About Us

Our Martial Arts

Tang Soo Do– a traditional Korean martial art– combines kicks, strikes, blocks, and is a powerful tool for self-defense. Training also results in the development of individual character, discipline, respect, and physical fitness.

Kali-Eskrima-Arnis is a traditional Filipino martial art, which focuses on weapons-based fighting including sticks, blades, and “improvised” weapons, as well as empty hand techniques.
 
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu emphasizes grappling, ground fighting, and submission holds and is a crucial component of a well-rounded set of self-defense skills.
 
606 Karate & Self-Defense emphasizes not only the development of physical abilities, but the substantial improvement of each practitioner’s concentration and mental discipline. With the addition of our outstanding weapons training, our school provides each student the opportunity to become a well-rounded and proficient martial artist.

Sa Bom Nim Kathleen Degnan
npnpicSa Bom Nim Kathleen Degnan has been studying Tang Soo Do for over 22 years under the direction of Master Joe Fitzgerald. She is a Master Instructor and continues to train with Master Fitzgerald, in addition to attending national seminars and tournaments in order to improve her skills as a martial artist.

For more than 14 years, Master Degnan has been teaching Tang Soo Do in the Chicago area; as head instructor for the University of Chicago’s Tang Soo Do club, and since 2014, in her own program on Chicago’s north side. In late 2020, she opened a karate school in the Hyde Park neighborhood. In 2021, she began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Jay Valko (Valko BJJ) and is currently a blue belt. Master Degnan is passionate about her training, and loves to share her excitement for Tang Soo Do, Kali-Eskrima, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with her students.

Coach Justin Metcalfe
Coach Justin Metcalfe, black belt in BJJ and Judo, and wrestler extraordinaire is the head of our Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program! He is a very accomplished grappler with Black Belts in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Judo, and a tremendous wrestling background. As a wrestler, Justin is an Oswego High School Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee, 2-time IHSA state qualifier, USA Wrestling ASICS Junior Freestyle All American, and a 3-time NCAA Division 1 letter winner at Northern Illinois University. He is a 2-time AAU National Judo Champion. In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Justin is an 8-time IBJJF Chicago Open Champion, a 2019 IBJJF Brown Belt Pan Am Silver Medalist in Gi, and a 2019 IBJJF Black Belt No Gi Worlds Bronze Medalist. He began teaching in 2019 and enjoys sharing his passion and knowledge of grappling with everyone.

Guro Edie Mesina
Guro Edie trained in Eskrima for many years in her home country of the Philippines, in addition to extensive training in judo and boxing. She has competed all over the world. Guro has developed her own style called Kampilan, based on body mechanics and practicality. Now living in the Chicagoland area, she trains fighters and instructors, along with self-defense seminars in the U.S. and abroad.


Master Bernard Mortel, 4th Degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do
Master Bernard Mortel is a 4th degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, and an avid student of both Eskrima and BJJ.

Mr. Hank Hoffmann, 2nd Degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do
Hank Hoffmann is a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do, earned through Master Joe Fitzgerald of Fitzgerald’s Martial Arts.  He continues to train Tang Soo Do with Master Kathleen Degnan of 606 Karate, MMA with Coach LaQuinn Swift, and Kampilan Eskrima with Guro Edie Mesina. He is also an engineer and views martial arts as adversarial engineering applied in real-time.

 

5307 S. Hyde Park Blvd., Suite 203
Chicago, IL 60615
773-490-4882 (text and email are best!)
info@606karate.com

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