Glen Ridge Taekwon-Do Instructors
Grandmaster John Meany, 8th Dan
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Grandmaster John Meany is a 8th Degree black belt with over 30 years of experience practicing and teaching Taekwon-do. Master Meany is a student of Grand Master Suk Jun Kim in New York City. Grand Master Kim was a member of the internationally renowned Korean Taekwon-do demonstration team under General Choi Hong Hi, the founder of Taekwon-do. In 2014 Master Meany was appointed Chief Instructor of Taekwon-Do International.
Under Grandmaster Kim, Grandmaster Meany has served as Patterns Demonstrator at Taekwon-do International seminars, and also competed extensively in patterns, breaking and free fighting. Grandmaster Meany has also coached many students to competitive success while serving as judge, referee, and head judge at many competitions. Grandmaster Meany appreciates his original and traditional training under Grandmaster Kim and endeavors to emulate that professionalism, intellect and spirit of Taekwon-do in his teaching and training. A former marketing director for a major financial institution, Grandmaster Meany lives in West Caldwell with his wife, Master Laura Giletti, and their two children Theo and Charlotte. |
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Master Laura Giletti, 7th Dan
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Master Laura Giletti (7th Degree Black Belt) started studying Taekwon-do in a small college club and discovered it was something she really had a passion for. After college she moved to New York City and was lucky enough to find Grandmaster S.J. Kim's Taekwon-do where she studied for many years, earning her black belt, and later becoming a Master Instructor.
Because she was told at times that "girls can't do" when it comes to Taekwon-do, Master Giletti has a particular interest in showing women and girls that a Taekwon-do practitioner is judged on the quality of their art and not by their gender. Each student needs to be judged by their merits, and each student has strengths that can be cultivated to help a student achieve greater success. |
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Master Patricia Papera, 4th Dan
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Master Patricia Papera (5th Degree Black Belt) has been with the school for a very long time, starting under the school's founder, Master Marr. This is the only Taekwon-do school she has trained in and she has dedicated many years in service to her training and to helping many students.
She is someone who is always ready with an encouraging word, and her cheerful personality can be felt whenever she is in the school. She is a teacher who never hears the word "CAN'T" and finds a way to "CAN DO". In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Master Papera keeps the school chalkboard decorated with wonderful, cheerful designs, and is one of the regular photographers at our tests. All of the artwork and calligraphy in the school is her talented work on display. |
Master Micheal Chancey, 4th Dan
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Master Micheal Chancey (4th Degree Black Belt)
Master Chancey began his martial arts training over 18 years ago and has been in taekwon-do since 2006. He has been an Senior Instructor at GlenRidgeTKD since 2010 and achieved his 4th Degree Black Belt in December 2019. What Master Chancey enjoys most about taekwon-do is the discipline and the self-control that is developed and that the people we train with become like family. Outside of taekwon-do, Master Chancey is a public school teacher in Montclair, and enjoys reading, chess, basketball and spending time with family. |
Master Hunter Finan, 4th Dan
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Master Hunter Finan (4th Degree Black Belt)
Master Hunter Finan began their Taekwondo journey in March of 2005 as a seven year old student in the Juniors program; and achieved 4th Degree Black Belt in June of 2021. On developing into a Senior Instructor, Master Finan's roots in teaching parallel the path of many of the school's Black Belt instructors, initially volunteering to assist in classes, tests, and camps as a Junior Black Belt and eventually becoming an instructor over time and with age. Master Finan credits the experience of not only being a student as a child but also as an adult, and working with students of all ages, with his development as a teacher, a role through which he sees student's improvement over time as a great reward. |
Instructor Jairo Leon, 3rd Degree Black Belt
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Instructor Caelyn Stahl, 3rd Degree Black Belt
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Instructor Stahl began her taekwon-do training in 2010 as a five year old in our Mighty Lions program, and she has since progressed to her 3rd Degree Black Belt as a high school senior.
Caelyn began her Instructor training as a Junior Black Belt assisting with classes, and now leads classes in both the Mighty Lions and Juniors Programs. As both a teacher and an experienced competitor, Instructor Stahl has become a role model for many of the younger girls in the school. Seeing the progress and growth of the students is the reward for Caelyn as a teacher. Outside of taekwon-do Caelyn enjoys making art and playing the drums. |
Instructor Callum Cavallaro, 2nd Degree Black Belt
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Instructor Cavallaro began his taekwon-do training in 2015 as a middle schooler in our Juniors Program, and he has since progressed to his 2nd Degree Black Belt as a high school senior. Callum began helping out with classes in 2019 and became a staff instructor in 2021. It is most fulfilling for Callum to see the progress of students that he has worked with, especially their progress and conduct towards achieving their Black Belts. Outside of taekwon-do Callum is an avid reader across many topics and enjoys spending time with friends and family, along with cooking and baking.
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