Master Rio Altaie is a 4th degree (Dan) Black Belt in Tang Soo Do, 2nd degree in Hapkido and has been certified by Grand Master Hwang Kee, the founder of Korean Tang Soo Do in Seoul, Korea. (Letter from Grand Master Hwang Kee to Master Rio Altaie )

Mr. Altaie has been certified as a self-defense instructor by Carlson Gracie Jr. and in Cardio Kick Boxing by NAPMA. He has been a practitioner for over fifteen years and also holds ranks in Tae Kwon Do and Jiu-Jitsu.

Mr. Altaie also is the founder and chief certifying official of the bureau of Arbitrators, Referees and Judges (BARJ). During his time as a teacher and a student, he has learned what makes a successful martial art program: a fun, non-threatening environment with an emphasis on positive character traits and good, strong self-defense techniques. Mr. Altaie is delighted to share his knowledge and love of martial arts.

Born on the 29th of September in Baghdad, Iraq, Asia. Started martial arts at 16 years of age, and after coming to the United States in 1985 started training in Tang Soo Do under the instruction of Mr. Mike Bissle, Kim Bissle and Bobby Burbidge, in Monterey, CA. After moving to L.A. in 1987, Mr. Altaie trained and obtained his Red belt in Tae Kwan Do. Then he went back to Tang Soo Do at the Glendale YMCA under Mr. Distefano and Mr. Troy, then transferred to the Eagle Rock Studio under Master Terry McMeekin where he earned his Black Belt in 1989 from the American Tang Soo Do Alliance with Master Dennis Ichikawa.

After achieving his 1st Dan in Tang Soo Do, Mr. Altaie got involved in Hapkido at CSULA with Mr. Mark Baily where he earned his blue belt. At the same time he headed the Glendale YMCA program. After Mr. Altaie tested for his 2nd Dan Master McMeekin offered him to manage the Eagle Rock studio. Three years after that, the two bought out Tarzana Karate, the first studio of the ATSDA. By that time Mr. Altaie was already a 3rd Dan Black Belt.

In 1995 four members of the alliance (Mr. Ercolono, Mr. Silva and Miss Von Monahoff) headed by Mr. Altaie traveled to Seoul, Korea, to train in original Tang Soo Do and to get certified by Grand Master Hwang Kee, the founder of the style. Mr. Altaie also trained in Hapkido and Tae Kwan Do with Korean Masters.

In 1996 he took over the Tarzana Karate program as Chief Instructor and got more involved with Kickboxing and Jiu-Jitsu. Some of the kick boxers he worked with are Don the Dragon Wilson, Pete Sugar foot Cunningham and Kathy Long, with the Machado Brothers and Carlson Gracie Jr. in Jiu-Jitsu.

In 1998 Mr. Altaie tested for his 2nd Dan in Hapkido with the ICHF under Grand Master John Pilligrini after working with great Masters in Hapkido that included Dr. Il-Young Kim, the president of the Hapkido-Federation. The same year Mr. Altaie finally met with Mr. Chuck Norris in Chicago during the "Kick Drugs out of America" tribute.

Master Altaie tested for his 4th Dan in 1998 where he became the youngest Master (in the panel nine) . The NINTH Master had a panel of almost 40 Black Belts watch his test (the biggest Panel till date to watch a BB test in the American Tang Soo Do Alliance). Some of the Masters that watched or certified his Master Belt are Don the Dragon Wilson, Cecil Peoples, Richard Norton and Howard Jackson.

When small circle Jujitsu GURU Wally Jay and George Dillman Pressure points specialist conducted the Big three Seminar with Remy Presas Master Altaie went with his long time friend and sparring Partner Albert Silva and took part of it in Sacramento, CA.

Master Altaie tested for his 3rd Dan in Hapkido under Grand Master Pilligrini. And had 4 Back Belts in Hapkido testing under him by the year 2001.

Master Altaie was inducted to the Hawaiian Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2003 with Steven Seagal and Jet Li as the International Master of the year.To add to his six other Hall of Fames inductions. Master Altaie had an actual test and not an honorary for his 5th Dan in front of a panel of 4 Masters to earn his 5th Dan in TANG SOO DO.

In the 2004 he opened another Dojang (training hall) in Dubai UAE Under the name World Black Belts Center. He conducts seminars around the world and flies around the globe to enhance his knowledge and to share it with others.

Achievements

• 5th Dan in Tang Soo Do 3rd Dan in Hapkido
• Certified Self Defense Instructor in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Carlson Gracie Jr. And Jean Jack Machado
• Certified by Grand Master Hwang Kee President of Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan
• Certified by Chuck Norris founder of American Tang Soo Do
• Certified By Dan Inosanto in Arnis and JKD
• Certified by Don "The Dragon" Wilson
• Certified by NAPMA Cardio Kickboxing
• Certified Instructor in Combat Hapkido by GM Pillaging President of the ICHF
• Certified by Dr. Il-Young Kim President of the Hapkido Federation
• Certified Referee for the referees, judges and arbitrators association (BARJ)
• Certified also by: Jhoon Rhee, Kathy Long, Bill Wallace, Eric Lee and Larry Lam among others
• Inducted to seven hall of fames
• Instructor of the year for the years 1999 2000 and 2001 by I M A C

• MBA In Marketing
• BS in Electrical Engineering
• BS in Computer Science
• AA in Theater Arts
• Co-Captain of Team ASE with Mr. Jason Flame
• Co-Author of Tang Soo Do Manual for Beginners with Mr. Frankie McConnell
• Advanced Open Water Scuba Diver
• Certified Sky Diver