Our Region 20 Masters
Laurence D’Ercole
Chil Dan Master - Tang Soo Do Karate Institute
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Lao-Tzu.
This journey began in the early ‘70’s with a group of newly arrived Korean martial artists near my hometown in the Philadelphia area. My instructor was Kwon, Young Hyuck. Training was fierce, serious, brutal and un-expecting. The goal became one of survival in the often 2-3 hour classes. Language and cultural were interesting and often challenging for both student and instructor. The dojang had few amenities but you didn’t go there for comfort nor to socialize. The most important piece of equipment was your attitude. Training with hardship was the deal along with exercising extreme respect and learning about genuine honor. In those days Master Shin was the chief and the examiner for most of the rank testing. Students were often impressed with some amazing demonstrations by Shin and other visiting masters.
Shortly after achieving Cho DAN rank in 1976, I relocated to Chula Vista, CA. and continued training. Eventually, I was operating schools in the San Diego areas of Chula Vista and Mira Mesa, then soon expanded across the border into Mexico. In 1982 the WTSDA was formed and I was then appointed Regional Director for the development of schools throughout Mexico and Latin America. This was the frontier.
In 1984 I was fortunate to be one of five delegates selected for first WTSDA China Mission. Among many other discoveries I returned with a profound understanding of discipline. In 1985 I received the prestigious “Instructor of the Year” and in 1987, was presented the masters rank along with the “Master of the Year” title awarded by the WTSDA. Learning, teaching, training, traveling continued to be my day-to-day routine. Working with students, young and older has taught me much. Observers often asked, “ How do you have such patience with the children”? I replied, “That’s easy, THEY TAUGHT ME”. The self-satisfaction of students working hard and achieving their goals has provided me a sense of purpose and responsibility.
Today’s training conditions and technology have improved the martial arts considerably, however, the mental strengths learned from my own raw beginnings is something I would not trade for anything. Our classroom respect, codes and tenets are the fabric of our structure. These and other traditional values has left an immeasurable impact on my life. Always honor your instructor, teacher, parents and country.
Tang Soo!
Kenneth Purnell
Chil Dan Master - Allied Gardens Tang Soo Do
My name is Master Kenny Purnell. I am owner and Master Instructor at Allied Gardens Tang Soo Do Karate Academy.
Myself ,Master Clare and Pat Marsch teach and operate the Allied Gardens Tang Soo Do Karate Academy.
I started my martial arts training in 1966 working at the YMCA in Benton Harbor, Michigan. I enroll in a 12 week martial arts program call Shotokan. After that 12 week program I knew I wanted to become a Blackbelt in the martial arts.
In 1976 I moved to San Diego, CA. Every day on my way to work I pass by this martial arts school. One day I decided to stop in, and that's when I met Master Young H. Kwon. At that time the school was called Moo Duk Kwan Federation. Training under Master Young H. Kwon and Master Larry Dercole I earned the rank of 1st Dan Blackbelt in 1981.
Several years past and the karate school was left in Master Dercole leadership and guidance. The school was reform and became part of the World Tang Soo Do Association. I began helping Master Dercole teach classes and grow has a martial artist. Thank you Master Larry Dercole for the years of your knowledge, paticence, wisdom, and training to help me become the martial artist I am today.
Throughout my years of martial arts training there has been many people who have help me to be where I am today. Mr. Clarence " Lucky" Ellison is one of those people. Lucky and I open up our first Tang Soo Do school in the 1988. He was my mentor of life and partner in my Tang Soo Do training.
Master Larry Dercole, Master Pat & Clare Marsch has been and continues to be my inspiration to stay united , dedicated, humble, focus, loyal, and to always give back to each other and the community.
Clare Marsch
Yuk Dan Master - Allied Gardens Tang Soo Do
Master Clare Marsch started her Korean martial arts training in 1973 as an undergraduate student at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. She continued training in a Japanese style while pursuing graduate studies at the State University of New York at Albany. In 1979 she moved to San Diego and began training in Tang Soo Do under Master Young H. Kwon. Master Hong Ku Baek assumed ownership of the school in 1982, adding Hap Ki Do and Ki Gong to the training. Master Marsch earned her Cho Dan in 1982 and began teaching Tang Soo Do.
From 1983-2001, Master Marsch was Chief Instructor at her own dojang UC Tech Tang Soo Do in San Diego.During that time she won the Grand Champion Female Cup at the 1992 World Championship in San Diego, CA. She was promoted to Sah Dan Master at the 1996 World Championship in Las Vegas, NV. Prior to her promotion, there were only two female Masters in the WTSDA, and she was one of only three female candidates promoted at that time - Master Marsch, Master Carla Bennet and Master Carole Coker. Master Marsch was promoted to Oh Dan Master in 2016 and is now an Instructor at Allied Gardens Tang Soo Do alongside Master Kenny Purnell and Master Patrick Marsch.
Master Marsch has been active through the years in WTSDA. In the mid 1990’s she worked with Master Frank Waller to develop the proposal to the WTSDA Board to form the Scholarship program for the benefit of WTSDA students. She was appointed the first female Regional Director by Grandmaster Shin in 2002 when Region 20 was formed. She was appointed to the Judges Training Program development committee by then TAC Committee chair Master William Strong to develop the WTSDA Judges Training Certification program (along with Master Roy Uttech). She served as Chair of the Women and Children’s Committee and organized the 2018 WTSDA Women’s Demo featuring over 450+ women and girl martial artists in WTSDA. She currently serves on the WTSDA Strategic Planning Committee and provides oversight to the Marketing and Branding team.
Master Clare Marsch is married to Master Patrick Marsch and together they are the proud parents of three grown children: Patrick, Nicole and Elena Marsch.
Patrick Marsch
Yuk Dan Master - Allied Gardens Tang Soo Do
Master Marsch began his Korean martial arts training in 1972 while attending Loyola University in Los Angeles. After graduating, Master Marsch moved to San Diego and trained in various martial arts schools. In 1979 Master Marsch began training under Master Young H. Kwon in Korean Tang Soo Do. Master Kwon had a second school in Chula Vista that had an eclectic group of martial artists including Laurence “Larry” Dercole, Jeffrey St. James and Kenneth Purnell.
After a couple of years Master Kwon moved back to Philadelphia turning the school over to Master Hong Ku Beck. Master Beck taught Hapkido and Ki Gong. Master Han taught Tang So Do. When Master Beck Left San Diego, Master Marsch joined Jeffrey St James in a new Tang Soo Do club he started at The University of California, San Diego. In 1982 Master Marsch was asked by Master Dercole to join the World Tang Soo Do Association under Grandmaster Jae Chul Shin. Master Marsch attended the initial conference in Philadelphia.
Over the next years, Master Marsch taught at UCSD and traveled with Grandmaster Shin and Master Dercole into parts of Mexico expanding World Tang Soo Do. In 1992 Master Marsch was invited to attend the World Tang Soo Master Training camp to be held in Florence Alabama. Master Marsch was promoted to Master Instructor (4th Dan) in 1994. Master Marsch was promoted to Senior International instructor (6th Dan in 2018). Master Marsch was appointed Regional Director for Region 20 in 2004. Master Marsch joins Master Purnell and Master Clare Marsch at Allied Gardens Tang Soo Do.
Ricardo Hassan
Oh Dan Master - Caltech Tang Soo Do
Keep checking our website to learn more about Master Ricardo Hassan!
William Glenn
Oh Dan Master - Caltech Tang Soo Do
Keep checking our website to learn more about Master William Glenn!
Kelly Goodwin
Oh Dan Master - Coastal Canyon Tang Soo Do
Master Goodwin started martial arts training in 1986 and transferred into WTSDA in the early 1990’s with a Black Belt in Moo Duk Kwon Tae Kwon Do. She began her martial arts journey with WTSDA while a graduate student at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Over the years, she has been an active member of WTSDA Regions 1, 20, 6, and 21. She moved to San Diego and started Coastal Canyon Tang Soo Do in 2007.
Leslie Salinas
Oh Dan Master - Tang Soo Do Karate Institute
Master Leslie A. Salinas Gaete, Dan number #030014 was born in Providencia, Chile, on October 26, 1976. She was introduced to martial arts training at age 9 in her hometown of Buin, where she lived for the first 24 years of her life before moving to the US in February 2001 after marrying Master Larry Dercole. Since then, she became Co-owner and a full time teacher at Tang Soo Do Karate Institute in Chula Vista, California.
Her original instructor who taught Kempo Karate joined the World Tang Soo Do Association in 1990 when WTSDA was beginning to set its roots in Chile as a Korean martial art. To learn a whole new, well-structured system of attractive techniques, especially kicks, forms, and weapons, was so exciting that Tang Soo Do became Master Leslie’s life passion. Her serious attitude and dedication toward training became the highlight of her teen years. Master Leslie earned her Black Belt under Chilean Master Victor Jara Cubillos in 1998, while majoring in Physical Education, Sports, and Recreation at the Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación. She received her first instructor certification in 1999 and began teaching at an elementary school, Colegio Buin. Soon after, she started two new after school programs, one at a high school and another at Universidad de Chile in Nuñoa, Region Metropolitana.
As a competitor, Sah Bum Nim Leslie entered in many WTSDA championships in Chile, Argentina, Mexico, and USA winning many first places and achieving Grand Champion status multiple times. She continued to excel competitively until she ended her competition journey when she was invited by GM Jae C. Shin to attend the 2009 Master’s Clinic.
“Teaching Tang Soo Do has become a joy and a sense of fulfillment for me” says Sah Bum Nim Leslie, “as I am able to assist in bettering people and at the same time strengthen my own understanding and conviction to my martial arts. Diverse age groups present various challenges and teaching methodologies. Observing students growing up in the martial arts with self-motivation, ambition, and confidence renews my inspiration as a teacher. Everyone can benefit and enrich their own life from the practice of martial arts.”
Sah Bum Nim Leslie seeks to recognize unique talents in each of her students and helps mold them into an artist. Today, she conducts classes daily for children, teens, and adults, and also directs the Tiny Tigers/Little Dragons program.
Master Leslie achieved her 4th Dan in 2011 and was promoted to her Master’s Rank by Grandmaster Robert E. Beaudoin in 2012 during the annual US Master’s Clinic in Florence, Alabama.
Master Leslie’s biggest pride is to be the mother and teacher of her three Black Belt children: Angelo Dercole, Sam Dan, Giordano Dercole, E Dan, and Gianina Dercole, Cho Dan. She introduced them to Tang Soo Do at the early age of 3 and continues to train with and guide them in the martial arts as a way of life.
Miguel A. Soto
Oh Dan Master - M.A.S. Tang Soo Do & M.A.S. Tang Soo Do UCSD
I started my Tang Soo Do training August 1993 at Tang Soo Do Karate Institute in Chula Vista, CA under Master Larry Dercole. My parents decided to make my birthday gift a one-month membership for classes because I would always play in the backyard as if I was the Ninja Turtles or Power Rangers. I loved training in Tang Soo Do so much that I didn’t want to train with the kids but instead train with the adults. The adult class was led by Sah Bum Nim Tony Valverde. In the adult class, I was able to push and be pushed to new limits I had no idea I had. After receiving the rank of brown belt, I continued my Tang Soo Do training at Allied Gardens Tang Soo Do Karate Academy under Master Kenny Purnell. I continued to train and improve throughout the years until I received my 3rd Degree Black Belt in 2004. Master Patrick Marsch asked me to be an assistant instructor at UC-Tech Tang Soo Do at the University of California San Diego in 2004. I continued to train under Master Purnell and teach alongside Master Marsch.
In 2010 Master Kelly Goodwin asked me to help her teach at her school at Mission Bay Montessori Academy. It was a complete change of pace for me since the majority of her students were in the Tiny Tiger and Little Dragon program but I was able to adapt quickly and fell in love teaching the kids. Master Goodwin gave me the opportunity to take over that location as she was opening a new location. So, in 2010 was the start of M.A.S. Tang Soo Do. I was excited to begin this new path and grow the school to new limits.
In 2014 Master Marsch gave me the huge honor to take over UC-Tech Tang Soo Do as the head instructor. This was an enormous honor because UC-Tech Tang Soo Do was at the university for over 30 years. In 2014 UC-Tech Tang Soo Do was renamed to M.A.S. Tang Soo Do – UCSD. Managing two studios is a lot of work but at the same time extremely rewarding. I continue to train and teach at both locations and I am excited to see my son Santiago A. Soto go through his Tang Soo Do training.
Tang Soo!
Salim Odero
Sah Dan Master - Coastal Canyon Tang Soo Do
I started my Tang Soo Do training during my freshman year at Caltech University back in 1991 with Master Kelly Goodwin, Sa Bum Nim William Glenn and Sa Bum Nim Ricardo Hassan. In 1994 I moved to UC San Diego to complete my undergraduate education while continuing to train with Master Patrick Marsch.
I currently train with Master Kelly Goodwin and Mr. Robert Johnson at Coastal Canyon Tang Soo Do. In 2018 I successfully tested for my current Sah Dan rank. In addition to Tang Soo Do, I've also had the opportunity to train for over 15 years in the Afro-Brazilian martial art of Capoeira earning the rank of Professor.
Robert Nelson
Sah Dan Master - Trifecta Martial Arts
I started my training in 1994, at the age of 10, in Roseburg, OR. As a Ninja Turtles-obsessed 10-year-old, my parents decided that martial arts would be a good way to help me open up and have a physical outlet. Little did they know that their decision would give way to a life long passion for me.
I trained at the Roseburg Martial Arts Academy under Master John Auer and received my cho dan at 15. After leaving Roseburg for college, I found myself without any TSD options nearby, so I instead trained in other styles such as judo, shotokan, aikido, wrestling, and bjj.
I eventually moved out of Oregon and to Seattle, WA where I was able to reconnect with my WTSDA family and continue training. I trained under Master Steven Elmore at Evergreen Tang Soo Do where I would achieve my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th-degree ranks. This is also where I started my first dojang, Loyal Heights Martial Arts.
In my time with the WTSDA, I’ve served as treasurer, registration chair, and technology chair for Region 1. I’ve also been integral in planning and operating region 1 tournaments and I was the creator of the new R1 black belt camp on the Oregon Coast. I’m also 2x grand champion of R1.
In 2019, my spouse and I decided to move from Seattle, WA to Los Angeles, CA to pursue new opportunities. I’m fortunate to now be a part of R20’s strong TSD community.
Sig Luther
Sah Dan Master - Tang Soo Do Karate Institute
In 1995, when Sah Bum Nim Sig Luther was 41 years old, he commenced training at Tang Soo Do Karate Institute under Master Laurence D'Ercole and later under both Master D'Ercole and Master Leslie Salinas. Based upon Mr. Luther's dedication to training and willingness to assist at the studio, Mr. Luther was promoted to an assistant instructor early on, and he has been actively involved with teaching at the studio ever since. Mr. Luther believes that, no matter your age, training in martial arts is an activity in which all members of the family can participate and derive substantial mental and physical benefits. In addition to teaching and training Tang Soo Do, Mr. Luther's interests include yoga, Brazilian jiu jitsu, and all kinds of water sports.
Barbara Bellini
Sah Dan Master - Tang Soo Do Karate Institute
My path in martial arts is not typical. My husband and both sons trained with Master D’Ercole at Tang Soo Do Karate Institute for several years. My husband would say, “come to the studio it will be a good work out”. But I declined as I enjoyed Jazzercise and Step classes. And then, my Jazzercise Instructor moved, and the class was closed. I relented and agreed to attend with a reminder, “I was only coming to workout, I’m not interested in that karate stuff”. Then one evening, Master D’Ercole gave me a piece of paper saying I was going to test for rank. I couldn’t come up with a polite way to decline so I showed up for the test and the rest is history.
From time to time, at a test, tournament, or other event outside my personal comfort zone, I would ask myself “Why?” And the answer was always the same, “Why not, you’ve come this far, go a bit farther”. My journey starting in 1996 culminated in 2017 with awarding rank of 4th Degree Black Belt.
The second answer to “Why” is the people you meet! People you would never have met except for karate. My question to those of you not training, in particular all the Moms’ who make sure the kids have their gear and get to class, is “why not try it”. If I can do it, anyone can!