OUR MISSION:
To provide high quality, traditional Korean Martial Arts instruction to dedicated students of any age who strive for continued self-improvement in all aspects of their life. Because self-improvement is one of our primary focuses, anyone can succeed in our course of instruction. We do not compare what you can do to what another student can do.

ABOUT US

Black Bear Tang Soo Do is Idaho’s first American Tang Soo Do Association school, run by Kyo Sah Nim (instructor) Ted Greenblott. Mr. Greenblott has been a member of the American Tang Soo Do Association since 1984 under the guise of founder Grand Master Richard Byrne. Through 25 years of training in martial arts, Mr. Greenblott has earned many certificates and competition trophies. He also holds belt ranks in Shotokan Karate, Kung Fu, Hapkido and Tae Kwon Do. He continues to study Tai Chi.

Tang Soo Do is a system of hand and foot self defense, sparring, traditional forms and weapons. The American Tang Soo Do Association is chartered by Grand Master Byrne, and has promoted hundreds to the rank of black belt with many achieving master status.

At Black Bear Tang Soo Do Studio, the student develops self confidence, perseverance, respect and discipline through valuable self-defense training methods with proven curriculum for advancement. Should the situation arise that the student may need to defend themselves, they are well prepared.

Black Bear Tang Soo Do has unlimited support from Grand Master Byrne and American Tang Soo Do Association masters worldwide. Masters from the American Tang Soo Do Association will occasionally visit the studio and conduct seminars, as well as sit in on belt testing. Black Bear American Tang Soo Do has open invitations to local and nationwide tournaments, seminars and will continue the tradition of the Sandpoint Winter Classic Karate Tournament.


INSTRUCTOR PROFILE

Mr. Greenblott began his martial arts training in 1984 with the American Tang Soo Do Association, under instruction of Master Byrne and Kyo Sah Dim (instructor) Richard Matsu. In 1989, Mr. Greenblott joined a Japanese Shotokan Karate club while attending the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, while staying connected to his Tang Soo Do instructors and the American Tang Soo Do Association. While in college, Mr. Greenblott trained as a full contact kickboxer at a local Tae Kwon Do school in New Bedford, Mass.

After moving to North Idaho, Mr. Greenblott sought Tang Soo Do and found Master John Mathews, a student of Master Chuck Norris, and continued Tang Soo Do training.

When Master Mathews closed his school, Mr. Greenblott stayed in martial arts by studying Hapkido at Sandpoint Hapkido and continued fight training with students of Master Mathews. Mr. Greenblott soon began training with the newly established Black Bear Tae Kwon Do under Master Charles Brown.

Mr. Greenblott lives in Sagle, Idaho, with his wife and two children.

As of June 1, 2009 Mr Greenblott became the owner of Black Bear and immediately contacted the American Tang Soo Do Association to return to his roots. He was immediately welcomed into the organization by Grandmaster Richard Byrne and long time friend and instructor Master Debi Boudrot of Metrowest Tang Soo Do in Hudson Ma. Mr Greenblott is grateful for the hours of instruction and dedication from Master Boudrot in helping Mr Greenblott achieve certification as a black belt and instructor. He continues his black belt degree training under the guise of the ATA and Master Boudrots tutelage. Mr Greenblott also is grateful to MetroWest Tang Soo Do, Master Farraher, Master Fernette, the Dan members and students for being "home away from home ". Mr Greenblott also credits all of the Masters of the ATA for the unlimited support and encouragement for the advancement of Tang Soo Do .

Black Bear now featuring Tang Soo Do
(Photo by ERIC PLUMMER)
Story by Bonner County Daily Bee

SANDPOINT — The ancient Korean martial art of Tang Soo Do — pronounced “tongue-sue-dough” — is now being taught at Black Bear Tang Soo Do in Sagle, the first school in Idaho to teach the 2,000 year-old brand of self-defense.
Formerly a student of Black Bear Tae Kwon Do, Ted Greenblott started the new school after instructor Charles Brown had to move for family reasons. Greenblott kept the Black Bear name and location, along with many of its students, but is returning to his roots and offering a slightly different approach.

“Discipline, self-control, self-defense confidence; those are kind of the main focus points,” said Greenblott, who has been a member of the American Tang Soo Do Association since 1984. “We want people to feel confident to defend themselves if they had to.”

While Tang Soo Do and Tae Kwon Do share common origins, Greenblott hopes to embrace the more traditional philosophies and disciplines of the former, taking a curriculum-oriented approach to mastering the classic martial art and focusing less on competitions.

Students will learn basic and advanced stances, hand and foot techniques, ground fighting, locks, forms, sparring and terminology, all from a well-certified ATA instructor.

“They have to learn the curriculum, I don’t just give belts away,” explained Greenblott, noting that Tang Soo Do masters from the east coast will make occasional appearances at his school. “It’s a good organization with lots of support given to me.”

Greenblot will be testing for his second degree black belt later this fall. While his approach is more traditional, there is still plenty of sparring involved. In an individual lesson with Sandpoint’s Darren Tetachuk on Wednesday, the two went through a crisp sequence of kicks, punches, holds and throws, touching fists in a show of respect before each and every move.

Greenblott’s clientele will range in age from young kids to adults, beginning to advanced, each seeking to improve both physically and spiritually.

“Students will be comfortable learning without the fear of getting hurt,” explained Greenblott. “Each student will be gaining valuable tools of self-defense, confidence and discipline that will transfer from the studio into everyday life.”