Grand Master Chris Gantner

GTF Secrerary General

inducted in 2024 as a Taekwon-Do outstanding instructor

I started training in Taekwon-do in 1973 at the age of 11. My father Mr.Jay Gantner also started at the same time. Our first Instructor was Mr.Steve Cooper in Manchester New Jersey. Mr.Cooper served in the United States military in the mid 60’s and learned Taekwondo while stationed in South Korea. Although his instructor was from the Mon Moo Kwan Mr.Cooper received his degree certification from General Choi Hong Hi and the ITF. I was trained by Mr.Cooper in the very strict military format learned from his instructors in Korea. The training was very serious and by today’s standards would be considered brutal. But this demanding training forged in me a solid foundation in the fundamental techniques and a training ethic that would guide me in my future endeavors in Martial Arts.

In 1977 Mr.Cooper closed the Dojang and relocated to another state. My father and I were forced to look for a new place to practice. Over the course of several years we enrolled at and trained in several Martial Art schools in our area. We practiced Japanese karate, Kempo, Judo, Hapkido and Tang-soo-do. These systems were interesting and a few instructors were excellent teachers notably Master H.J Kim and Master Art Bains. However the training we received under Mr.Cooper continued to be our core techniques and our heart remained in Taekwondo.

In 1982 I traveled to South Korea with Master Kum Sung our Tang-soo-do instructor at the time. The purpose of the trip was for Master Sung to join the WTF. We meet with Dr.Un Yong Kim the President of the WTF in his office at the Kukkiwon and visited local schools for training. Upon my return my father and I decided to open our own Dojang . However we never felt at home in WTF or Tang-soo-do.

In 1984 determined to advance our training we rejoined the ITF. At that time there were no properly certified ITF TKD instructors in New Jersey as all the Korean instructors left the ITF to join the WTF due to tremendous pressure from the South Korean Government. After contacting Master Chuck Seriff and the USTF we were instructed to travel to Mr.Jim Murray’s Taekwondo school located in Pottstown PA. Mr.Murray was then the Regional director for the USTF-ITF under Master Chuck Seriff. We made the two hour trip every week to learn the updated techniques and re-certify our rank. Mr.Jay Gantner was 2^nd degree and I was 1^st degree at this time. Mr. Jay Gantner soon became the New Jersey state Director for the USTF/ITF.

During ‘83, ‘84 and ‘85 I traveled frequently and became a seasoned competitor while participating in ITF championships throughout the USA and Canada. In my quest to learn and model from the best competitors I traveled often to North Jersey and Brooklyn NY to practice with other seasoned competitors in the USA.

In July of 1986 I tested for 2^nd degree under Mr.Jim Murray in Pottstown PA. In 1987 I attended my first International Instructor training course conducted by Grand Master Park Jung Tae. This was a 9 day seminar and became the beginning of my close relationship with Grand Master Park. I was awe struck by GM Park and new I would follow this man to the ends of the earth and did.

By this time I became a seasoned competitor and earned many medals and was selected as a USA team member to represent the USA at the ITF world championships in Budapest Hungry in 1987. I won the Gold medal in power test. Then our team continued to participate in the ITF 20^th Anniversary Goodwill Games in Zagreb Yugoslavia.

At this time Taekwondo consumed my life. I was a struggling instructor, supporting a family with wife and chidren to provide for. With my taekwondo school I was making a living but there was never extra money. But still, I would some how manage to make it to the next seminar or tournament.

I traveled relentlessly to nearly every seminar GM Park Jung Tae conducted in the USA and Canada along with several seminars I would host in my home state of New Jersey. Many of these seminars were five or seven day long seminars that included many technical details that were never covered in the more frequent two and three day seminars.

For most of the longer seminars GM Park conducted while technical director for the ITF General Choi Hong Hi insisted on being there for the question and answer segment and the closing ceremonies. As a result General Choi and Grand Master Park visited my school in New Jersey on several occasions. And while attending seminars in Canada I had several opportunities to join General Choi and Grand Master Park for dinner and listened to there amazing stories and insights into Taekwondo philosophy.

In 1988 I was tested and promoted to 3^rd degree while receiving the outstanding performance award from Master Chuck Seriff. I also was appointed Regional Director for the USTF/ITF despite my junior rank.

As a result of this intensive training my technical knowledge and ability increased and I was asked again in 1989 to join the USA team for the International youth and student games in Pyong Yang North Korea. While in North Korea I attended yet another technical seminar conducted by GM Park along with General Choi.

Not long after returning from Pyoug Yang while driving GM Park back to the Airport after a training seminar here in New Jersey GM Park confided in me that due to increasing disagreements with General Choi he would be leaving the ITF and asked me what I thought about the possibility of him starting his own International organization.

He told me that I was one of the first instructors he talked to about this decision. Even before this new organization had a name I told him I would follow him regardless what he decided and soon after tendered my resignation to the ITF. This was no small decision.

I was the USTF/ITF Regional director for the Tri-State region at the time and I was a dedicated member of the ITF. But I was GM Parks student and for me the training and technique were everything and I believed that if you want to be the best and reach for the summit you have to go to the mountain and Grand Master Park was the Mt. Everest of Taekwondo.

Although at first for a short time GM Park used the name United ITF for this new organization however after more consideration and council of his close followers he determined to change it to Global Taekwon-Do Federation.

In the fall of 1990 I was invited to attend the first Global Taekwondo Federation Congress Meeting in Toronto Canada. Being only a third Dan at the time it was determined that the more senior representatives from the USA would start the National organization for the GTF.

I continued training regularly with GM Park because he told me he wanted me to serve as the technical director for the USA. However due to concerns expressed by my seniors with regard my young age and junior rank I was never officially appointed.

In 1991 I was tested and promoted to 4^th degree. Also in this year GM Park asked me to establish the US-GTF to organize the instructors on the east coast and start a GTF National organization as a result of a lack of progress and unity by my seniors here in the USA.

I was elected by the charter members of the US-GTF to serve as its first President.

Throughout 1992 as we began to organize the US-GTF I traveled several times to Mississauga for personal instruction from GM Park and GM Park came to New Jersey to conduct seminars.

In 1993 I attended the first GTF international Championship in Moscow Russia as official USA representative.

In 1995 I traveled to Sardinia Italy with USA team for the first GTF World Championship and served as a Judge and referee. Also at this event GM Park tested and promoted me to 5^th dgree.

Also in 1995 I attended the first GTF international training seminar were GM Park introduced the first of the new GTF hyungs that were to be practiced by GTF members in addition to the original 24.

In the years of 1996, 97, 98 I could not travel as often due to financial and family obligations as I learned that you can only go so long on a wing and a prayer. It was difficult for me to stay behind when events were happening and things were going on in the GTF. I was forced to be content to continue teaching my classes. But GM Park would often call me to keep me informed about the latest GTF news and at times to seek my opinion concerning issues related to the GTF. It was an honor for me that Grand Master Park was thinking of me and would go out of his way to check in on me and give me encouragement.

Then in 1999 Master Manual Quiles hosted the US Global taekwondo Cup in Paterson New Jersey. I had not seen GM Park for more than a year and I was surprised to see that he was every ill and suffering physically.

Then GM Park asked me to come to Canada to assist him in finishing the hyungs Pyung- Hwa and Sun-Duk. He developed these Hyungs years earlier but decided that they needed to be improved for the future. While I was there he also created pre-arranged sparring routines and Sabong Chago Makgo Jurugi exercises.

In 2000 I was tested and promoted to 6^th degree by GM Park at the end of a weekend training visit.

Also later in 2000 I attend the World Championship Rimini Italy. GM Park requested that I assist him in conducting a pre- championship training seminar to demonstrate the new refinements to Pyung-Hwa and Sun-duk. I was also requested to perform a demonstration for the Opening ceremony.

In 2001 I attended the last International training seminar that GM Park would teach before his untimely death when he succumbed to his illness on April 11, 2002.

Just prior to his passing I attended the Championship in Little Rock Arkansas. At this event GM Park talked to me about his plans for me to be his assistant for a seminar tour to the Philippians, Malaysia and South Korea. Unfortunately this never came to be due to the tragic event of April 11, 2002.

I attended the funeral for Grand Master Park Jung Tae in Mississauga Canada. Until the present the memory of this day weighs heavy on my heart.

It was also at this time I was very much involved in the struggle to help determine the future course and leadership of the GTF. However it was not difficult for me choose what course to take. I was fully aware that our founder’s wife Mrs. Linda Park was the Senior Vice President of the GTF and had been intimately involved with the management of the GTF from the beginning and that GM Park would want me to support her. I was also fully aware of Mrs. Lind Park’s unique qualifications and experience. So I offered my assistance and continue to this day.

Since that time I have dedicated myself to refining and perfecting the unique technical style and approach to execution of techniques that makes the GTF style superior.

Later that year in 2002 during a meeting at the GTF World Championship in Toronto Canada I was appointed Chairman of the GTF Technical Committee. It was an honor to be selected to this position considering all the board members were my seniors.

During the next Masters Conference a few months later it was determined that I would better serve the GTF as the Secretary General.

While serving the GTF as Secretary General I have traveled to:

2003 -Malaysia- Assisted in the instruction at the International Instructor course( ICC)
2004 – Russia – 5^th GTF World Championship.
2005 – Italy – GTF European Cup
2006 – Italy – 6^th GTF World championships.
– Canada – Conducted training seminar , Winnipeg
2007 – Greece – GTF European Championship.
– Malaysia- Conducted International Instructors (IIC)Training, Kula Lumpur
2008 – Canada – Park Jung Tae World Cup, Toronto
2009 – Malaysia – 7^th GTF World Championship
2010 – Puerto Rico – Conducted training seminar.

In 2005 I was tested and promoted to 7^th degree Master Instructor by the GTF examination board at the European Championships in Sardinia Italy. It was a bitter sweat accomplishment as all my promotions for the past twenty years were from Grand Master Park Jung Tae. I accepted the promotion in the hope that he was there in spirit.

2006 – 5^th GTF World Championship Italy
2007 – 6^th GTF World Championship Greece
I traveled to Malasia at the request of PGTF to teach/conduct Instructor training Course.
2008 – GM Park Jung Tae World Cup Toronto Canada
2009 – 7^th GTF World Championship Malasia
2011 – 8^th GTF World Championship Dundee Scottland
2012 – Promoted to 8th Dan by GTF examination Board at Park Jung Tae memorial Cup in Toronto Canada.
2013 – 9^th GTF World Championship Kazakhstan
2018 – 11^th GTF World Championship Durban South Africa
2020 – Promotion to 9^th dan by GTF President and Grand Masters committee.
2023 – elected by GTF Executive board to serve as Chiarman of Technical and instruction Committee.
2024 – Turkish Republic of North Cyprus TRNC Conducted the GTF 3^rd IIC
2024 – nominated to be inducted into the Taewondo Hall of Fame By Grand Master Gerard Robbins

This history is not complete. Many of these events occurred decades ago and it is hard to recall the exact year and chronological order. There are also many other people, places and events that occurred along the way that now are just vague memories. It is impossible for me to include all these events that shaped my Taekwondo career. And there is hopefully much more history to be made for me and the GTF. However these are the highlights of my background in the Martial Arts and my feelings concerning certain events that influenced my Taekwondo journey.

Grand Master Chris Gantner GTF (IX dan),
mail: secgengtf@gmail.com