Lineage

MAUL’s philosophy, teaching style and syllabus stems from its lineage – a mix of teachings from Master Tina Felice and Instructor Duane Bacon.

7th Dan Master Tina Felice

Geneva, New York

Master Tina flying kick

Master Tina Felice received her 7th Dan Black Belt Kukkiwon from Grandmaster 9th Dan Young Kwon from Tewksbury, Massachusetts, making her one of 13 women in the USA to achieve a 7th Dan in taekwondo. She runs a fitness and Taekwondo school in Geneva, New York, and offers self-defence courses for women and businesses in the area. She and her school are active in the community, from volunteering for the Salvation Army to running an ambulance.

She taught Instructor Wendi the WT style and continues to support her from afar, grading Wendi to a 4th Dan as well as grading a number of other Ori-MAULers who have traveled to her club.

Master Tina Felice’s accomplishments

  • 7th Dan Masters Certificate: World Taekwondo Federation Kukkiwon from Seoul, Korea
  • 7th Dan Masters Certificate: The Taekwondo Moo Duk Kwan from Seoul, Korea
  • Letter of Commendation from The Korean Taekwondo Association
  • Letter of Commendation for Meritorious Service from The Korean Taekwondo Moo Duk Kwan Association
  • State of New York Legislation Resolution from Senator Michael Nozzolio

4th Dan Instructor Duane Bacon

Cheboygan, Michigan

2019 black belt grading group photo
The Instructor Bacons (back row, second and third from right) at MAUL’s 2019 blackbelt grading.

Duane Bacon is MAUL Chief Instructor Wendi’s first martial arts instructor, having developed a taekwondo programme for underprivileged youths at a Boys & Girls Club in Lawrenceville, Georgia. He has trained in varying degrees in Tang Soo Do, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Grappling, Aikido, Taijutsu, Iaido, and ultimately a variety of mixed martial arts styles, but his core art has always been taekwondo. His brothers and indeed even his mother trained alongside him and nearly his entire family hold black belts in taekwondo.

After a decade without training due to job responsibilities and moving to various states, Instructor Duane came back to his training after assisting Instructor Wendi with her New York-based club and he eventually went on to receive his 4th Dan under Master Tina Felice. He also arrived in the UK as a surprise guest at the first ever MiNi-MAUL grading (see photo above).