About Joe Goss Karate

The Joe Goss Karate School was opened in Johnstown, PA in 1974 by Master Joe Goss, Sr. and specializes in Tang Soo Do style Karate (a traditional Korean form of Martial Art).

There are now four Joe Goss Schools. The main school is located at 111 Barron Ave., in the Westend of Johnstown, just five minutes from Westmont. It is a 5,000 square foot facility with two training areas, a lounge, two offices and men’s & women’s locker rooms. The main training area is a large mat covered area while the secondary training/private lesson area is a traditional hardwood surface. Both the private lesson room and the main training room are equipped with closed circuit T.V. to the lounge area for the parents and other spectators convenience.

Master Joe Goss, Jr. is the instructor of the main branch school in Johnstown located in the Geistown Cloverleaf at 110 Lundy Lane, Johnstown, PA. This location is easily accessible from Windber, Richland, Salix, South Fork, Central City, Dale, Hooversville, Jerome and Davidsville. This facility has over 2,000 square feet with mat covered training area, dressing rooms and a private lesson room. Both the private lesson room and the main training room are equipped with closed circuit T.V. to the lounge area for the parents and other spectators convenience.

University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown’s Karate Club offers another opportunity for training in the martial arts with the Joe Goss Karate School. The club regularly trains twice a week at the UPJ Sports Center in the upstairs dance studio area during the regular school year. Joe Goss Karate has held classes at U.P.J. for the past 30 years. The current instructor and advisor to the UPJ Karate Club is Master Koa Beam. For more information contact the UPJ Office of Student Life or Master Beam via email.

Joe Goss Karate in Bedford, PA is located at 322 South Juliana Street near downtown Bedford. Master Tim Keller, fifth degree black belt, is the instructor. For class information in Bedford call (814) 623-0896.

About Master Joe Goss Sr.

Eighth degree black belt Master Joe Goss is the Vice President of the International Tang Soo Do Federation and has served as a member of the Board of Directors, Secretary and Vice-Chairman of the U.S. Tang Soo Do Federation. His duties as Vice President take him to various member schools in the U.S.,  Europe, and Central America to conduct testings and clinics. Master Goss began training in both Judo and Karate at the age of 14. After enlisting in the Air Force, he trained in Los Angeles, California under the world famous Karate Master Hidetaka Nishiyama. He then went to Germany where he was the chief instructor of both the Judo and Karate clubs at Bitburg Air Base. Master Goss returned to Johnstown in 1969 and taught the martial arts classes at the Johnstown YMCA until he opened his school. Master Goss has been studying Tang Soo Do and Hapkido under Tang Soo Do Grandmaster C.S. Kim for over 30 years. Grand Master Kim is the president and founder of the International Tang Soo Do Federation and conducts testing and special training sessions at Master Goss’ school.

On May 20, 1995 Master Goss was awarded “Martial Artist of the Year” by the election committee of Korean Grandmasters. He is the first non-oriental to receive this award.

In 1998 the Martial Arts book “Authentic Tang Soo Do,” by Chun Sik Kim and Joe Goss was published. It is a comprehensive study of Traditional Tang Soo Do technique and philosophy.

Certified by the state of Pennsylvania to teach police officers defensive tactics, the use of chemical devices, baton and firearms, Master Goss also serves as a Somerset County, PA Deputy Sheriff and is a member of the Logan Twp./Blair County S.W.A.T. team as a scout/sniper.

About Master Joe Goss Jr.

Sixth Degree black belt Master Goss, Jr. has trained in Tang Soo Do for the past 30 years under his father and Grandmaster C.S. Kim. He has taken numerous grand champion, and first place trophies for both sparring and forms in competitions held along the East Coast. In 1992 he coached the sparring team from the Joe Goss Karate School to first place in the International Tang Soo Do Federation's 2nd World Championship held in Atlanta, GA. He was the Jaycee’s Outstanding Young Fitness Leader in 1995. In 1998 he represented the U.S. In the World Tournament held in Wales, U.K. Now many of his students are winning championships. He also is a member of the Technical Advisory Committee of the International Tang Soo Do Federation.

He now teaches 10-20 classes per week at his full-time school in the Geistown Cloverleaf in Johnstown and continues training with his instructor and regularly at the International Tang Soo Do Federation Headquarters in Pittsburgh PA with Grandmaster C.S. Kim.

THE INTERNATIONAL TANG SOO DO FEDERATION

The International Tang Soo Do Federation is a traditional martial arts organization with specific standards and goals designed to help each student maximize potential as an individual as well as a martial artist. It requires and maintains strict guidelines in the operation of each member school. All certified instructors are required to attend frequent evaluation tests to assure the instruction you receive is of the highest possible standard and within the guidelines of the I.T.F. and its technical advisory board.

The Federation was founded by Grandmaster Chun Sik Kim in 1984. The goal in the formulation of the I.T.F. was to maintain the high standards of authentic Tang Soo Do. Teaching this martial art in its original form gave much needed roots to many thousands of Tang Soo Do practitioners world-wide. To achieve this goal, Grandmaster C.S. Kim has dedicated a lifetime of training to create a standardization of instruction. With unending dedication, time and patience, Grandmaster Kim has insured the continued peace and harmony of Traditional Tang Soo Do.

International Tang Soo Do Federation Headquarters

 3955 Monroeville Blvd.
Monroeville, PA 15146

Phone: (412) 373-8666
Fax: (412) 373-5671
Email the Federation

President & Founder
Choong Jae Nim Chun Sik Kim

Vice President Bu Choong Jae Nim Joe Goss

General Secretary Sa Bom Nim Joseph Bruno

Technical Advisory Committee

Sa Bom Nim Wynford Williams - Europe
Sa Bom Nim Patrick Leach
SaBom Nim Joe Goss, Jr.
Sa Bom Nim Marion Gregor
Sa Bom Nim Richard Behr
Sa Bom Nim Marcus Murtaugh
Sa Bom Nim Dean Kelly
SaBom Nim Diogenes Robolt - Central America
Sa Bom Nim Zak Szabo

Click here to visit the I.T.F. website.