8th Dan – Pin # 15072
Grandmaster Carl Tate Jr. began his study of Tang Soo Do at age 12 in Inkster, Michigan, 21 miles west of Detroit. He was 15 when he was awarded Cho Dan. In 1978 at age 17, Grandmaster Tate joined the U.S. Army and stationed at Fort Still in Lawton, Oklahoma until December 1982. In December of 1982, he was sent to Erlanger, Germany, where again, he was able to continue his training. He was named the number two overall fighter in Europe by Karate Illustrated Magazine in July 1984.
Grandmaster Tate returned to the U.S. in January 1986 and opened his own school in Lawton, Oklahoma. Following his discharge from the military, he was employed by the City of Lawton. In 1988 he was named the Oklahoma Karate Association top rank fighter.
In June of 1989, he moved back to Inkster, Michigan where he continued to teach Tang Soo Do in the City of Inkster and surrounding areas. Grandmaster Tate also worked at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport as a assistant manager for Cater Air International and part time as an auxiliary police officer for the Inkster police department.
In the Fall of 2000 he moved to Canada and opened the only full time traditional Tang Soo Do school in Calgary, Alberta. Later that same year, he founded the First Canada Tang Soo Do Organization. He currently has four of his own branch schools that operate under the organization. In addition to serving as President of his organization, he is also President of the Canadian Tang Soo Do Association.
At 8th Dan, Grandmaster Tate holds the highest rank in traditional Tang Soo Do in Canada. He also holds a Black Belt rank in Tae Kwon Do, Gumdo and Hapkido.
Grandmaster Tate conducts seminars in and around Canada on the traditional teachings of Korean Martial Art and on breaking and sparring. He has appeared in and written articles for martial arts magazines such as Tae Kwon Do Times, Inside Tae Kwon Do, Action Martial Arts Canada, Action Martial Arts USA, Sport Karate Int’l, Dojang Magazine, World Martial Arts and Tae Kwon Do Korean Martial Art UK.
Grandmaster Carl Tate was inducted into the following Martial Arts Hall of Fame:
1992 World Martial Arts Hall Fame Award for Outstanding Achievement
1993 World Martial Arts Hall Fame Award for Instructor of the Year
1997 World Martial Arts Hall Fame Award for Life Time Achievement
1997 WHFSC Int’.l Hall of Fame Award for Master Instructor of the Year
1998 International Martial Arts Council Award for Person of the Year
1998 International Martial Arts Council Award for School of the Year
2000 Michigan Karate Classic Hall of Fame Award for Person of the Year
2000 Great Lakes Karate Championships League of Honor Award
2001 Action Martial Arts Magazine USA Hall of Fame Award
2003 The American Tang Soo Do Association 30-years Award
2007 John R. Byrne Memorial Award