Totally Tae Kwon Do Magazine - Issue 17 - Usadojo

Karim Belgacem – Can
you tell us how you
became involved in Tae
Kwon Do?
Master Philip Ameris –
In 1970 I started to train
in Shorin-ryu Karate. I
earned my black belt six
years later. When I
started High School I met
Father Robert Connolly,
a Catholic Priest at my
High School. Father
Connolly was also a high
ranking black belt in Tae
Kwon Do. I trained with
Father Connolly,
eventually also earning
my black belt in Tae Kwon Do. When I
started to train, I was seven years old, and
at that time in the U.S. there were
tournaments almost every weekend. I
really enjoyed competing and fought, as
well as did Hyungs in several tournaments.
In 1974, with the introduction of the PKA
(Full Contact Karate), I was very
eager to compete in this form of
competition. Father Connolly did not
emphasize tournaments, so he suggested
that I seek out Grand Master Hee Il Cho to
train and help me reach my goals of
competing in Full Contact kickboxing.
Karim Belgacem - Full Contact Karate
An An Interview Interview With With AIMAA’s AIMAA’s
Master Philip Ameris
By Karim Belgacem
www.chostkd.co.uk
Part 2
Master Philip Ameris is the senior student of Tae Kwon Do legend
Grandmaster Hee Il Cho. The Pittsburgh native has been studying the
Korean art for over 35 years and will this year test under his Grandmaster
for the rank of 8 th Degree Black Belt.
was a rough sport. What
you feel attracted you to
fight at this level?
Master Philip Ameris -
My father was a
p r o f e s s i o n a l
boxer. Before I ever did
martial arts, my dad
taught me how to box. I
remember going to the
gym with him when he
would train fighters. I
always really enjoyed
boxing and to this day it
is one of my favourite
sports. When Full
Contact Karate came out,
to me it was just
what I had been waiting for, due to the fact
that I was boxing since I was
very young.
Karim Belgacem - Why do you believe
that Father Connolly suggested
Grandmaster Hee Il Cho?
Master Philip Ameris - I think there were
several reasons, First, there was
Grandmaster Cho's reputation for being
one of the most innovative marital artists of
our time. In addition, Grand Master Cho
has always had an impeccable reputation
regarding his character.
Totally Tae Kwon Do - 7