SCHMITT, Ronald D.

SCHMITT, Ronald D. (Dubuque, IA-- ). The son of David SCHMTT, Ron Schmitt started his official training in karate by age seven. Over the years, he had the opportunity to train with masters in various weapons and styles, such as Hwa Rang Do, Tai Chi, Hapkido, Kung Fu, as well as formal training with the American Arnis Association associated with the late Grandmaster Remy Presas. This system focused on various weapons such as dagger, single/double sticks, nunchakus, and sword. It also covered joint locks, disarms, and submissions.

By 2011 Schmitt had the honor of earning over one hundred awards in competition. In his region, he earned the 1985, 1986, and 1987 competitor of the year, 1989 Black Belt of the Year, and 1989 Instructor of the Year. He earned the 1995 Regional Grand Champion & 1998 Regional Grand Championship. He was also Captain of World Champion Winning Demonstration Team, one of the only teams to place in the top three for six consecutive years, from 1994 to 2002. In May of 2008 Master Schmitt was selected as “Master of the Month” in The World Tang Soo Do Association. This organization had featured Masters from all over the world.

In 2006 Master Schmitt earned his master's rank following an extensive three year testing process. Out of thirty-three candidates, he was only one of eight to successfully pass all three years. He was formally knighted by Grandmaster Jae Chul Shin, one of the most recognized Grandmasters in Korean Martial Arts. This historic moment marked the first father-son Master team in one of the largest Korean martial arts organizations in the world. The title of his Master's thesis was “Children in the Martial Arts: The Future of Tomorrow”. Having started his training as a child, and making a lifetime commitment to the marital arts and Tang Soo Do, he felt that he could relate to children who train in the martial arts. Topics covered in his paper included: the advantages Tang Soo Do has on children who struggle with learning disabilities such as ADD/ADHD, understanding the different cycles and phases children go through during their martial arts journey, and recognizing and helping students overcome obstacles in their quest for black belt excellence.

Master Schmitt graduated from LORAS COLLEGE with a Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Philosophy & Business/Marketing Management. He was also a Certified Fitness Trainer and column writer for a local sports paper titled The Iowa All Sports Paper.

On November 6, 2007, Master Schmitt became the founder and president of the US Tactical Martial Arts Alliance, an all martial arts weapon training academy combining traditional & modern weaponry, theories, concepts, & applications that have been influenced from different styles from all over the world. Some of the philosophies used in this program have been inspired from styles such as Kenpo, Hapkido, Tang Soo Do, Jeet Kune Do, Kendo, Kung Fu, Shotakan, Tae Kwon Do, and Jujutsu. The program features tactical applications, disarms, joint lock manipulation, submissions, flow drills, and sparring drills.

The foundation of his curriculum is based on the Filipino Stick Fighting Systems and concepts of Escrima, Balintawak, Doce Pares, Arnes De Mano, Espada & Daga, Kali, Kombatan, & Silat. Various traditional martial arts weapons such as the bo staff, nunchakus, sai, kama, tactical knife fighting, gun defenses, sword techniques, and tonfa are introduced at different levels of the belt ranking system. The core value system used in the academy was derived from Bushido, (The Way of the Warrior), a code of honor practiced by the Samurai warriors.

In 2011 he was the general manager of the DUBUQUE KARATE CLUB. He also also served as the head martial arts instructor for the Loras All Sports Camp.

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Source:

"Master Ronald D. Schmitt," Dubuque Karate Club, Online: http://www.dubuquekarateclub.com/index.php/our-instructors/master-ronald-d-schmitt