han Head Director Instructor
Master Aaron Cushing
Certifications:
25 years total experience
Achievements:
- ITF Taekwondo-4th dan
- International MMK Taekwondo-4th dan
- WT Taekwondo-4th dan
- GTA Taekwondo-4th dan
- Jing Wu Kung Fu
- Mu Han Total Martial Arts: 4th dan
I was born August 9th 1991, in Springfield MA. My Grandfather had both Karate an military experience dating back to the end of the Second World War. He achieved his goal of becoming a black belt and my brother and I wanted to follow in his footsteps.
At a young age, my mother found it important to instill in me the values that martial arts teaches. When I was 6 years old, I had trouble focusing in school and behaving. At that time my close family friend and surrogate mother, Pamela, had already been attending class at Shugart’s Martial arts. They thought It would be in my best interest to learn the art of Taekwondo. Over the next few years I honed my skills and discipline, competing in tournaments across the New England states, as well as participating in the 2001 Jr Olympics. The following year, my brother and I tested for our 1st degree black belt together, achieving our goal at becoming black belt. But we wanted to keep progressing.
My Martial Art:
A few years later, my close family friend and Instructor Pam, along with her husband, opened their own school and I moved with them. We continued to train and through the years I competed in the ITF Taekwondo World Cup in Canada.
- 2007-2009: Various medals in Youth Pattern and Sparring.
- 2010: 2nd place in Adult Sparring division
- 2011: 3rd place in Adult Sparring Division
- 2014: 2nd place in Adult Sparring Division
I then moved across the state and found Mu Han Total Martial Arts. There, under the tutelage of Master Oh, I continued my journey to becoming a Mu Han Master, where I now proudly teach others the martial way.
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HQ Mu Han Director of Discipline
Master John Dias
20 years of experience
Certifications:
- WT Taekwondo 4th Dan
- 4th Dan MMK Taekwondo
- GTA Taekwondo 4th Dan
- Jing Wu Kung Fu
- License:
- 3rd Class International Master License
3rd Class International Poom/Dan Examiner License
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Mu Han Total Martial Arts
Instructors
Here Mu Han Total Martial Arts, our staff is the secret to our student success. Each instructor has a rich background in martial arts and is eager to train the next generation of martial artists. Meet the team below!
Chief Lead Instructor
Gabriel Riskalla
3rd degree black belt in WT Taekwondo. Studying for 10 years.
My son Luke was the one that started at Mu Han first. After seeing the Masters and Instructors and their drive, it enticed me to join as well. I stayed through the years and found that I was a teacher by trade and now I get fulfillment from instructing our students.
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Instructor
Liam
Achievements:
- 2nd degree black belt in WT Taekwondo.
- 2nd degree black belt MMK Taekwondo
- Has been with Mu Han for 8 years.
- Mu Han Instructor 2.5 years
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Instructor
Maggie
- 1 year Instructor
- Second Degree in World Taekwondo/Professional Taekwondo
- Certified in CPR/First Aid/AED
- Specializes in Little Tiger training (Ages 4 – 6)
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Instructor
Natalie Berganza
Achievements:
- 4 years Instructor
- Third Degree in World Taekwondo/Professional Taekwondo
- Mu Han’s Team Poomsae Leader/Instructor
- Member of Mu Han’s Sparring Team
- Specializes in World Taekwondo Poomsae
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Instructor
Rain
- 1 year Instructor
- Second Degree in World Taekwondo/Professional Taekwondo
- Certified in CPR/First Aid/AED
- Certified Lifeguard
- Certified in Therapeutic Interventions
- Bachelor’s degree in psychology
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Instructor
Zachary Dean
Achievements:
- 4 years Instructor
- Third Degree in World Taekwondo/Professional Taekwondo
- Mu Han’s Team Sparring Leader/Instructor
- Specializes in World Taekwondo Sparring
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Instructor
Alexander Lacourse
2nd degree black belt in WT Taekwondo. Studying for 8 years
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Instructor
Hannah
Achievements:
- 2 years Instructor
- Second Degree in World Taekwondo/Professional Taekwondo
- Certified in CPR/First Aid/AED
- 11 Years of dog training
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Instructor
Jacob Sherman
2nd degree black belt in WT Taekwondo. Studying for 7 years
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Lead Instructor
Joshua Smith
- 2nd degree black belt in WT Taekwondo, studying for 6 years.
- 2nd degree black belt in Haidong Gumdo, studying for 8 years.
MuHan because it feels more like a family than a school. We always pump each other up and push each other to be the best!
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Instructor
Ka’moneé
- 1 year Instructor
- Second Degree in World Taekwondo/Professional Taekwondo
- Certified in CPR/First Aid/AED
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Lead Instructor
Karen
Achievements:
- WT Taekwondo 2nd Dan
- MMK Taekwondo 2nd Dan
- Certified Personal Trainer
- Certified Yoga Instructor
- Group Exercise Instructor
- Kickboxing Instructor
- Senior Fitness Certified Instructor
- Rock Steady Boxing Head Coach
- Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Training for Fitness Professionals from the APDA
- Been with Mu Han since 2015
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