Specialties
Kick Masters Karate's goal is to develop a confident leader who is capable of defending him or herself in the six ranges of fighting (verbal, weaponry, kicking, punching, close-quarter, and ground grappling), while instilling character and moral ethics which are unsurpassed in today's culture.
History
Established in 1992.
Kick Masters Karate is a Tae Kwon Do ("hand foot method") based system, which was established in 1992 by founder and 4th Degree Black Belt Mr. Ronald W. Burner. Derived from Tae Kwon Do pioneer Jhoon Rhee, the system was first established in Frostburg in 1979 under the name of Western Masters Karate System. Founded by Fifth Degree Black Belt Master Dane Harden, the Western Masters Karate System had three schools, one located in Damascus, Maryland, one in Salisbury, Maryland, and a third located in the Frostburg Armory. The school was moved to the Frostburg Community Center in 1991, and remained there through the system's name change to Kick Masters Karate shortly thereafter. Following the purchase of Kick Masters by Master Rick Rando and a partner in January of 2001, the system relocated to the old Majestic Gardens building behind the Day's Inn. Master Rando then acquired the system in 2005 and moved the school to the newly constructed studio in Clarysville.
Meet the Business Owner: Master R.
Master Rick Rando is President and Owner of Kick Masters Karate, LLC in Frostburg, Maryland. A traditional taekwondo practitioner for the past 27 years, Rando owns one of the largest, open-space martial arts schools in the country. Master Rando began his karate training in 1988 and started instructing at the age of 14. In 1998, he earned "disciple" status, and became the system's "head instructor" under founder Mr. Ronald W. Burner. In September of 2000, Master Rando became Co-Owner of Kick Masters and became one of the youngest, martial arts studio executives in the United States. In January of 2005, Master Rando became the sole owner and President of Kick Masters Karate, and three months later, was awarded the title of "State Director" through the I.T.A (Independent Taekwondo Association). He is currently a sixth degree black belt endorsed by martial arts legend, Grandmaster Bill "Superfoot" Wallace, and just recently was awarded "Master Instructor" status.