Mark Webb received official notification from the American Taekwondo Association headquarters last week that he’d met the requirements for rank advancement.

A month after Webb tested for his sixth-degree black belt at the ATA World Championships held in Little Rock, Arkansas in June, Performance Martial Arts Academy chief instructor Master Mitchell Church, Webb’s teacher, received word word from the Master’s Council following Grandmaster In Ho Lee’s signature of the certificate.

“Achieving the rank of sixth degree acknowledges Mr. Webb as an expert martial artist and opens the door for him to start the year-long process of being inducted as a Master,” Church said. “He is a true asset to our school and this community.

“Mark Webb had to complete three midterm tests over a span of five years and be a Level Three certified instructor. He then needed to receive permission from The Master’s Council at the world headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas.”

In addition to individual instruction provided by Master Church, Webb has completed training over the past nine years in regional, national and international training camps.

Webb has been active as a national judge in taekwondo competition and in regional testing events.

“Mr. Webb is a sixteen time World Champion in Taekwondo and has numerous silver and bronze medals at a world-class level,” Church said. “He has numerous national and district championship titles and has 59 state champion titles.”

Webb is quick to recognize Church for his accomplishments in martial arts.

“I was mainly taking class for fun and fitness then Master Church and my wife, Dorraine, saw that I had the potential to be a world-class competitor,” Webb said. “If it were not for them, I would not have come this far. I am grateful for their encouragement and support in challenging my mind, body and spirit.

“My wife has been a tremendous source of unconditional love and support of my passion for martial arts. She knows how to push me and has been around competitions so much that she has become a great corner man for me.”

Dorraine is also is a multi-time Georgia State Champion as a first-degree black belt.

Webb says he has been fascinated by martial arts since watching the movie, Billy Jack. He started his training under the instruction of Chief Master Scott Stauffer after attending a demonstration he performed at Valdosta State College.

Chief Master Stauffer was Webb’s instructor for fifteen years until Church took over Webb’s instruction in 2007 as Webb became more active in his training and competition.

“Master Church is the best at bringing out a person’s fullest potential and has produced many World Champions,” Webb said.

Church returned the compliments.

“Mr. Webb is easy to instruct because he is willing to put in the time and effort,” Church said. “He trains year long and averages at least two hours per day.”

Rank testing involves demonstration of the traditional form, mastery of a weapon of choice (Webb chose the midrange bow staff which his weapon of choice), sparring of several rounds and board breaking techniques.

Webb also had to pass a fitness test of stamina immediately after his testing. The fitness test involved an endurance demonstration of power that involved push-ups, sit ups, kicking combinations, kick punch combinations and punches.

“The experience can be quite intimidating,” said Church. “You are demonstrating your skills in front of a table of high ranking seventh and eighth degree black belts who are carefully watching every move you make. Not to mention there are thousands of people watching.”

Webb said: “It helped ease the pressure knowing that Master Church was on the sideline watching me with a reassuring nod of confidence. He actually congratulated me on passing my test before I even started.”

Testing alongside Webb were some of the top martial artists in the world.

In addition to his testing, Webb competed in eight different events in the Top Ten World Championships in Little Rock and won the title of World Champion in Creative Weapons. He won three silver medals as well.

Webb originally joined Performance Martial Arts Academy in 1991. He received his first-degree black belt in 1993, his second-degree black belt in 2000 and his third-degree black belt in 2004. Webb earned his fourth-degree black belt in 2008 and his fifth-degree black belt in 2012.

“Very few people ever achieve this rank” Church said.

Webb is Master Church’s first student to achieve this level.

“This is a big deal and we are very proud of him,” Church continued. “Mr. Webb has been a very loyal student and an active example of what can be achieved in martial arts.”

The year-long process of Mastership now begins for Webb. The process will involve more advanced training in martial art skills and philosophy.

Webb and his wife will also be attending the Panam Championships held in Peru and the Korean National Championships in Seoul, Korea in the future.