Board of Promotions

The American Self Protection Association, Inc.

Home of America's first Mixed Martial Art Training Method for the Entire Family

Board of Promotions

BOARD OF PROMOTIONS:

The A.S.P.A. Board of Promotions consists of the highest two ranking individuals above Black Belt III that are current members of A.S.P.A. in good standing with the Technical Director and the Board of Directors (for more information please reference the By-Laws of A.S.P.A.). All the individuals listed below are appointed by the Technical Director to potentially serve on the Board of Promotions, if the next higher ranking individual listed is not available (i.e., a minimum of two individuals from highest to lowest ranking on the list below is required). If more than two individuals are available for a given promotional exam, then the Board of Promotions may consist of three individuals from the list below.

(ordered by rank & last name)

Gary A. Cook, 9th Degree Black Belt

Gary A. Cook began training in the combative arts at the age of sixteen in American Jiu-Jitsu, at the Bedford, Ohio YMCA. While a judo student at Kent State University in 1977, an opportunity came to train at the Stark County Sheriff’s Department under Master T.R. McClanahan, ninth degree of black belt. Training under Master/Lt. McClanahan was in the styles of Shotokan Karate, Moo Do Won Tae Kwon Do and Judo.

Mr. Cook graduated from the Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy in 1979 and has trained various military, police, private security and parole officers in self-defense, combat and arresting techniques. Mr. Cook studied under the late Grand Master D. H. Choi, eighth degree of black belt Tae Kwon Do, obtaining a third degree of black belt. Mr. Cook participated in many tournaments including Judo, Tae Kwon Do and open style. He was Grand Champion of the U. S. Martial Arts Center in 1981.

Instructor Cook taught thousands of students from 1982-1992 as the head instructor at The Martial Arts Center. Eight students received black belts; Ed Rucinski, Linda Kah, Doug Vossler, Chip Closky, Troy Schultz, Pete Metropulos, Vaughn Fink and Scott Stover.

Mr. Cook began exclusively training with Dr. Evan Baltazzi, in the ASP system in 1991, continuing to the present.

Ranks obtained:
9th Degree Black Belt, Life Time Member of the American Self Protection Association.
3rd Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, United States Martial Arts Center.
2nd Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, Ku Ki Won, World Tae Kwon Do Federation
1st Degree Black Belt in Judo, United States Judo Association
Certified Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy Graduate

Troy L. Schultz, 9th Degree Black Belt

Mr. Schultz started his martial arts training at the age of 16 at the Martial Arts Center in Macedonia, Ohio (1984). At this location, TaeKwonDo was taught under the teachings of grandmaster Dong Hi Choi (main school in Canton) through T.R. McClanahan (6th D.B.B. TKD) and Gary A. Cook (3rd D.B.B. TKD). Later, Mr. Schultz also attended weekly classes from Dong Hi Choi and occasional classes from T.R. McClanahan in Canton, Ohio around 1987. T.R. McClanahan was both an Olympic Judo and TaeKwonDo coach. Mr. Schultz competed in numerous free style "full contact" TaeKwonDo tournaments between 1985 and 1989.

Having placed in the 1986 State of Ohio United States TaeKwonDo Union (U.S.T.U.) TaeKwonDo championships Mr. Schultz proceeded to the nationals and collegiate nationals at Berkley the same year. Aspirations toward the Soul, Korea 1988, Olympics were put aside to focus on degree work in geology at Kent State University. Mr. Schultz also joined the Ohio Army National Guard Military Police and served in Desert Shield/Storm. Mr. Schultz's first martial arts school was opened in Aurora via a partnership with Peter Metropulos, fellow black belt and training partner from the Martial Arts Center in Macedonia. The school was operated successfully until Dong Hi's death in 1989.

At this time, Mr. Schultz began taking Aikido classes at the Cleveland Aikikai (Aikido Schools of Ueshiba) in Cleveland Heights as well as TaeKwonDo under James Kahn (6th D.B.B. TKD) in Shaker Heights after Dong Hi's passing. This training continued until January, 1993 when, after several months of discussion, he started classes with Dr. Baltazzi at Brandywine Ski Resort. As a scientist, Mr. Schultz recognized the merits of the A.S.P. method of learning.

Ranks obtained:

9th Degree Black Belt A.S.P. - American Self Protection Association - March 13, 2004

3rd Degree Black Belt Aikido - Yoseikan Aikido - June 14,1996

2nd Degree Black Belt TaeKwonDo - Song Moo Kwan - Moo-Do-Won #2-331 - November 6,1988

1st Degree Black Belt Bong-Sool - Moo-Do-Dan #2-212 - August 27,1987

Peter Metropulos, 6th Degree Black Belt

Cris Mitson, 4th Degree Black Belt

North Idaho Law Enforcement Reserve Academy (Class of 1994)

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