Woody McGuiness, 17, is a senior at Stamford High School, but doubles as a Tang Soo Do Mi Guk Kwan Dan. This means Woody has reached the level of being a black belt, and in his case, he is now a third degree. Tang Soo Do Mi Guk Kwan is a form of the Korean discipline Tang Soo Do. This system is based off the classic martial arts discipline but is incorporated with scientific and martial theory, form and aesthetics.

John McGuiness, Woody’s father, opened Stamford Martial Arts in 1996, and Woody started taking classes under his father’s studio when he was just four years old. Woody’s current career in Tang Soo Do includes teaching classes for the children. Woody says he plans to continue to practice and instruct Tang Soo Do in his future. He accomplished obtaining his first degree black belt at the age of 11 and is now third degree at the age of 17.

“Tang Soo Do has disciplined me a lot and my goal with it is to be a good teacher for the kids,” Woody told us.

The father and son participating in this art of discipline together has created an unbreakable bond between the two. Doing the activity together has created another relationship for them.

“Instead of being just father and son, being at the karate school turns it into master and student, and in that way it has made us closer,” says Woody.

Woody’s father started his own Tang Soo Do club at his college and Woody wishes to follow in his father’s footsteps and start one of his own at The University of Rhode Island, where he will be attending in the fall. Woody says that starting a club will give students a chance to learn something new and cool, and it would be a fun pastime and great way to meet new people at school.