Grandmaster John Beluschak

Grandmaster John Beluschak has been active in the martial arts since 1962. At the age of fifteen, he became one of the youngest black belts in the United States. Currently, Beluschak holds a 6th Degree black belt (Rokudan) in Judo and an 8th degree black belt in Sin Moo Hapkido. He was also recently awarded the title of Grandmaster by Do Ju Nim Ji, Han-Jae.

As a Judo competitor, Beluschak has won numerous awards and competed in hundreds of tournaments at the local, national and international level. He is a four-time Jr. Olympic Champion, a Pennsylvania State Champion, a West Virginia State Champion, a three-time Grand Champion and a Gold Medallist in the Keystone State Games. Beluschak was also a winner in the International Judo Championship and the U.S. National Championship.

In addition to his personal Judo accomplishments, he has a history of success in the coaching field with many of his students winning national and international tournaments. At one point, his Judo team was awarded top honors four years in a row. Beluschak was awarded a lifetime membership in both the United States Judo Federation and the United States Judo Association and is a certified Judo coach and instructor under the International Judo Federation and Shufu Yudansa Kai.

A first generation Hapkido Grandmaster, Beluschak studied under Sin Moo Hapkido founder Ji, Han Jae and is currently Do Ju Nim's U.S. representative for the World Sin Moo Hapkido Association.

In 1990, Grandmaster Beluschak was elected into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame and in 1998 into the World Karate Union Hall of Fame. His recognitions continued in 1998 and 2000 when he was awarded a special commendation at the 1st Annual World Martial Arts Competition in Seoul, South Korea. This honor was presented by the World Kido Association. Beluschak serves as technical advisor for the Korean Yudo and Hapkido Federation and was voted Educational Funding Company's Instructor of the Year in 2000. He has also been awarded with a distinction of Who's Who in the Martial Arts and was a recipient of the Pioneer Award.

With over thirty years of instructional experience, Grandmaster Beluschak has taught at local YMCA's, the Community College of Allegheny County, Duquesne University and for the United States Marine Corp. As well as conducting private seminars in executive protection, he know devotes his time to the American Judo-Hapkido Institute where he has been owner and head instructor since 1974.