ALUMNI NEWS

Rick Rando '00

Rando Achieves Grandmaster Title

By Megan Knox ’24

Rick Rando ’00  celebrated a monumental milestone this past July when he officially earned the title of Grandmaster after achieving his 8^th degree black belt in Taekwondo.  

The path to becoming a grandmaster is one of the most grueling marathons in the world of martial arts. It is a distinction reserved for those who have moved beyond mere technical proficiency into the realm of lifelong mastery and development. At the Kick Master’s karate studio in Clarysville, Md., Rando’s almost 38-year journey reached a climax in a rigorous 3.5-hour test and demonstration.  

The promotion was conducted by Grandmaster Anthony Hockley and his wife, Kelly, who traveled from Adelaide, Australia, to oversee Rando’s advancement. The achievement is as much about the spirit as it is about the physical rank, Rando explained.  

“As a kid, thinking of the title of ‘grandmaster’ seemed lightyears away...almost unattainable,” he said.

Since graduating from FSU, Rando has translated the discipline of the “dojang” into a powerhouse business model. A magna cum laude graduate and recipient of FSU’s 2019 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award, Rando currently operates one of the largest open-spaced martial arts studios in the United States. And his impact extends far beyond the mats of Western Maryland. He travels as a keynote empowerment speaker and conducts thousands of demonstrations/presentations in the business community and in academia.

Rando’s resume features prestigious honors such as being a 2023 World Karate Union Hall of Fame Inductee / 2024 Australasia MA Hall of Fame, Congressional Award Winner for Community Service, a five-time published author and co-host of “The Victory Couch Podcast” with his wife,  Julie Schibblehut Rando ’04/M’09.

Known globally for his passion to inspire people to become fire-starters, Rando continues to use his platform to kickstart confident leaders in every sector of society.

“I couldn't imagine doing anything else with my life's work,” he said. 🐾