Mr. Joe Merrill, E Dan, began training in Tang Soo Do at Appalachia Tang Soo Do with Master Michael White during the summer of 1987 when he was 4 years old. After many years of training but still at a very young age, he was given the assignment of teaching the youth classes on Saturday mornings. Although younger than many of the students in the class, he took charge and taught it in the professional manner expected of him by his instructors.

In 1998, at the age of 15, he achieved the rank of 1st degree Black Belt; he received his 2nd degree Black Belt in 2001. Mr. Merrill continues to train with Master Michael White and specializes in defensive tactics, self-defense and bong techniques.

When his father, Mr. Scott Merrill, took over teaching the Penn State Martial Arts Group at Core Fitness in 1998, Joe was there to assist in the instruction and administration of all classes. He has been involved in all Appalachia Tang Soo Do, PSMAG and WTSDA sanctioned events under the guidance of Master Michael White and Master Michael Kaye.

He has assisted at all sanctioned WTSDA Region #8 and World Championship events as a security officer and manager since becoming a Black Belt. He continues to assist his father at A Mountain Wind Martial Arts classes as an instructor and administrator.

Mr. Merrill recently graduated from Penn State University – Main Campus – with a BA in Crime, Law and Justice and intends to follow his father’s footsteps in law enforcement.

Joe is currently a patrol officer with the Altoona police department in Altoona, Pa. and in March 2009 received an award of valor for his work on the force. (see photo gallery for more information)

Mr. Don Aguillo is from the State College area and has trained here exclusively. His foray into the martial arts was sparked by a curiousity about the Eastern cultural aspects which were prevalent in the classes at Penn State Martial Arts. He joined both the PSMAG and the World Tang Soo Do Association in 1997 and enjoyed all activities and concepts – practical self-defense, weapons training, sparring, and the warrior spirit ideology which was fostered by the studio. Mr. Aguillo received his 1st degree Black Belt in 2001and became even more active with behind-the-scenes activities of the Camp Cadet program and at the regional and world championships. Mr Aguillo tested for and received his 2nd degree Black Belt in the spring of 2006.

Mr. Merrill, his current instructor at A Mountain Wind Martial Arts helped him to understand that one of the best ways to learn was to teach; as such, he was placed in the position of one of the primary instructors for the youth classes at AMWMA.

Mr. John White has had the distinct pleasure of training under several different WTSDA Masters since beginning his training in 2000 at age eleven. His first experiences with Tang Soo Do came from a desire to improve physical coordination and balance. John began his training in Lancaster, Pennsylvania under Master Paul Mimidis at Mimidis Karate. In 2001, circumstances took John away from Lancaster and to Dover, Delaware. Shortly after moving to Delaware, John continued his training under Master John Godwin at the Korean Martial Arts Institute. Once again, circumstances forced Mr. White away from his studio when he moved to State College, Pennsylvania. After arriving in State College, John began training under Master Scott Merrill at the Penn State Martial Arts Group and, later, A Mountain Wind Martial Arts. During his time under Master Merrill, Mr. White tested for his Black Belt in 2005, becoming the first Black Belt to be promoted under the newly formed A Mountain Wind Martial Arts, an honor that he does not take lightly. Shortly after being promoted to Black Belt, Mr. White began aiding in the instruction of both youth and adult classes. In 2007, Mr. White received his instructor’s certification from Master Merrill and the World Tang Soo Do Association and later was promoted to E Dan. Along with his studio responsibilities, Mr. White has aided Master Merrill in instructing a self-defense program annually at Camp Cadet, a summer camp run by Centre County Law Enforcement.

Mr. White is currently a student at James Madison University in Virginia where he hopes to pursue a career in education using the lessons and techniques he has developed over the past three years as a martial arts instructor. Mr. White is also the recipient of the World Tang Soo Do Association Region 8 Scholarship.

Meet The Team