Tae Kwon Do
Current Rank: 6th Dan
Year Started: 1992
Tae Kwon Do is Master Grogin's primary style and main focus.
Master Grogin started training in Tae Kwon Do in 1992 under Master Eun Bok Lee & Master Tae Yun.
Focusing on a preliminarily World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) based style of Tae Kwon Do, Olympic Style Sparring was a passion of Master Grogin's. His masters also incorporated International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) Tul (forms) into the curriculum. Master Grogin had an affinity towards the more traditional ITF Forms of Tae Kwon Do. Later in his journey, Master Grogin took the opportunity to further explore the ITF system and style variations through a variety of ITF Masters.
In 1996 Master Grogin met Korean National Demonstration Team member, Master Il Kyu Shin, who took him under his wing and furthered his training through his black belt ranks.
Master Grogin is currently ranked under Grand Master Frank Noguera, leader of the Capital Region Martial Arts Alliance (CaRMAA). Master Grogin is also ranked through Kukkiwon in Korea.
in 2018 Master Grogin's Tae Kwon Do rank was acknowledge by the Kokuryu Kai International Black Dragon Association based out of Ireland where he was presented with rank certification internationally through the associations directors.
Early Years
Recent
Karate
Year Started: 1987
Master Grogin's martial arts journey began in 1987, after having seen the movie The Karate Kid, he asked for a Karate Birthday Party. That party was his first lesson, and following the party he started taking classes at Marlboro Karate in New Jersey.
Marlboro Karate was a part of Amato's Karate, led by Shihan Victor Buddy Amato. At the time they were a part of the Kar Do Jitsu Ryu Federation. Kar-Do-Jitsu Ryu was created by Shidoshi John F. Manniel III, and was a mixed american system. (Kar is for Karate, do is for Judo, Jitsu is for Ju-Jitsu, Ryu is the first of it's Style)
While Master Grogin was too young to retain the teachings of this style later in his journey, he looks back at his instructors with great pride as they set the foundation for a lifelong passion and love for the martial arts.
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Combat Hapkido
Current Rank: 1st Dan
Year Started: 1999
Master Grogin started training Combat Hapkido under the Grandmaster John Pellegrino System. Earning his 1st Dan Black Belt in 2004.
This system, training and experience was an excellent compliment and supplement to his other Korean based styles.
Wu Shu
Year Started: 1995
Looking to further explore martial arts weaons, Master Grogin started training in Wu Shu under Shifu Jiang Jian-ye of The Capital District Tai Chi & Kung Fu Association.
Initially his trianing focused mainly on traditional Wu Shu weapons including Staff, Straight Sword, Broad Sword and Three Section Staff. Over time Master Grogin also spent years learning various open hand styles including Praying Mantis and Northern Ba Ji Chuan.
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Capoeira
Year Started: 2006
Style: Capoeira Regional
Master Grogin trained under Formando Aranha of
Grupo Capoeira Brasil, earning cord ranks and participating
in Batizados.
Grupo Capoeira Brasil practices a style of Capoeira known as Capoeira Regional Contemporânea. This style is derived from movements and sequences developed and systematized by Mestre Bimba's Luta Regional Baiana, the adapted techniques of Grupo Senzala, as well as influences from the founding Mestres of Grupo Capoeira Brasil, each of whom brought personal contributions specific to their ideology, stylistic methodology and personality.
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Extreme Martial Arts
Year Started: 1997
Master Grogin enlisted in private gymnastic instruction starting in 1997 with a focus on tumbling. Honing in on acrobatic and flipping skills to compliment and supplement his martial arts and move towards a performance ability inspired by the 1980s and 1990s Korean Tigers, and pop cultures Ninjas.
In the early 2000s, with the emergence of the Extreme Martial Arts genre and its popularity in the open competition circuits, Master Grogin started the Capital Region's first and only Extreme Martial Arts classes open to students of all martial arts schools. Students from dozens of local martial art schools and even those with no traditional martial arts training attended the classes in which Master Grogin custom created the curriculum mixing his traditional gymnastic tumbling experience with various performance aspects of wu shu, taekwondo and capoeira.
Early Years
Competitive Breaking
Year Started: 2008
Through the sanctioning of the North East Open with the USBA/WBA, Master Grogin met and formed relationships with the co-founders; Grandmaster Ralph Bergamo and Master Drew Serrano. This business arrangement quickly turned into mentorship and the co-founders took Master Grogin under their wings and trained him in the advanced discipline of competitive breaking, conditioning and further ki use. Master Grogin then resurrected his competitive career in 2009 focusing on competitive breaking.
Through the USBA/WBA Master Grogin was also introduced to Grandmaster Elton Trower. World reknown for his Ki energy use in breaking, Grandmaster Trower also mentored Master Grogin on advanced ki energy development and use enhancing his breaking proficiency.
Early Years
