GRANDMASTER PAUL HICKEY THE SCRANTON SUPERMAN

GRANDMASTER PAUL HICKEY THE SCRANTON SUPERMAN

I first began training in Tang Soo Do at the Carbondale, PA YMCA 100 miles north of Philadelphia and 100 miles North West of NYC)  under Master Joe Margitich in 1976 at the age of 19. I was attacked and wanted to learn martial arts. It was popular around town and there was a waiting list.

I stayed with Master Margitich and his students until 1988 and made 3rd Dan.

Master Magitich was a very great instructor and developed my power for breaking under him. I feel Korean Karate is the most powerful art in the world and it has helped me tremendously and has given me a great advantage in power breaking. 

Master Margitich passed away in the early 19 80’s at the age of about 32.

He was a white American but spoke with a broken English Korean accent … a little crazy but it gave him a certain Charisma.

His students still speak of him with a gleam in their eyes over 40 years later.

In 1978 I began training in Kempo Goju in close by Mayfield, PA under Master Dave Brojack. I was told they are killers you’ll never last there. I heard stories of broken legs and people being kicked through windows. So after hearing I’d be run out I had to stay.

It was close to full contact with no safety equipment and anything short of breaking bones was allowed. It certainly made me tougher. The worst I receive there was 5 stitches. I did see fractured skull at a black belt test. They concentrated on speed and evasiveness instead of power like Korean karate.  I attained a Brown Belt in Kempo there. At a later date I received my black belt under Master Mark Dodgson a Master Brojack student ironically at the Carbondale YMCA again after he took over the program when Tang Soo Do left. 

In 1988 we went to a tournament 70 south in Lehihgton I didn’t think I could win because of politics. 

A girl I was seeing talked me into going.

I was shocked I won on the strength of my Korean Ridge hand on 4 boards without spacers using a horizontal Ridgehand strike. Gm Allan Kates and his wife Master Sharon were judges. 

My win inspired me and my training partner, the late Master Henry Eggleton to go on a tournament spree and we won countless breaking championships in a 3 state area and dominating. 

After meeting Gm Kates we quickly joined his association. Myself, Master Henry Eggelton, and Master Phil “Remo” Avery.

I spent from 1988 until 2007 as an assistant instructor at Master Avery’s Enless Mountains Karate in New Milford, PA then Thompson, PA which are very close to the NY border by Binghamton, NY. We practiced Hapkido with Gm Kates and Gm Steve Wilkins of New York.

We received our Hapkido Rank of 4th Dan from Gm Wilkins 

Also in the 90’s I joined the Golden Dragon Academy of Martial Arts at the Carbondale YMCA. I served there as an assistant for several years and finally received my Black Belt in Kempo Goju  I was already a 5^th Dan in Tang Soo Do 

In 2007 I opened Tiger Kai Karate in Blakely, PA (4 miles from Scranton) 

After 17 years I am still there and teach a Korean Base with some strategies of Kempo plus for adults a full Hapkido Program.

In 2024 Master Nick Zambri awarded me am 8th in the American Breaking Combative Federation because of my long affiliation with Tang Soo Do which at one time was the same art as Tae Kwon Do.

In 2008 a student found the United States and World Breaking Federation. 

I traveled to Fairfield Connecticut to set my first World Record 6 unspaced boards with a horizontal ridgehand. 

In all over 20 sanctioned breaking World Records 

Highlights : 

6 unspaced full 2 inch concrete scallop blocks with an elbow (age 66) 

5 unspaced 2 inch concrete blocks with an elbow 

25 spaced boards double elbows (age 63) most boards ever broken at once 

7 unspaced boards with a horizontal Ridgehand 

Summing it up: 

The martial arts has given me the confidence that when bullies realize I will stand my ground back off and I don’t have to fight.

Bullies want an easy victim when they realize they don’t have one wilt.

I have gained most of my friends through the martial arts.

Credentials

10th Dan Gm Tang Soo Do (Gm Alan Kates) 

10th Dan Kempo Goju (Gm Steve Wilkins) 

8th Dan Gm ABCTF Tae Kwon do (Gm Nick Zambri) 

4th Dan Hapkido (Gm Wilkins) 

NE USA Director ABCTF 

Board of Directors World Karate Union 

President (acting) international Breaking Association ( IBF ) 

Pa State Director IBF 

Pa State Director United States and World Breaking Association