9th Dan

Grandmaster Goss, 9th Degree, began his martial arts training in 1962 in both Judo and Isshinryu karate. His first instructor was Master Mike Dignan. Master Dignan trained directly under Tatsuo Shimabuku, the founder of Isshinryu karate.

After enlisting in the Air Force, he trained in Los Angeles, California under the world famous Shotokan Karate Master Hidetaka Nishiyama. He then went to Germany where he was the chief instructor of both the Judo and Karate clubs at Bitburg Air Base.

Grandmaster Goss returned to Johnstown in 1969 and taught the martial arts classes at the Johnstown YMCA until 1974, when he opened his own school. That same year, he met Grandmaster C. S. Kim and has been training in Tang Soo Do and Hapkido with him ever since.

Grandmaster Goss is also the Vice President of the International Tang Soo Do Federation and has served as a member of the Board of Directors, Secretary and Vice-Chairman of the U.S. Tang Soo Do Federation. His duties as Vice President take him to various member schools in the U.S., Europe, and Central America to conduct testing and clinics.

On May 20, 1995 Grandmaster Goss was awarded “Martial Artist of the Year” by the election committee of Korean Grandmasters. He is the first non-oriental to receive this award.

In 1998 the Martial Arts book “Authentic Tang Soo Do” by Chun Sik Kim and Joe Goss was published. It is a comprehensive study of Traditional Tang Soo Do technique and philosophy.

Grandmaster Goss is certified by the state of Pennsylvania to teach police officers defensive tactics, the use of chemical devices, baton and firearms, he serves as a Somerset County, PA Deputy Sheriff and also is a member of the Logan Twp./Blair County S.W.A.T. team as a scout/sniper.

On May 14, 2011, at the 37th ITF Championships, Grandmaster C. S. Kim presented Grandmaster Goss his 9th Dan in Tang Soo Do.

Grandmaster Goss continues to teach Tang Soo Do at the Joe Goss Karate headquarter school in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.