Master Mitchell

Master Penny Mitchell is the Vice President of the American Tang Soo Do Association (ATA) and a 7th degree Black Belt, making her one of the highest ranking American women in Tang Soo Do.

She began training under Grandmaster Richard Byrne on March 23, 1978. In 1981, shortly after earning her Cho Dan, she began teaching. Since then she has promoted over 300 students to the rank of 1st degree Black Belt, ten of whom have gone on to achieve the rank of Master.

A former top tournament competitor, she accumulated more trophies and awards than any other student in the 35 year history of the ATA. She has also studied and achieved the rank of Master in the Korean sword art, Haidong Gumdo.

Master Mitchell was the first to be inducted into the ATA’s Black Belt Hall of Fame (1990) and has appeared in Black Belt Magazine. She is also co-author of the book “This Is Tang Soo Do” with Grandmaster Richard Byrne.