Martial Arts. Local instructor achieves new rank

Master Arun Salgunan, owner and head instructor of TPM Martial Arts in Milford, was recently awarded a sixth-degree Black Belt in Taekwondo from the Chang Moo Kwan in South Korea.

Attained by very few in the martial arts community, the honor was based on his resume: promoting taekwondo through teaching at TPM and other states and country’s around the world, literary work on taekwondo, various taekwondo recognition awards, medals, trophies, training in South Korea and other countries, continued taekwondo training, and more, Salgunan said.

“I am extremely humbled to be awarded this high rank,” Salgunan said. “Achieving [it] is a long awaited dream becoming reality, thus showing the overcoming of obstacles [and] perseverance.”

Salgunan expressed appreciation to Grandmasters Doug Cook and Martin Marcus for their recommendations and to Grandmaster JoongYoung Kim, Ph.D. of the Chang Moo Kwan in South Korea who accepted him.

TPM is a Chosun Taekwondo Academy and United States Taekwondo Alliance (USTA) affiliate school. Children and adults learn a traditional taekwondo curriculum that focuses on self-defense, martial arts philosophy, and meditation. For more information, log onto www.tpmmartialarts.com or call 845-344-7912.