Curt Mason
From Master Art Mason
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Master Curt Mason
Master Curt Mason was born July 5th 1982 in Windsor Ontario. He started his martial arts training at the age of 4 1/2, at a time when children were not taken into class until 6 or 7 years of age. In fall of 1984 at the age of 2 Curt followed his father around the city of Windsor as he looked for a martial arts teacher. Two years later Curt found himself in class, working to keep up with the older children.
At first Curt loved his martial arts training, but as time went by he became bored and wanted to quit. His father forced him to continue training until a 2nd Degree Black Belt was achieved. Over the years Curt found himself competing in dozens upon dozens of tournament. At first these were a great challenge to him, but over time he started winning more and more.
At the age of 9 he was promoted to Assistant Black Belt. This was in a time when most schools were refusing to promote to Black Belt unless the person was at least 16 years of age. At 10 he was tested and promoted to 1st Dan Black Belt (Adult rank) and started attending 1 adult class per week.
Curt grew up in an era of martial arts were only the strong survived. He learned to do jumping and flying kicks by having a bamboo stick swung at his legs. He broke wood at every testing, even as young as 5. At the age of 12 he was tested and promoted to the rank of 2nd Degree Black Belt, at which time he immediately quit his training. His hiatus lasted about 3 months, after which he returned to martial arts and has never looked back since.
On November 1st 2000, he was tested and promoted by The World Budo Alliance to rank of 4th Degree Master Black Belt. He was 18 years of age at this time. Today Curt Mason is a senior master, ranking at 6th Dan (Degree) Black Belt in art of Hon Sang Mu Sa Hapkido. He is actively studying both Hapkido and Kyusho Jitsu.
History in Pictures
Demo Belle River 2000 The first picture is Curt doing a demo at the Sun Splash Festival in Belle River in 2000. Curt was a 3rd Dan Black Belt at this time. He is shown here with Chris Durand, doing a board break with a reverse round house kick. This was the first demo performed by The Peaceful Warriors.
At age 11 The picture on the right was taken at the age of 11. Curt at this time was a 1st Dan Black Belt. Pictured with him are his brother Scott, and sister Lisa. Scott is currently a 4th Degree Black Belt and Lisa is a 2nd Degree Black Belt.
In the USA
Curt Mason (left) at 2nd Dan Black Belt competing in the USA. He was a 2nd Dan Black Belt at this time. An serious knee injury stopped his sparring in completions about a year later. He did compete in pattern divisions for several years after this.
In later years Curt would compete using a cane. Cane is on the traditional weapon in Hapkido. He competed doing a pattern created by Grand Master Mark Shuey (Cane Masters) called Old Man with A Cane.
The photo to the right shows a cut from a group shot. This was from a tournament in Inkster Michigan. The photo was take when Curt was a 2nd Dan Black Belt.
Note the Hapkido uniform that we are still using to this day for 2nd Dan. At this time Curt was also an Assistant Instructor in the Tecumseh Branch of the school we belonged to Philip's School of Tae Kwon Do. It was at this time that Curt developed a love of teaching the arts he had practiced for so many years. He placed 2nd in this tournament.
Curt Mason and the Cane
In 2001 while with his Grandmother in a shopping mall an unknown man of about 19 tried to kick Curt's Grandmother cane from under her as she was walking through a book store. Fortunately for this man Curt did not see the incident. After finding out what happened from his grandmother it did prompt him to contact GM Shuey about the Cane Master system, and self defense for seniors with this tool.
Curt perused the cane with great interest. Today the cane is a important part of the Peaceful Warriors and Hon Sang Mu Sa Hapkido. Curt graded and obtained his Black Belt in the Cane Master system back in 2002, and has since customized this knowledge for our students.
Currently there are 3 cane patterns in our system, Cane 1 and Cane 2 created by Master Curt, as well as "Old Man with a Cane" from the Cane Master system.
Master Curt has spent much time over the last 8 years working with the seniors as well as the disabled teaching them how to use the cane as a self defense tool. Several articles in local papers have been written about the cane as well as an interview done by The NEW WI, a local TV station.
Pictured to the left is Curt with Grand Master Mark Shuey of Cane Masters. Also in the picture is Scott Mason, Kevin Miller and Kyle Miller. This was Mark Shuey's first trip to Windsor. At this time he certified Curt as a Black Belt in the Cane Master's System. This picture was taken at the old Windsor School on Tecumseh Road.
The photo to the right is a group shot of the Peaceful Warriors' at a London Ontario Tournament. Curt place 2nd in the Weapon's Pattern Division for "Old Man with a Cane"
After many years of competing this was the final tournament appearance for Master Curt. He was a 4th Dan Black Belt at this time. He decided that his duties as a teaching must come first.
2nd Place in Weapons
On the left Master Curt Mason placing 2nd in the Weapons Division at a London Ontario Tournament. This was an OPEN Karate Tournament and it was the first time they had seen Cane used. Cane is the only traditional weapon in Hapkido. Currently Master Curt is working to bring other weapons into our system, weapons such as Sai, Kama and Nunchuks. These will be added to our Demonstration Team in 2009.
Cane in Self Defense
To the lower right Curt is doing a Cane Self Defense demonstration in Belle River in 2001. Note the crook of the cane around Black Bet Chris Durand's neck. The cane is one of the most effective self defense tools there is today. Curt developed 3 different levels for cane for our students, plus an excellent program to teach the general public who rely on canes in everyday life.
Today
Today Curt Mason's current passion in the martial arts is the study of Kyusho Jitsu. He is currently ranked at 3rd Dan Black Belt in this system. He is a direct student of Grand Master Steve Stewart. Curt was tested for 4th Dan and Master level in September 2009.
Curt is currently very busy working Kyusho into the art of Hon Sang Mu Sa Hapkido as well as into the cane system he brought to our school and art. He is also our schools Program Director and is responsible for the new enrollments at our Windsor School. Curt also trains our instructors, keeping them up to date on the best teaching methods available today, as well as various aspect of promoting and marketing our school. Master Curt is also running our NEW Demo Team. He took over our Demo Team from his father Master Mason in the spring of 2008 and has totally revamped the team. Watch for our Demo Team at upcoming local events.
Curt Mason's Martial Arts Credentials
- 6th Dan Black Belt Hapkido (Master)
- 4th Dan Black Belt Kyusho Jitsu (Master)
- 4th Dan Black Belt Tae Kwon Do (Master)
- Black Belt in Cane Master Systems
- Studied Kosho Ryu for 2 years
- Internationally Certified Master Instructor W.B.A
- KIA - Kyusho International Alliance Canada Board of Directors
- Kyusho Jitsu Instructor
- Runs Instructor Certification Course for Peaceful Warriors
- Promoted to Master Class at 18.
- Starting Martial Arts Training in 1986
- Competed for 10 years in TKD Tournaments
Rank Promotions
Root Art Hapkido / Tae Kwon Do
- Promotion to Assistance Black Belt December 1991
- Promotion to 1st Dan Black Belt December 1992
- Promotion to 2nd Dan Black Belt December 11 1994
- Promotion to 3rd Dan Black Belt May 30 1998
- Promotion to 4th Dan Black Belt November 2000
- Promotion to 5th Dan Black Belt December 2003
- Promotion to 6th Dan Black Belt March 17 2007
Kyusho Jitsu
- 1st Dan Black Belt October 28th 2005
- 3rd Dan Black Belt November 1st 2007 (Double Promotion)
Cane Master System
- Promotion to Black Belt November 1st 2003
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