2024 AAU TAEKWONDO NATIONAL FORMS AND SPARRING TEAM CHAMPIONS
MEET THE INSTRUCTORS
Albano da Silva
Master da Silva opened the first da Silva Karate in Damascus, MD in 1980. During the Golden Age of martial arts (80's-90's} Master da Silva was a Nationally ranked competitor on the Pro Sport Karate Circuit for most of his martial arts career. Winning Grand Championships all over the USA and producing high level black belt students for over three decades. Representing the USA in Russia in the early 90's Master Al was able to showcase his abilities to the world. Master da Silva received the rank of 8th Degree Black Belt from Grandmaster James K. Roberts Sr. After all of Master Al's successes, dedication and influences to 1000's of students he is now soaking up the sun, retired and living with his wife Steph kicking waves in
Surfside Beach, SC.
Tim Simmons
Master Simmons began his training in Tang Soo Do in late 1979 under the instruction of Master William "Bill" Wickham. After earning his Black Belt from Master Wickham in 1988, Master Simmons continued his training and started his journey to becoming a Master Instructor. Training with the most experienced names in the industry, he has stuck to the roots of the traditional Korean art while using the experiences of other Masters and Grandmasters to develop a premiere training and teaching environment for other students and instructors to flourish. Master Simmons was presented with his 7th Degree Black Belt in January 2022 from Grandmaster James K. Roberts Jr. Coming back home where he grew up and being able to develop a program into a national powerhouse is the award he appreciates the most. When not in the studio instructing classes, you may find him smoking your favorite meats as the owner of Pighole BBQ.
" Over the years I have had a tremendous amount of success with the students the studio has produced. My favorites are the ones that couldn't stand on one leg without falling over, were uncoordinated as a drowning duck, but their dedication and belief in the system made me the instructor of another National Champion! WHO'S NEXT?"
Tim Clifford
Tim Clifford began his Tang Soo Do training in 2000 as student in Philadelphia, Pa under Master Jason Richman. He earned his 1st Degree Black Belt in 2004 and his 2nd Degree in 2006 from Master Richman and Master Frederick Scott, AMKOR Karate Institutes. He paused his Tang Soo Do Training in 2007 and spent 2 years training in Kokikai Aikido before moving from Pennsylvania to Virginia. With a strong foundation in traditional martial arts training, Tim spent time in Northern Virginia trying to find a school that fit his expectations of strong fundamentals, while training on his own at home. In 2015, he joined DaSilva Simmons Karate. He earned his 3rd Degree (2017) and 4th Degree Black Belt (2021) under Master Tim Simmons with Master DaSilva and Grand Master James Roberts Jr. on his exam panels.
From initially joining the studio just to get back into training within a group environment, his involvement has grown to become an Assistant instructor and mentor. You will find him at the studio almost every night either on the floor training, teaching, or speaking with parents.
As part of Team DSK, he expanded his training to include International Tae Kwon Do and World Tae Kwon Do forms to be more competitive within tournament circuits. As an academic student of the martial arts, Tim is interested in studying the origins of Tang Soo Do in Japanese Karate, its Chinese influence, and further learning about Okinawan arts.
Outside of martial arts training Tim is trumpet and saxophone player in a local band and a frequent world traveler.
Dave Jones
BIO COMING SOON
