Founder 6th Dan Master
Anthony Iannone
Master Tony, the founder of Blackhawk Taekwondo, has over 40 years of experience in Taekwondo. Master Tony became a black belt at the age of 13 in 1987. At 16, he went on to become the youngest certified instructor in the American Taekwondo Federation. He was trained by 5 time welterweight champion William Ergle and Grand Master Y.K. Kim. Master Anthony competed in the 1987 Pre-Olympic Games in Tampa Bay Florida at the Bob Martinez Sports complex and won gold in sparring in a field of 167 players over 5 days. He won the Florida State Tournament of Champions in 1988 and is a 5 time National Sparring Champion. Master Anthony has served over 15 years in the United States Army and trained in Korea with the Army’s Second Division and the Korean National Taekwondo Team. Most Recently in 2010 he competed in the Iowa State Championships and again won gold in sparring and forms. Master Anthony does not only teach the sport side of Taekwondo but also the real world application side of Taekwondo as a combative art. He believes that not everyone deserves a medal or an award. That only through hard work and dedication will you truly have success in life and in Martial Arts. Our biggest teacher is not if you are successful but how you handle failure and defeat is what defines you as a person and true martial artist.
Owner 4th Dan Master
Cristina Witbrod
Master Cristina is the CFO/Co-Owner of Blackhawk Taekwondo. She is 4th Dan Kukkiwon Certified, USNTF Certified as well as a Certified Yoga Teacher CYT 200. Master Cristina is a dedicated Martial Artist who brings a unique perspective to our school. She started out as a parents, then started training 8 hours a day, 5 days a week and has not stopped since. Master Cristina has a love and passion for Taekwondo that shows in all of her classes and how she interacts with students and parents. She has done all of her training with Master Anthony from white belt to present. In 2018 she competed in the Midwest Taekwondo Championship and placed first in both forms and full contact sparring. She also competed at the Illinois state Championships where she placed first in forms and full contact sparring. In 2019 she went on to compete in the Iowa State Championships and placed first in forms, this tournament did not offer Olympic style sparring. In 2021 she went on to further her education by completing her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training with Karen Weber. She became a yoga teacher not only for herself but to benefit her students on the mat. This has taught her that not only can yoga be used to benefit yourself and your own well being, but it can also benefit and bring balance to the high intensity that any martial artist trains at. In 2023 she went on to test for her 4th degree, becoming not only the schools first to test for Master, but first female Master as well.
Anthony Iannone
Founder 6th Dan Master
Master Tony started training in TaeKwonDo in 1981 at the Age of 8 and obtained his Black Belt in 1987. With over 40 years experience in TaeKwonDo and Combatives Training He believes TaeKwonDo is a way of life and more than kicking and punching he’s a traditional Martial artist who has dedicated his life to the Art and teaching others to make a difference in our community.
Cristina Witbrod
Owner 4th Dan Master
Master Cristina Is a dedicated Martial Artist who brings a unique perspective to our school. She started out as a parent at the school and started training 8 hours a day 5 days a week and has not stopped since. Master Cristina has a love and passion for TaeKwonDo that shows in all of her classes and how she interacts with all the students and parents. She’s Dedicated to school and its students.