Master Richard Kopf is a highly accomplished martial artist and member of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and past Chairman of the Tang Soo Do Mi
Guk Kwan Association. He is also the Association's highest ranking individual.

This year Master Kopf celebrates his 35th year in the martial arts and 30 years as a school owner. In addition to Tang Soo Do, he also holds a 4th Dan ranking in Shiho Karano Ju Jitsu. He has a long competitive history and was a team captain in both forms and sparring. He can be seen performing demonstrations with Master Jeff Talavera at many Nationals events. Click for video.

He runs the North Haven branch of the West Haven Academy of Karate which he established in 1978, and has eight Master Instructors who also teach at the dojang.

Master Kopf graduated from Yale University School of Medicine in 1982 with a Physician Associate degree. Since then he has practiced both Internal Medicine / Primary Care and Orthopedic Surgery / Sports Medicine. He is certified by the American College of Sports Medicine as a 'Health Fitness Instructor'.

Inspired by his Neh Gong training, he pursued his training in hypnosis while at Yale and has practiced clinical hypnosis at his medical practice for the past 18 years. He is currently a part of the medical staff at the Danbury Medical Group and is also the Administrative Director for the practice. He also serves as a clinical instructor for interns at the Danbury Hospital and for medical students from both Yale and UConn medical schools.

He currently lives with his wife Karen and two daughters in Oxford, Connecticut and his hobby involves what he calls a 'car disease'. He attributes his success and the ability to stay focused while handling the multiple aspects of his life to the self-discipline and concentration he has learned through his training.