Master Tong’s Martial Art Instructor Biographies
Master Ken Tong is a eight-degree black belt Master Instructor and the Chief Instructor of the Shelby Township location. Founder of Hup Kwon Do and school owner, he has extensive martial arts training in many disciplines including Chinese, Japanese, and Korean martial arts. He has been training for over 35 years and instructing for over 28 years. Master Tong was inducted into the World Council of Professional Martial Artist Hall of Fame in 2008. He is also a successful business owner and has operated martial art schools for 3 decades! His passion for instructing is very visible in his exciting & high-energy classes.
Mr. Steve Lang, 4rd Degree Black Belt, and head instructor. In 1988 Mr. Lang started training in the Art of Choi-Kwang -Do. Learning self defense and self discipline, where he received the rank of 1st degree Black Belt. In 1994 do to some personal reasons Mr. Lang had to take some time off from training. In 2003 Mr. Lang started training under the direction of Master Ken Tong, who at that time was teaching the Art of Choi-Kwang-Do. When Master Tong founded Hup-Kwon-Do Mr. Lang stayed with Master Tong through the transition and 4 different school locations. Through training with Master Tong, Mr. Lang has learned a great deal, from stand-up techniques to ground defense, close range techniques, take downs , wrist locks, finger locks, arm bars and so much more. In 2009 Mr. Lang was fortunate to be Master Tongs first student to reach the rank of 3rd degree Black Belt in the Art of Hup-Kwon-Do. Now at the rank of 4th degree Black Belt Mr. Lang feels Hup-Kwon-Do has been very rewarding. In which many Martial Art styles have been combined into one Martial Art system. As of 2019 Mr. Lang’s grand daughter Sydney started training in the Little Dragons class, which she has enjoyed a great deal. Hup-Kwon-Do is for children and adults of all ages. In Hup-Kwon-Do we have a saying that a Black Belt is a White Belt that never gave up.
Maddy Hartwig is a head instructor at Masters Tong’s Martial Arts. She began her training at 9 years old. Miss Maddy obtained her third-degree black belt (Sam-dan) in August of 2019. She heads the Lil’ Dragons program for children ages 3-6, co-teaches the sparring program with Miss Laura, and teaches kids class weekly. Miss Maddy also does a lot of creative planning at MTMA such as the bulletin boards, programs, etc. Continuing with martial arts from a young age has shaped Miss Maddy into the person she is today. Martial arts have taught her confidence, self-reliance, integrity, and most of all Pil-sung spirit (perseverance). Being an instructor is the most rewarding job, and she is extremely grateful for the opportunity to shape the next generation of martial artists! In her free time, Miss Maddy loves to paint, draw, bake, and come up with new ways to improve her teaching and the dojo!
Joel Streeter has been training 28 years, since 1981. He has trained in the U.S. Army close combat in 1967-1970, Tae Kwon Do, Shoto Khan, Choi Kwan Do, Akido and Hup Kwon Do – and is a 2nd degree black belt. HE enjoys the way Hup Kwon Do utilizes all aspects of the various martial arts from stand up to ground defense.
Mr. Marco Pietrantonio began his martial art training in 2010. He earned his Black Belt and became a Head Instructor in 2013. He earned his 3rd Degree Black Belt (Sam-Dan) in 2019. He teaches multiple kids and adult classes weekly. Mr. Marco’s passion for martial arts and teaching is evident in his classes. He is always brainstorming innovative ways to teach his students. Helping students to improve their martial art skills is a fun, rewarding experience for Marco. He graduated from Oakland University in 2020.