Mr. Makowski has more than 30 years of martial arts experience, and has extensive teaching experience with students from age 3 to age 70. He has been ranked numerous times in the “Top Ten” of ATA Black Belt competitors. He has won multiple Pennsylvania State Championships in both forms and sparring and he has won the U.S. Open Men’s Heavyweight Sparring Championship (competition among several styles of martial arts including Taekwondo, Tang Soo Do, Karate, and Kung Fu).
Mr. Makowski is a gifted instructor, and takes a special interest in each and every student. He is well-respected in the ATA organization and the martial arts community and can list many high-ranking Masters with whom he has trained and continues to develop his skills and abilities.
Chief Instructor R.J. Makowski
Credentials
- 6th Degree Black Belt (Songahm Taekwondo)
- 3rd Degree Black Belt (Traditional Taekwondo)
- Krav Maga Certified Instructor
- Defense Labs Certified Instructor
- Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officers’ Education Training Commission Instructor (Mandatory In-Service Training and Continuing Law Enforcement Education Training)
- ATA Certified Instructor
- National Judge
- American Red Cross CPR Ceritification
- Youth Protection: State and Federal Certifications, and Parochial School Clearances
- Pressure Point Control Tactics Certified Instructor
- Protech Certified Weapons Instructor
- Long staff
- Broadswoard
- Katana (Samurai Sword)
- Nunchukus
- Short Stick
- Ssahng Nats
- Sam Dam Bong – Three-section Staff
- Cane
- Butterfly Knife
- Tonfa
- Collapseable Baton
- Human Factor Certified Instructor
- Disruptive Student Management
- School Safety & Healthy Children
- Escape and Evasion
- Defensive Tactics
- Sexual Harassment, Assault, & Rape Prevention
- Self Defense for Women
- Violent Patient Management
- Active Shooter Safety, Escape, & Survival
- Impact Weapon Instructor / Straight / Collapsible Baton
- Inmate Control
- Weapon Retention / Disarming
- Arrest & Defensive Tactics
- Ground Avoidance / Ground Escape
- Spontaneous Knife Defense
- School Safety & Healthy Children
Head Instructor Robert A. Makowski
Credentials
- 4th Degree Black Belt (Songahm Taekwondo)
- Holds rank in Karate and Jiu-Jitsu
- ATA Certified Instructor
- National Judge
- American Red Cross CPR Ceritification
- Youth Protection: State and Federal Certifications, and Parochial School Clearances
- Pressure Point Control Tactics Certified Instructor
- Protech Certified Weapons Instructor
- Long staff
- Nunchukus
- Short Stick
- Sam Dam Bong – Three-section Staff
- Cane
- Butterfly Knife
- Collapseable Baton
- Human Factor Certified Instructor
- Disruptive Student Management
- School Safety & Healthy Children
- Escape and Evasion
- Defensive Tactics
- Sexual Harassment, Assault, & Rape Prevention
- Self Defense for Women
- Violent Patient Management
- Active Shooter Safety, Escape, & Survival
- Impact Weapon Instructor / Straight / Collapsible Baton
- Inmate Control
- Weapon Retention / Disarming
- Arrest & Defensive Tactics
- Ground Avoidance / Ground Escape
- Spontaneous Knife Defense
- School Safety & Healthy Children
Program Director Kathy Makowski
Mrs. Makowski has been involved with martial arts for more than 20 years as a mother, student, program director, and co-owner. She believes strongly in the programs that are offered and understands that they are only made better by quality instructors and school operations. She is currently ranked as a first-degree black belt.
Masters in attendance include: Grand Master In Ho Lee, M. K. Lee, and C.M. Caruso.
Instructor Training
Instructors at Makowski’s Martial Arts & Fitness pursue an intensive course of training. Physical taekwondo skills must be mastered, and the techniques required to teach this material must be developed and refined. Every “instructor trainee” spends 2-3 years practicing educational strategies for all age groups. During that training time, the student must meet stringent training and instruction requirements. As each stage is accomplished, the collar of their uniform (symbolizing the yoke of responsibility they bear as instructors) changes from Red, to Red-Black, and to Black-Red-Black.
Instructor Certification
The instructor trainee must complete 300 hours of “student-teaching” under the supervision of a senior instructor. Certification in CPR and Youth Protection is required of every instructor trainee. Final training and certification must be earned at an ATA Instructor Training Camp; an intensive experience in which the instructor trainee attends workouts and training events 12 hours/day for several days.
The trainees practice, refine and demonstrate techniques under the personal supervision of Songahm Taekwondo Masters. Only after passing a practical teaching examination and demonstrating instructional competence in all of the Songahm Taekwondo material is “Certified Instructor” ranking awarded. The Certified Instructor is designated by a “black collar”, and has earned the title “Sah-Bum-Nim” (Instructor).
Instructor Recertification
Recertification requirements must be met every three years through a program of continued advanced training in instructional methods, business operations, specialized martial arts skills and abilities, and demonstration of abilities at an ATA Instructor Training Camp (an intensive experience in which the instructor attends workouts and training events 12 hours/day for several days, culminating in demonstration of abilities in a formal testing. Only after passing a practical teaching examination and demonstrating instructional competence in all of the Songahm Taekwondo material is “Certified Instructor” ranking re-issued.