In 1977, a young David McCloskey walked into a Pittsburgh, PA taekwondo school to enrol as a student. Forty years later he returned to the Pittsburgh school to earn his Grand Master Instructor status under his original master instructor.

On Saturday, May 20, 2017, Cypress, TX taekwondo Master Instructor David McCloskey was promoted to 8th Dan black belt, and bestowed the title Grand Master Instructor. The ceremony was held by taekwondo pioneers Grand Master Instructor Young Il Kong and Grand Master Instructor Young Bo Kong, the legendary leaders of Young Brothers Taekwondo schools. Grand Master Young Bo Kong, has been Grand Master McCloskey’s instructor since he began training in 1977. “It’s an honour to receive this belt from Master Kong, the same instructor I started with back in the 1970’s,” McCloskey added.

After earning a black belt in his early taekwondo career, Grand Master McCloskey came to Houston in 1982 to work with Mark Giambi, another Young Brothers Taekwondo master instructor who now runs one of Houston’s longest running taekwondo schools. Coincidentally, Grand Master Giambi was promoted to 9th dan in the same black belt promotion ceremony as Grand Master McCloskey.

For several years, McCloskey moved up through the ranks to earn multiple black belts. Eventually, he would become the head instructor of his own studio on the northwest side of Houston. Over the years, he has continued to grow and expand. In his current school in the Cypress Creek Lakes-Bridgeland community, Grand Master McCloskey is a rare find. Not only is he an 8th dan black belt, but he continues to teach his students daily. As McCloskey states, “I’m grateful that I’ve been able to teach all these years.”

McCloskey has built a solid reputation as an instructor and mentor. He cares about the progress of his students, both in taekwondo and in their personal lives. His studio’s five star rating is a testament to his excellent level of instruction and the fun and engaging environment his studio presents.

Grand Master McCloskey’s martial arts journey has taken him through ventures where he learned other martial arts styles to compliment his taekwondo training and broaden his understanding of the martial arts world.

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