Great Lakes Tang Soo Do

Great Lakes Tang Soo Do · 1973 to today

History & Gallery

Photos and stories from Master Birch's own posts and from the students who trained with him, in the order they happened.

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Flint roots

1973–1979

  1. 1973

    Started my journey

    Love training and teaching Tang Soo Do. Started my journey 1973, never stopped. Tang Soo!

    Master Michael Birch

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  2. 1970s

    Instructors from Flint

    Region 5 Tournament, Soo Bahk Do, with S.B.Nim Bennett, one of my instructors from my home town, Flint, Michigan.

    Master Michael Birch

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  3. 1979

    Black belt testing

    A young Michael Birch with long hair and a beard, in a white uniform and red belt, pointing toward the camera. "Black Belt Testing" is handwritten in the margin of the print. (open larger)
    Black belt testing, 1979. He opened his first school while still a red belt.

    Tested for my first Dan in 1979 in Tang Soo Do. I have never ceased training and promoting the Art. I established my first school while holding the rank of 1st gup red belt. Since then, I have overseen the development of over 40 schools from Michigan to San Diego and have had the privilege of training with numerous esteemed Masters throughout the years.

    Master Michael Birch

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Great Lakes Tang Soo Do

1980s–2006

  1. Great Lakes years

    Detroit, every six months

    Group photo of about fifteen Great Lakes students in white uniforms with Grandmaster Jae Joon Kim in a gray suit, in front of American and Korean flags. Names are handwritten along the bottom of the print. (open larger)
    The Great Lakes group at Dan testing and a seminar in Detroit with Grandmaster Jae Joon Kim and Grandmaster Saul Kim. Photo posted by Katie J Leeck

    Seminar and Dan Testing in Detroit every 6 months. This was our group that traveled from Mid Michigan. Tang Soo.

    Master Michael Birch

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  2. Great Lakes years

    Harrison, Michigan

    A faded group photo of the Harrison, Michigan class, adults and children in white uniforms, with a young, bearded Master Birch kneeling in the front row. (open larger)
    The Harrison, Michigan school. Birch family album

    This picture was in Harrison Michigan. Tang Soo!!

    Master Michael Birch

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  3. Great Lakes years

    The Holly tournament

    Great Lakes Tang Soo Do tournament in Holly, Michigan. This was when we had 14 schools. We were maxed out to our capacity in the high school gym.

    Master Michael Birch

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  4. Great Lakes years

    The Great Lakes crew

    About twenty Great Lakes black belts and red belts in white uniforms, two rows standing and one row kneeling, in a training hall. (open larger)
    The Great Lakes crew. Photo posted by Katie J Leeck

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  5. Great Lakes years

    With Grandmaster Kim

    Photo to come, once everyone pictured has said yes.

    Miss Grandmaster Kim. We spent many years promoting Tang Soo Do.

    Master Michael Birch

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  6. 1987

    Grandmaster Kim teaches one-step

    Grandmaster Jae Joon Kim throws a high side kick past a student's head while rows of students in uniforms sit around the floor and watch. (open larger)
    Grandmaster Jae Joon Kim (Dan #38) demonstrates one-step for students of the Pacific Martial Arts Foundation at a seminar at Grossmont College, El Cajon, California. Photo: Michael Connry

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  7. 1988

    4th Dan

    I was here for this competition. Just tested with World Tang Soo Do 1988 for 4th Dan, Dan Number 20140. That was a great championship.

    Master Michael Birch

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  8. 1992

    Fire break at black belt camp

    A grainy outdoor photo: Master Birch, mid-strike, breaks a stack of boards that bursts into flame while students in uniforms watch from the grass. (open larger)
    Black belt camp, 1992: a speed-and-power break through four boards lit with gasoline.

    Black belt camp, good times. This break demo is on speed and power with gasoline.

    1992 camp: power and speed break, 4 boards lit up with gas.

    Master Michael Birch

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  9. 2002

    A signed manual

    Inside page of a worn student manual: a black-and-white photo of Grandmaster Jae Joon Kim in a stance, his printed name, and his signature in pen below it. (open larger)
    One of the first signed copies of Grandmaster Jae Joon Kim's Tang Soo Do student manual.

    Tang Soo Do Martial Art's Student Manual. I received the first signed ones that was handed out, 2002.

    Master Michael Birch

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  10. 2002

    In memory of the founder

    In memory of the Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do.

    Master Michael Birch

    Hwang Kee, founder of the Moo Duk Kwan, Nov. 9, 1914 – July 14, 2002.

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  11. 2005–2006

    Last photos before San Diego

    A collage of four photos from Great Lakes testing days: a large group in front of a Korean flag, four black belts standing together, a red belt student, and a testing panel seated at a long table. (open larger)
    The last Great Lakes photos, 2005 and 2006. Birch family album

    Great Lakes Tang Soo Do: last pictures taken before I left to San Diego to take care of my mother-in-law. 2005 and 2006.

    Master Michael Birch

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San Diego

2006–2020

  1. 2015

    The Pioneer Award

    Master Birch, in a black-trimmed uniform, hands a plaque to Grandmaster Jae Joon Kim in front of an American flag. (open larger)
    Master Birch presents the Pioneer Award to Grandmaster Jae Joon Kim.
    Grandmaster Jae Joon Kim, smiling, holds the Pioneer Award plaque up high. (open larger)
    Grandmaster Kim holds up the Pioneer Award.

    Grandmaster Jae Joon Kim was a great mentor in my life. Will always miss him. We tested many black belts together from 1975 to 2006.

    He was the first Grandmaster to come to the U.S. to teach Tang Soo Do. Pioneer award: I rewarded him with this great honor.

    Master Michael Birch

    The photos are scanned prints, first shared in 2015. The date of the ceremony itself isn't recorded.

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  2. 2017

    Through a student's eyes

    A collage: Master Birch at the West Coast Championship in San Diego, wearing a red and navy master's belt, beside three early photos of him as a young, bearded black belt, one holding a sword. (open larger)
    Left: at the West Coast Karate Championship in San Diego. Right: the early years. Collage shared by a former student

    My karate instructor, back when I started at 10 yrs old. He was only a first degree black belt but extremely powerful! … his lifelong journey to become who he is now: Grand Master Michael Birch. 8 stripes on that belt if you look closely.

    Former student

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  3. 2018

    Five new black belts

    Photo to come, once everyone pictured has said yes.

    Had a great night testing 5 new black belts and gups at the Rock church in San Diego.

    Master Michael Birch

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  4. 2018

    Grand Master H. C. Hwang

    I have trained with many Masters in my time. Grand Master H. C. Hwang is the best Tang Soo Do Master in the world, no other like him. He is the founder's son.

    Master Michael Birch

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  5. 2018

    Five stages of the martial way

    A teaching he shared with his students: a martial artist moves through five stages, each with its own key quality. Cho Bo Ya, the practitioner, needs courage. Kwan Won, the student, learns concentration and endurance. Ja Jeh, the disciple, learns humility. Moo Do In, the martial artist, lives by honesty. Moo Sa, the warrior, embodies the whole way.

    Summarized from the book Ki Sool, courtesy of Soo Bahk Do Spain. The five stages on the home page.

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Home to Michigan

2020–today

  1. 2020

    Training outside

    Master Birch and a student, both in navy-trimmed uniforms, stand together on a lawn at the edge of the woods, then face each other in fighting stances. (open larger)
    Training outside, August 2020, before classes moved to the Sportsplex.

    Training outside today. I enjoy going over the basic material.

    Master Michael Birch

    He started training under me four years ago as a first Dan; now he is a 3rd Dan. Tang Soo!!

    Master Michael Birch, four years later

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  2. May 2021

    A new chapter

    A class flyer with the round Great Lakes Tang Soo Do logo: Karate, learn first-hand through certified federation master instructor Michael Birch; Tuesdays and Thursdays for ages 7 and up at the Otsego County Sportsplex, 1250 Gornick Ave, Gaylord, MI. (open larger)
    The flyer for the first Gaylord classes, at the Otsego County Sportsplex.

    Starting a new chapter in life. I been training in Tang Soo Do since 1973, started teaching 1975 in my basement, opened my first school at a roller rink in Argentine, Michigan, 1976. I had went on to opening 14 schools from Traverse City, Mid Michigan and the Thumb area. I taught in San Diego for 15 yrs, 6 schools. Now I'm here in Gaylord, Michigan, starting a new school. Very excited to teach at the Sport Plex.

    Master Michael Birch

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  3. July 2021

    Back on the floor

    Came to train with the best in the art, Michael Birch. Glad to be back, and to have my daughter in it as well! Tang Soo Do!!

    Returning student and parent

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  4. January 2022

    2nd Dan

    Master Birch stands beside a student who holds his new 2nd Dan certificate, in front of an American flag. (open larger)
    A 2nd Dan promotion in Gaylord.

    Congratulations, well deserved.

    Master Michael Birch

    After another 2 years of training I received my second Dan, or second degree black belt, through Master Michael Birch of Great Lakes Tang Soo Do. Thanks for the training, I appreciate it.

    Student · 2nd Dan

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  5. September 2022

    A new dobok

    Master Birch in a crisp white uniform with navy trim and a red-and-navy belt, in a fighting stance in front of an American flag. (open larger)
    The new uniform.

    Love my new MooDo Yea Premium uniform.

    Master Michael Birch

  6. October 2023

    3rd Dan in Detroit

    Photo to come, once everyone pictured has said yes.

    One year ago we went to Detroit for Dan testing. Tang Soo!

    Master Michael Birch

    After three more years of intense training under Grand Master Michael Birch I was awarded the rank of 3rd Dan in Tang Soo Do. Went to Detroit to be tested under Grand Master Saul Kim from the Traditional Tang Soo Do Federation. That's a day I won't ever forget.

    Student · 3rd Dan

    The 150th promotional testing of the World Traditional Tang Soo Do Federation, October 21, 2023.

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  7. August 2024

    Twenty years later

    Photo to come, once everyone pictured has said yes.

    Tonight my fellow black belt brother surprised our Tang Soo Do instructor, Master Birch. We have not seen him in over twenty years. Tang Soo!!!

    Former student

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  8. July 2025

    9th Dan

    Never quit training… and never stopped. 9th Dan. Tang Soo!!!

    Master Michael Birch

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  9. July 2025

    From the lawn to the Sportsplex

    Side by side: Master Birch in 2020 throwing a punch on a lawn by the woods, and today standing at attention in the Sportsplex in front of an American flag. (open larger)
    2020 and now: from teaching outside to the Sportsplex.

    I started teaching outside until I started teaching at the Sport Plex. It's been 5 yrs. Tang Soo.

    Master Michael Birch

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  10. August 2025

    The road to 9th Dan

    This has been my black belt journey. I'm at 9th degree now.

    This is the way I went through the ranks, all the way to 9th Dan. Now the requirements are one year less on each testing.

    Master Michael Birch
    Minimum time before each Dan rank
    RankTime before testing
    1st Danabout 4 years
    2nd Danat least 2 years
    3rd Danat least 3 years
    4th Danat least 4 years
    5th Danat least 5 years
    6th Danat least 6 years
    7th Danat least 7 years
    8th Danat least 8 years
    9th Danat least 9 years

    Altogether: about 18 years to 5th Dan (Master), 39 to 8th Dan (Grand Master), 58 to 10th Dan. From a Karate Science graphic he shared.

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  11. October 2025

    Dan testing, then and now

    Two group photos from Dan testing, labeled 2024 and Now: rows of black belts in white uniforms, seated and standing in a hall with American and Korean flags. (open larger)
    Dan testing group photos, 2024 and 2025.

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  12. December 2025

    Seven black belts

    Photo to come, once everyone pictured has said yes.

    We been at this location for over 4 yrs. We have promoted 7 black belts. Tang Soo.

    Master Michael Birch

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