GM Phillip John Wargo

ABOUT GRAND MASTER PHILLIP JOHN WARGO

Grand Master Phillip J. Wargo, retired US Army LTC. and 8th degree black belt, Chief Master Instructor. He has considerable knowledge of the culture and customs of the Republic of Korea having lived there for more than 13 years. In the 1980’s, he was a member of the WTF Taekwondo Evaluation Board for the Taekwondo at 1988 Seoul Olympics working closely with Secretary General Bong Sik Kim at that time.

In the early 80’s, he co-wrote and edited the tournament rules for the upcoming Seoul Olympic Games. During that time he also worked with Secretary General Bae. Mr.Wargo has owned and operated several schools in the US and taught Taekwondo to soldiers in Korea. He has also worked with Jim Henson, former VP of the WTF in the late 80’s and GM Cha So Park in Arlington, Virginia.

One of the original students of GM Richard Chun when the legendary Joseph Hayes was only a green belt, Wargo competed in the 1965 First East Coast Tang Soo Do Association Tournament held in Brooklyn, New York. He lost only his last match which was for the title, against Keiji Kay Tasaki the most senior student of Great Grand Master Ki Whang Kim. The photographs and documents attached below only partially attest to his experience and background. Due to his background he is a candidate for receipt of the highest honor in Taekwondo, induction into the OFFICIAL TAEKWONDO HALL OF FAME® in the ceremony that will be conducted in Munich, Germany on August 23, 2024.