Master McManus' Journey in Tang Soo Do
High side kick at the State Championships.
Master McManus began his training in Tang Soo Do in 1993. He was a shy 9 year old at the time and his parents decided that Karate classes would help bring him out of his shell. It helped a lot but little did they know just how much Tang Soo Do would come to play a part in his life inside and outside the dojang.
Master McManus trained hard during his high school years and was an avid competitor from 2000-2002. He would spend four hours in the dojang everyday and he also began assisting with class instruction. At one point he was teaching up to three classes a day. His main focus though was his training for competition. His blood, sweat and tears in the dojang payed off and earned him two National Championships in 2000 and 2001. It was during this period that life decided to throw him a curveball. He began having pain in his hips which would change everything. It would test his Tang Soo Do training in a very different way.
Master McManus began having problems with his hips. He went to get them checked out and the first thing out of the doctors mouth was "Oh my God!" The entire ball and socket of both hip joints were severely miss shaped. This was causing the cartilage to be worn away leaving just bone on bone contact and causing a lot of pain. The doctor that he was referred to performed four surgeries. Three times to clean out debris, some of which were dime size. The 4th surgery he performed was to help elongate the illiopsoas tendon in Master McManus' right leg in an effort to help alleviate pain. It didn't work...
Master McManus trained hard during his high school years and was an avid competitor from 2000-2002. He would spend four hours in the dojang everyday and he also began assisting with class instruction. At one point he was teaching up to three classes a day. His main focus though was his training for competition. His blood, sweat and tears in the dojang payed off and earned him two National Championships in 2000 and 2001. It was during this period that life decided to throw him a curveball. He began having pain in his hips which would change everything. It would test his Tang Soo Do training in a very different way.
Master McManus began having problems with his hips. He went to get them checked out and the first thing out of the doctors mouth was "Oh my God!" The entire ball and socket of both hip joints were severely miss shaped. This was causing the cartilage to be worn away leaving just bone on bone contact and causing a lot of pain. The doctor that he was referred to performed four surgeries. Three times to clean out debris, some of which were dime size. The 4th surgery he performed was to help elongate the illiopsoas tendon in Master McManus' right leg in an effort to help alleviate pain. It didn't work...
Not out of the woods yet...
Mr. McManus after testing at the West Haven dojang (1993)
These first four operations took place between 2001 and 2003. Each one had a lengthy and painful recovery time but the only thing on Master McManus' mind was how soon he could get back to training. Between his 2nd and 3rd surgeries Mr. McManus won a State Sparring Championship. His doctors didn't like this too much but he didn't care.
This was a period in his life though that was very dark and depressing. Master McManus couldn't train like he used to and during his recovery periods he would go to the dojang to watch classes. Tang Soo Do was what made him happy and he couldn't even practice. He did realize though that the lessons he learned from training about humility, honesty and courage helped him get through. Tang Soo Do once again helped him in life.
Master McManus was still having pain. Now though the doctor was not very willing to do more surgeries because he thought that he was faking just to get pain medication. He referred him to a colleague up in Boston and after waiting 3 hours to see the new doctor, the only thing he said was that he was going to be crippled for the rest of his life and he had better get used to the wheelchair. Another Tang Soo Do lesson in Self-Control kicked in and prevented Master McManus from punching this new guy in the face.
After seeing the doctor in Boston, he was depressed for a week. But came to his senses quickly and decided to was time to find a new doctor. Enter Dr. Robert Buly, a hip and knee specialist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. People don't come to this hospital to get treated for routine things. This hospital is for extreme cases that require 'special surgery'...
Master McManus also waited three hours to see Dr. Buly. The difference though was that during this time, he watched the doctor go through all of his X-rays, CT scans, MRI's and charts. For three solid hours only stopping once to take an unrelated phone call for a minute. After looking over everything Dr. Buly came into the room and said "I know what is wrong with you and I can fix you." He then went on to describe all the pain that he was having when he did certain things. Usually the doctors would ask how he felt, not this one. He was good!!
The surgeries that he performed had only been done less than twenty times in the United States at the time. They required Dr. Buly to shave the hip bone down in order to reshape the entire structure. Each of the four surgeries required a SIX month recovery period not two months like the pervious ones. This was the biggest test for Mr. McManus yet. These surgeries were performed between 2004 and 2006. Even though the recover periods were long and painful, Master McManus was able to test for his Cho Dan (1st degree Black Belt) in the fall of 2005. His last hip surgery was in the fall of 2006 and even though he has periodic pain it does not interfere with his life passion of Tang Soo Do.
This was a period in his life though that was very dark and depressing. Master McManus couldn't train like he used to and during his recovery periods he would go to the dojang to watch classes. Tang Soo Do was what made him happy and he couldn't even practice. He did realize though that the lessons he learned from training about humility, honesty and courage helped him get through. Tang Soo Do once again helped him in life.
Master McManus was still having pain. Now though the doctor was not very willing to do more surgeries because he thought that he was faking just to get pain medication. He referred him to a colleague up in Boston and after waiting 3 hours to see the new doctor, the only thing he said was that he was going to be crippled for the rest of his life and he had better get used to the wheelchair. Another Tang Soo Do lesson in Self-Control kicked in and prevented Master McManus from punching this new guy in the face.
After seeing the doctor in Boston, he was depressed for a week. But came to his senses quickly and decided to was time to find a new doctor. Enter Dr. Robert Buly, a hip and knee specialist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. People don't come to this hospital to get treated for routine things. This hospital is for extreme cases that require 'special surgery'...
Master McManus also waited three hours to see Dr. Buly. The difference though was that during this time, he watched the doctor go through all of his X-rays, CT scans, MRI's and charts. For three solid hours only stopping once to take an unrelated phone call for a minute. After looking over everything Dr. Buly came into the room and said "I know what is wrong with you and I can fix you." He then went on to describe all the pain that he was having when he did certain things. Usually the doctors would ask how he felt, not this one. He was good!!
The surgeries that he performed had only been done less than twenty times in the United States at the time. They required Dr. Buly to shave the hip bone down in order to reshape the entire structure. Each of the four surgeries required a SIX month recovery period not two months like the pervious ones. This was the biggest test for Mr. McManus yet. These surgeries were performed between 2004 and 2006. Even though the recover periods were long and painful, Master McManus was able to test for his Cho Dan (1st degree Black Belt) in the fall of 2005. His last hip surgery was in the fall of 2006 and even though he has periodic pain it does not interfere with his life passion of Tang Soo Do.
Back on track with a new vision
Master McManus tested for Ee Dan (2nd degree Black Belt) in the fall of 2007 and earned his Sahm Dan (3rd degree Black Belt) in the fall of 2010. Each time proving that hard work and determination pay off in the face of adversity.
In January 2015, he participated in the 20th Annual Kodanja Shimsa and tested for the rank of Sa Dan (4th Degree Black Belt) and Master Instructor Certification. The test was held over five days with 16 to 18 hours dedicated to training each day with very little sleep each night. The test is designed to push each testing candidate to and past their physical and mental limits. Master McManus successfully passed the test and was promoted at the CT State Championships on May 23, 2015.
In 2009, as a 2nd degree Black Belt, Master McManus open his dojang, Seven Star Martial Arts Academy in downtown Ansonia. This was a dream of his since he was teaching and assisting classes as a green and red belt when he was a teenager. Mr. McManus loves to pass on his knowledge of Tang Soo Do to anyone who is willing to learn. His students though have to earn their ranks. Master McManus does not pass anybody along for no reason. All of his current students understand that he expects them to work hard in class and give 100% at all times. That's how he always has trained and how he still trains to this very day.
Since opening his school, Master McManus has returned to the competition ring as well. After a long 'retirement' from competing he is back competing in the Hyung (Form) and Weapon division. He no longer competes in sparring competition although he will spar in class and with his students. His students are also proficient competitors and since opening the school, they have won many Championships in Hyungs, Weapons and Sparring.
Master McManus loves every aspect of Tang Soo Do and even though his mission is now teaching the art to anyone willing to learn, he is still actively training. Tang Soo Do is much more than a hobby for him... It's a way of life. His only wish is to share the art and his way of life to everyone he meets.
- 5 Elements and 5 Element Linking Form
- 5 Element 2 person set
- 12 Animal Styles (Dragon, Tiger, Snake, Chicken, Sparrow-Hawk, Swallow, Tai Bird, Crocodile, Monkey, Horse, Bear and Eagle)
Chen Family Taijiquan (Supreme Ultimate Boxing)
- Chen 18 Postures
- Laojia Yi-Lu
- Chen Single Broadsword (Chen Shi Dan Dao)
In January 2015, he participated in the 20th Annual Kodanja Shimsa and tested for the rank of Sa Dan (4th Degree Black Belt) and Master Instructor Certification. The test was held over five days with 16 to 18 hours dedicated to training each day with very little sleep each night. The test is designed to push each testing candidate to and past their physical and mental limits. Master McManus successfully passed the test and was promoted at the CT State Championships on May 23, 2015.
In 2009, as a 2nd degree Black Belt, Master McManus open his dojang, Seven Star Martial Arts Academy in downtown Ansonia. This was a dream of his since he was teaching and assisting classes as a green and red belt when he was a teenager. Mr. McManus loves to pass on his knowledge of Tang Soo Do to anyone who is willing to learn. His students though have to earn their ranks. Master McManus does not pass anybody along for no reason. All of his current students understand that he expects them to work hard in class and give 100% at all times. That's how he always has trained and how he still trains to this very day.
Since opening his school, Master McManus has returned to the competition ring as well. After a long 'retirement' from competing he is back competing in the Hyung (Form) and Weapon division. He no longer competes in sparring competition although he will spar in class and with his students. His students are also proficient competitors and since opening the school, they have won many Championships in Hyungs, Weapons and Sparring.
Master McManus loves every aspect of Tang Soo Do and even though his mission is now teaching the art to anyone willing to learn, he is still actively training. Tang Soo Do is much more than a hobby for him... It's a way of life. His only wish is to share the art and his way of life to everyone he meets.
- Master McManus' Martial Arts experience:
- 5 Elements and 5 Element Linking Form
- 5 Element 2 person set
- 12 Animal Styles (Dragon, Tiger, Snake, Chicken, Sparrow-Hawk, Swallow, Tai Bird, Crocodile, Monkey, Horse, Bear and Eagle)
Chen Family Taijiquan (Supreme Ultimate Boxing)
- Chen 18 Postures
- Laojia Yi-Lu
- Chen Single Broadsword (Chen Shi Dan Dao)
Master McManus' Competition Highlights
- 2000 Tang Soo Do National Champion
- 2001 New England TSD Invitational Champion - Hyung Division
- 2001 Tang Soo Do National Champion
- 2002 CT State Champion - Sparring
- 2009 Tang Soo Do Team USA Member - Rotterdam, Netherlands
- 2009 International Chinese Martial Arts Gold Medalist - Open Tai Chi Division
- 2009 Tang Soo Do National Champion
- 2010 CT State Champion - Traditional Hyung
- 2010 CT State Champion - Weapon Hyung
- 2010 CT State Grand Champion - Weapon Hyung
- 2010 Tang Soo Do National Champion
- 2011 CT State Champion - Traditional Hyung
- 2011 Tang Soo Do Team USA Member - Orlando, FL
- 2012 Stamford All Tang Soo Do Champion - Traditional Hyung
- 2012 Stamford All Tang Soo Do Grand Champion - Traditional Hyung
- 2012 CT State Champion - Traditional Hyung
- 2012 Tang Soo Do National Champion
- 2014 Tang Soo Do National Champion
- 2015 Began competing in the Kodanja (Master) Division
- 2015 Tang Soo Do Team USA Member - Las Vegas, NV
- 2016 CT State Champion - Kodanja Weapons
- 2016 CT State Champion - Kodanja Forms
- 2016 Tang Soo Do National Champion - Kodanja Weapons
- 2016 Tang Soo Do National Champion - Kodanja Chil Sung Forms
- 2017 CT State Champion - Kodanja Weapons
- 2017 CT State Champion - Kodanja Forms
- 1st, 2nd or 3rd in various local and regional tournaments from 2000-Present