Pat Munk - Georgia Kenpo

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Pat Munk

Kenpo Profiles


Pat Munk
Judan
(10th Degree Black Belt)

One of Grandmaster Gary Avery's Black Belt Students

Promoted to: Shodan, Nidan
by: Grandmaster Gary Avery

Promoted to:Sandan thru Shichidan
by: Grandmaster Al Tracy


Promoted to Hachidan thru Judan
by: Grandmaster Tim Teausant


Born February 19, 1953, Master Pat Munk began his training in the Tracy system of Kenpo at the age of 23 under Mr. Joe Renzi, in Louisville Kentucky. He then trained under the studios owner, Master Gary Avery, who awarded him Shodan in mid 1979. Master Avery’s teaching style was hard and brutal. He pushed his students to be their best by drilling on power and technique. That style produced several full contact kickboxers who were state and national champions. Elements of that style, such as a strong focus on precise technique, can be seen in the way Master Munk trains his own students today.

Master Munk came up through the ranks with some of the toughest bunch of Kenpo practitioners in America. Not only did they have formidable self-defense skills, they were also accomplished competitors. Training in the Joe Lewis Fighting system, combined with their hard hitting Kenpo technique, made them very tough to beat. Several of the competitors on his team wore the Tracy’s checkered gi, which was a recognized symbol of ferocious competition at tournaments across America.

Between 1979 and 1996, Master Munk competed in many tournaments and never failed to place 3rd or higher. Master Munk has also coached his son, Marc, to numerous tournament victories at national and world championship levels.

In 1983, Master Munk and his family moved to Georgia where he became a member of the Georgia Professional Karate Commission (PKC) Board of Directors and was the first President of The Georgia PKC Board of Directors. He became the first PKC Full Contact Kick Boxing Referee to be certified in the State of Georgia. He is also a certified PKC point fighting referee and official.

In addition to his Martial Arts career, Master Munk was a Police Officer for 10 years and was certified to teach Law Enforcement Officers in 1985. He was assigned to a Regional Police Academy in Marietta, Georgia. During this time, he developed lesson plans and taught courses in defensive tactics, PR-24 Baton, Straight Baton, Expandable Baton, Tactical handcuffing, Firearms and other related subjects. After retiring from Law Enforcement in 1992, he turned his full attention to teaching Kenpo out of his home in Austell, Georgia.

During the years since receiving his teaching certification, Master Munk has established himself as a very well-respected martial arts instructor. This reputation has earned him a place in the Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame four times, as well as a place in the International Kenpo Hall of Fame, Charter Member, and the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame 2 times. He is recognized for his outstanding technical precision and extremely detailed understanding of the principles behind the techniques of the Tracy System of Kenpo. Such understanding comes from years of training as well as some real life experience. Master Munk has often said that whenever he has used the system’s self-defense techniques in real life, the attacker was finished long before the technique was. It’s that kind of practical insight that enables him to guide each individual student to their own most powerful and strategic utilization of the techniques.

In spite of having heart surgery in 1995, Master Munk has continued to teach private classes, seminars and self-defense courses. In addition to maintaining his health, he enjoys many other benefits of continuing his training in the art of Kenpo. He is constantly striving to improve his understanding of self defense situations. His training puts a strong focus on improving and implementing the power points of specific defenses. Master Munk hopes to impart a sense of confidence and accomplishment to the students that he trains and works with. One of his goals is to train every student to be better than he is. For him, seeing a student’s expression when they finally understand what they are working on is a feeling beyond description.

In January 2005, Master Munk received a promotion to Shichidan from Grandmaster Al Tracy.

In July 2009, while conducting a seminar in Roanoke Virginia Master Munk was promoted to Hachidan by Grandmaster Tim Teausant.

August 12, 2013 while visiting with Grandmaster Tim Teausant, Master Munk was honored with a promotion to Judan, 10th Degree Black Belt, by Grandmaster Tim Teausant.


Competitions:

1979

Kentucky AAU Championships - 3rd Place

1980

KDSA Championships - 3rd Place

1981

Tweeds Southern Indiana Open - 1st Place

1981

Mid West Open Tae Kwon Do Championships - 2nd Place

1986

International Police Olympics - 2nd Place

1994

Georgia Peach State Classic - 1st Place

1994

North Georgia Double Eliminator - 2nd Place

1994

Bushido Invitational Shiaii - 2nd Place

1994

Georgia State Championships - 2nd Place

1995

Georgia Peach State Classic - 2nd Place

1996

Bushido Invitational Shiaii - 1st Place

1996

Battle of Rome National Championships - 2nd Place

1996

Bushido Invitational Shiaii - 2nd Place

1996

Georgia State Championships - 2nd Place

 
 

Certifications:

Promoted to Shodan - 1st Degree Black Belt
Certificate Number OB-0096
Promoted by Gary Avery

Promoted to Nidan - 2nd Degree Black Belt
Certificate Number B-208
Promoted by Gary Avery & Grandmaster Al Tracy

Police PR-24 Baton Instructor

Promoted to Sandan - 3rd Degree Black Belt
Certificate Number B-341
Promoted by Grandmaster Al Tracy

Tracy's International Studio of Self Defense Instructor Certification Certificate Number I-605
Recognition & Certification issued by Grandmaster Al Tracy

Police Officer Standards & Training Associate Instructor

Police Officer Standards & Training Instructor Certification

Police Straight Baton Instructor Certification

Police Asp Baton Instructor Certification

Police Defensive Tactics Instructor Certification

Police Firearms Instructor Certification

Police Officer Standards & Training Instructor Certification

Police Officer Standards & Training Senior Instructor Trainer Certification

Police Tactical Hand Cuffing Instructor Certification

Police Tactical Flashlight Instructor Certification

Police Side Handle Baton Instructor Certification

Police Chemical Aerosol Spray Instructor Certification

Promoted to Yodan - 4th Degree Black Belt
Certificate Number B-458-13
Promoted by Grandmaster Al Tracy

Peace Officer Standards & Training Master Instructor Trainer Certification

Promoted to Godan - 5th Degree Black Belt
Certificate Number B-563-35
Promoted by Grandmaster Al Tracy

Promoted to Rokudan - 6th Degree Black Belt
Certificate Number B-652-36
Promoted by Grandmaster Al Tracy

Promoted to Shichidan - 7th Degree Black Belt
Certificate Number B-742-34
Promoted by Grandmaster Al Tracy

Tracy’s International Studio of Self Defense Master Instructor Certification, Certificate Number MI-107-05
Recognition & Certification issued by Grandmaster Al Tracy

Promoted to Hachidan - 8th Degree Black Belt.
Promoted by Grandmaster Tim Teausant

Promoted to Judan - 10th Degree Black Belt
Certificate Number: GM-10813-2
Promoted by Grandmaster Tim Teausant

 
 
 

Awards:

1994

Georgia PKC State Champion - Annual Year End Award

2003

Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame, Man of the Year – Kenpo

2004

Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame, Outstanding Master

2005

Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame, Master of the Year – Kenpo

2006

Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame, Universal Master of the Year

2007

Charter Member Inductee - Kenpo International Hall of Fame

2014

USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame - Leading Grand Master of the Year

2015

USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame - Soke of the Year

2016

USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame - Pioneer of the Year

2017

USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame - Kenpo Grandmaster of the Year

2018

USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame - Kenpo Living Legend

2021

USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame - Kenpo Living Legend

 

Accomplishments

1980

SEKA Judge & Referee Seminar

1985

Nominated Professional Karate Association Instructor of Year

1994

Professional Karate Commission Judge Seminar, Certified Class "C" Judge

1996

Professional Karate Commission Judge Certificate Class "B"

2017

Alliance - Lifetime Member

2019

International Congress of Grandmasters - Lifetime Member

 
 
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