Biographical Information About Dr. Thomas
 Dr. Clifford L. Thomas,
MA/Soke
1964: Began studying the art of judo
1965: Began
studying the art of tae kwon do. Some of the
instructors he trained under were Grand Master Jhoon Rhee, Master Kwon Ro, Master Jack
Dutcher, Master Roji Yamakawa, Master Suk Chung, Grand Master Myung Seok Seo, and
Grand Master
Parks.
Dr. Thomas has studied and mastered several styles of martial arts, including tae kwon do, hapkido, combat fighting, tan soo
do, judo, and aikido.
1969: Junior
Judo Champion; began studying the art of kick boxing; became a professional kick boxer
1980: Founder
and CEO of the Tae Kwon Do Ramblers Self-Defense Systems School in the Washington, DC,
Metropolitan area
1989: Named
Head Coach of Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Potomac Valley Team, which was the first to win
the Olympic competition in martial arts for the Potomac Valley region.
1992: Founder
of the Brotherhood of Martial Artists Association
1994/95: Promoter
Plus Referee of the Year
1996/97: Board
of Directors, Martial Arts Federation for World Peace and the World Youth Federation of
World Peace
1997: Nominated
for Presidential Award Volunteer of the Year by President William Jefferson Clinton; International Black Belt Hall of Fame
Instructor of the Year; Promoters Plus Living Legends Award
1998: The
World Martial Arts Hall of Fame Diamond Life Achievement Award; Sokeship, Head Founders,
Lead Families, Grand Masters Council—The Degree of Professor of Martial Arts;
International Black Belt Hall of Fame Pinnacle Award
1999: World
Christian Martial Arts and Pastoral Hall of Fame Diamond Life Achievement Awards;
International Blackbelt Hall of Fame Diamond Crystal Award of Spirit; Founding Member of
the United States Head of Family Martial Arts Association
2000: Distinguished
Soke Award from the World Martial Arts League, Frankfurt, Germany; Member of Board of
Directors, International Council of Higher Martial Arts Education; Founding Member and
Executive Vice President of U.S. Head of Family Martial Arts Association; Founder and CEO
of Saving the Children and Who’s Saving Them International
2001: Unsung
Hero Award from the City of Washington, D.C.; Presidential Award from President George W.
Bush and First Lady Laura Bush—on this occasion, it was noted that “Dr. Thomas
is known as the Pied Piper of martial arts for children.”
2002: Honored
as one of the very few non-Asian Americans to receive rank under General Chai of
Korea and
also one of the few non-Asian Americans to receive rank from the World Korean Martial Arts
Union
2005: Doctorate
in Philosophy and Martial Arts Sciences, Saudi Arabia; International
School of the Year, Hall of Honor, Hall of Champions, United States Head of Family Martial
Arts Association; Elite Man of the Year, Tae Kwon Do, Hall of Honor, Hall of Champions, United States Head of
Family Martial Arts Association
2006: Maryland-National Capital Park and
Planning Commission certificate of appreciation for volunteer service in support of programs for the Department of Parks and Recreation;
City Council of Camden, New Jersey, certificate of appreciation for longstanding service and dedication to martial arts and to
the El Karate Martial Arts Program; Elite Grandmaster of Honor and Legion of Honor awards, Hall of Honor, Hall of Champions, United States Head of
Family Martial Arts Association; proclamation from County Executive Jack Johnson for outstanding community service to Prince
George’s County, Maryland; Golden Dragon Award from Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley for the hard work, efforts, and contributions of the
United States Head of Family Martial Arts Association (in Dr. Thomas' role as Executive Vice President) to the City of Baltimore
2007: Tribute of Appreciation for Contribution to
National Night Out from Rosemary Hills, Lyttonsville, and Rock Creek Communities of Silver Spring, Maryland
2008: Community Service Award, Theta Omega Omega Chapter,
Alpha Kappa Delta Sorority, Inc.; Certificate of Appreciation for sharing of knowledge from AARP Penn Branch Chapter #3473, Washington, DC;
Congratulatory Citation from Maryland State Senator David Harrington for outstanding community service; Proclamation from Bladensburg,
Maryland, Mayor Walter James and the Town Council for outstanding community service; Hall of Fame Golden Pioneer Award in testament of
distinguished lifelong career and contributions to the martial arts and humanity; 2008 AARP Andrus Award for Community Service Nomination
2009: Blackbelt Sampson Award, Second Annual Pioneer Black
Tie Awards, for outstanding teaching and exemplary professional community service
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