Timeline
April 2nd, 1990
– The Studio (Dojang) opened its doors. Introductory classes began.
April 16th, 1990
– First formal classes were taught. 12 students were enrolled. None remain.
May 6th, 1990
– Grand Opening of the Tang Soo Do Institute. The East Coast Demo Team as well as the 19 original students put on a small demo.
August 3rd, 1990
– First Color Belt (Gup) Test at Studio (Dojang). 16 students tested. None still train.
October 1990
– First Studio (Dojang) Newsletter published.
August 1992
– Dennis DiMarco received Master Rank (Ko Dan Ja) at the World Championships in San Diego, California.
May 1993
– First Students to receive Black Belts (Dan) from our Studio (Dojang). There were five in all. None still train..
June 1994
– Three children from our Studio (Dojang) participated in the Region 8 Youth Video Project.
August 1994
– Ronald Raver was promoted to Master Rank (Ko Dan Ja) at the World Championships in Orlando, Florida.
November 1994
– First Student to become Tournament Grand Champion, Crystal Prentice.
October 1995
– Raised $450 for Lisa Bosch Bone Marrow transplant fund.
May 1995 - April 1996
– No Newsletters published.
February 1996
– Studio (Dojang) splits up. Master DiMarco relocates. 15 Students remain. Children classes end.
April 1996
– The Studio (Dojang) on Chester Pike in Glenolden adopted the name: Pal Che Tang Soo Do. The Tang Soo Do Institute relocated to MacDade Boulevard in Glenolden.
May 1996
– Children Classes began again.
October 1996
– First Black Belt (Dan) from the newly named Pal Che Tang Soo Do: Scott Mueller.
March 1997
– Raised $750.00 for St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
February 1999
– Raised over $2,000.00 for St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
May 1999
– Began Tiny Tigers Program ages 4 to 6.
October 1999
– First Student from White Belt (Sip Gup) to Black Belt (Dan) from Pal Che: Dave Voorhees.
December 1999
– 100th Issue of the Studio (Dojang) Newsletter published.
July 2001
– Raised over $1,800.00 for Hayley Quinn, a young girl suffering kidney birth defects.
August 2001
– Karen Anderson travels as a World Tang Soo Do Association Delegate to China and South Korea.
September 2001
– Raised $350.00 for firemen killed in the 9–11 terrorist attacks.
July 2002
– Master Ronald Raver receives the rank of Fifth Degree Black Belt (Oh Dan) at the World Championships in Orlando, Florida.
Summer 2002
– Demo team is reconstructed by George Celona.
October 2002
– Master Raver passed on the Studio (Dojang) to longtime student and instructor Mr. Joe Centrone.
January 2003
– Mr. Centrone adopted Master Kevin Robinson as his regional Master Instructor.
March 2003
– Studio (Dojang) underwent expansion allowing for a third room which serves as a lobby and provides for more training space.
May 2003
– Raised over $1,500.00 for Christopher Reeves Foundation.
June 2003
– Voted Best Martial Arts School in Delaware County by Daily Times Newspaper.
July 2003
– First Pal Che Tang Soo Do Social Night held.
October 2003
– Pal Che Tang Soo Do White Tigers Demo Team received 3rd Place at Annual Region 8 Championship in the Poconos for an outstanding performance of the history of Korea.
– Scholarship Winner: Angel Evangelista.
February 2004
– Studio (Dojang) membership reached 100 students, the most ever.
May 2004
– First annual Pal Che Tang Soo Do Picnic at Ridley Creek State Park held.
July 2004
– Mr. Centrone received Instructor of the Year award at World Championship in Orlando, Florida.
January 2005
– Studio (Dojang) annual membership checkup is 30 more than usual. Pal Che experienced major growth in 2004.
May 2005
– Angel Evangelista wins a Tournament Grand Champion in the Adult Female Black Belt Division.
August 2005
– Raised over $2,000.00 for Alex's Lemonade Stand.
September 2005
– Vince Melchiorre, student and instructor at Shin Karate Institute in South Philadelphia joins the Pal Che Family.
– Original 7 Tiny Tigers test for the Black Belt. Only 1 remains.
October 2005
– Joseph Centrone and Vince Melchiorre receives the rank of Fourth Degree Black Belt (Sah Dan) in the Poconos.
– Scholarship Winner: Angel Evangelista
October 2006
– Master Centrone and Master Melchiorre received the rank of Master (Ko Dan Ja) at the Region 8 Championship in the Poconos.
November 2006
– Raised over $2,500.00 for Carley Cleaver, a young girl who had trained at Pal Che Tang Soo Do and was suffering from Leukemia.
April 2008
– Master Melchiorre opens a partnership school called Dragon's Den Martial Arts in Voorhees, New Jersey.
– Scholarship Winner: Nicholas D'Amato
– Raised over $1,500.00 for Four Diamonds Fund, an organization whose goal is to conquer childhood cancer.
– 200th Issue of the Studio (Dojang) Newsletter published.
June 2008
– Students George Celona and Angel Celona open a Studio (Dojang) called Impact Martial Arts in Cecil County, Maryland.
October 2008
– Pal Che Tang Soo Do White Tigers Demo Team performs The Ninja Turtles Performance during the Creativity Competition at the Region 8 Championship in the Poconos.
June 2009 - July 2011
– No Newsletters published.
May 2010
– Pal Che Tang Soo Do celebrates its 20th Anniversary.
July 2010
– Dedicated and enthusiastic student and recently promoted First Degree Black Belt (Cho Dan) Bernie Ladem passes away tragically. The Studio Spirit Award was renamed in his memory.
June 2011
– Master Centrone passed on the Studio (Dojang) to longtime student and instructor Nicholas D’Amato.
- Mr. Nicholas D'Amato adopted Master Mark Causerano as his regional Master Instructor.
September 2011
– Major renovations take place inside the Studio (Dojang).
October 8th, 2011
– Grand Re-Opening, Open House, & Member Appreciation Dinner is held.
October 28th, 2011
– Pal Che Tang Soo Do joins Impact Martial Arts in performing a joint Demonstration in the Creativity Division at the Region 8 Championship at Split Rock in the Poconos.
May 2012
– First Joint Pal Che Tang Soo Do and Impact Martial Arts Leadership Class is held. These classes were held each month, alternating between the 2 locations, sometimes travelling to other schools as well.
Summer 2012
– Weekly Kickboxing Program held.
July 2012
- GrandMaster Jae Chul Shin passes away.
February 2013
- Christine Havens wins a Tournament Grand Champion in the Senior Female Color Belt Division.
June 2013
– Raised $326.00 for the WTSDA Region 8 Scholarship Fund and another $326.00 for St. Baldrick’s Foundation.
October 2013
– Mr. George Celona receives the rank of Fourth Degree Black Belt (Sah Dan) at the Region 8 Championship in the Poconos.
December 20th, 2013
- 8 Students Raised $100.00 by completing 1,913 Kicks during a WTSDA Building Fund Kick-A-Thon.
October 2014
– Anthony DiLucido is runner-up for Adult Male Black Belt Division Grand Champion at the Region 8 Championship.
– Master George Celona receives the rank of Master (Ko Dan Ja) at the Region 8 Championship in the Poconos.
– Ms. Angel Evangelista Celona receives the rank of Fourth Degree Black Belt (Sah Dan) at the Region 8 Championship in the Poconos.
January 2015
– Student Anthony DiLucido opens a Club called Ignite Martial Arts in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.
June 2015
– Pal Che Tang Soo Do celebrates its 25th Anniversary.
August 2015
- 250th Issue of the Studio (Dojang) Newsletter published.
October 2015
– Pal Che Tang Soo Do White Tigers Demo Team performs Avatar: The Last Airbender Performance during the Creativity Competition at the Region 8 Championship in the Poconos.
- Mr. Nicholas D'Amato adopted Master Kevin Robinson as his regional Master Instructor.
– Scholarship Winner: Deborah Vallejo
February 2016
- Pal Che Tang Soo Do wins 2nd Place in Team Form (Hyung) Competition at the Region 8 Winter Championship.
July 2016
- Mr. Nicholas D'Amato assists with the training of the Hwa Rang Dan League (HDL) Youth Group before and after the 2016 World Championship.
October 2016
– Master Angel Celona receives the rank of Master (Ko Dan Ja) at the Region 8 Championship in the Poconos.
May 2017
- Ignite Martial Arts in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania closes.
June 2017
- Casual Friday Night Classes discontinued.
October 2017
- Master Vince Melchiorre receives the rank of Fifth Degree Black Belt (Oh Dan) at the Region 8 Championship in the Poconos.
February 2020
- GrandMaster Robert E. Beaudoin passes away.
March 2020
- Studio enters lockdown due to Covid-19 Pandemic. Classes are held weekly via Zoom.
April 2020
- Studio celebrates its 30th Anniversary in lockdown.
June 2020
- Studio continues operating during lockdown due to Covid-19 Pandemic with all classes held outside in Glenolden Park.
September 2020
- Classes resume inside the Studio (Dojang).
December 2020
- Studio re-enters lockdown due to Covid-19 Pandemic. Classes are held weekly via Zoom.
January 2021
- Classes resume inside the Studio (Dojang) with Covid Restrictions.
October 2021
- Pal Che Tang Soo Do wins 3rd Place in Team Form (Hyung) Competition at the United States National Championship.
– Mr. George Celona receives the rank of Fifth Degree Black Belt (Oh Dan) at the United States National Championship.
May 2022
- Covid Restrictions removed and Classes return to normal.
June 2022
– Dennis DiMarco receives the rank of Seventh Degree Black Belt (Chil Dan) at the World Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina.
October 2022
- Pal Che Tang Soo Do acquires MBMA Karate, Inc. in Brookhaven, Pennsylvania expanding to a second location.
- Pal Che Tang Soo Do in Glenolden was awarded the Region 8 Hall of Fame Award for Studio of the Year at the Region 8 Championship at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in the Poconos.
– Master Angel Evangelista Celona receives the rank of Fifth Degree Black Belt (Oh Dan) at the Region 8 Winter Championship.
November 2022
- Casual Friday Night Classes resume.
March 2023
- Pal Che Tang Soo Do wins 2nd Place in Team Form (Hyung) Competition at the Region 8 Spring Championship.
- Scholarship Winner: Anthony DiLucido
August 2023
- Mr. Nicholas D'Amato becomes the Assistant WTDSA Region 8 Treasurer.
December 2023 & January 2024
- Major Renovation of New Lights and New Painting at the Brookhaven Studio.
