Mr. McCarthy began training in the art of Taekwondo under the late Grandmaster Kim Ki Hyung in 1989. He was not the natural athlete by anyone's estimate. However, McCarthy found a passion for the martial arts that would keep him training year after year. McCarthy later trained with renowned martial arts author, Sifu Phillip "Pete" Starr. It is under Starr's watchful eye that McCarthy found the drive to pass on what he had learned to others, and found a true love for helping students young and old become their best. Years after, his training evolved in Hapkido. This led to McCarthy joining the International Combat Hapkido Federation & the Independent Taekwondo Association. Currently, he is a senior-ranked Master Instructor under Grandmaster John Pellegrini. McCarthy rounded out his training in Philippine Combatives as well under Guro Julius Melegrito. Additionally, he plans the curriculum, trains the staff, and teaches most classes at Zanshin Martial Arts which is the HQ of Koryukwan Taekwondo. Mr. McCarthy is a member of the ITA Board of Directors and a certified Seminar Leader via the ICHF and is available for instructional seminars and speaking engagements.