Mr. Joel Gilbert, Master Instructor (pictured with GM Dana Vaillancourt on right)

Master Gilbert has a strong work ethic and is known for his physically demanding classes.

He began training in the Korean martial arts in 1987 and currently has a 6th dan in Taekwondo from the World Taekwondo Chang Moo Kwan (Seoul, Korea) and a 5th dan in Tang Soo Do from the World Tang Soo Do General Federation (Seoul, Korea).

Outside of class, Joel is a 35-year employee of the State of Maine; currently working as a Data & Continuous Quality Improvement Manager for the Department of Corrections. Previous work has been in the behavioral sciences field as an Intensive Case Manager. He and his wife Jane have three children, and 5 grandchildren. When not working, or training, his children and grandchildren fill his time, as well as his heart with joy. 

Joel’s favorite quote:   Argue for your limitations and sure enough they are yours ~Richard Bach.


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Mr. Mark Krawec, Assistant Instructor  4th Dan

Mr. Krawec joined the University of Manitoba Taekwondo club in 1989 at the behest of a friend from his 19th Century French poetry class who didn’t want to go alone. By the time they graduated they were the only ones from their group of new students still training. Repeated moves and consequent long searches for compatible schools meant it took him what might be a record-setting 12 years to earn his 1st Dan in 2001. His 2nd Dan in Moo Duk Kwan Taekwondo and 1st Dan in Tang Soo Do followed an equally protracted 12 more years later, in 2013. Other arts he has studied in the meantime include Olympic taekwondo, boxing, judo, tai chi, and Choi Shin Do in which earned a yellow belt and fractured nose, both of which he’s quite proud of.  Mr. Krawec now holds his 4th Dan in Taekwondo and 3rd Dan in Tang Soo Do

Mark is also a senior programmer/analyst with the Maine State Legislature, husband to renowned toxicologist Deborah Rice, groom to her horses, coddler of a small herd of cats, intermittent yoga practitioner, and tabletop roleplaying game enthusiast.

Favorite quote:

“For all the compasses in the world there’s only one direction, and time is its only measure.” – Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, by Tom Stoppard


Mr. John Williamson, Assistant Instructor,

Mr. Williamson is a teacher at heart.  Working during the day as an instructor in a special education classroom, you can tell the passion he has for teaching.  He brings that same passion to our classroom at Gilbert’s Korean Martial Arts.  Mr. Williamson currently holds his 4th Dan in Taekwondo and his 1st Dan in Tang Soo Do. Outside of Taekwondo, Mr. Williamson enjoys playing guitar and mandolin, and relaxing at his camp with his wife.


Mr. Jason Ingalls, Assistant Instructor, first started his martial arts training in high school in Shotokan Karate.  Stopping due to the demands of work and college, he took a 13-year break before deciding to pick his training back up.  Focusing on maintaining an active lifestyle after a significant weight loss, Jason enjoys activities including snowboarding, biking, hiking, and of course martial arts.  Mr. Ingalls currently holds a 2nd Dan in TaeKwonDo and a 2nd Dan in Tang Soo Do.

Favorite Quote:

“Excuses are a list of self imposed obstacles that prevent you from having a better life.” – Tony Horton