Grandmaster Lascelles McCarthy II, was born in Kingston, Jamaica in the West Indies. His martial arts training began at the early age of eight when he began his studies in Judo and Boxing. In August 1967, he moved to Brooklyn, New York were he attended Erasmus Hall High School and began studying new styles of martial arts; Karate - Gushindo-Kenpo, at the International School of Self-Defense under Grandmaster Russell Kozuki. In April 1972, while attending New York City Community College, Grandmaster McCarthy was drafted into the United States Army.

After completing basic training, AIT (Advance Individual Training), and jump school, Grandmaster McCarthy II was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. While stationed at Fort Bragg, Grandmaster McCarthy II continued his martial arts training by studying the Korean Art of Moo Duk Kwan Taekwondo under Grandmasters William Bennett and Jimmie Brown. In 1974, Grandmaster McCarthy II transferred to Thailand where he started his own martial arts school, While in Thailand he studied Muay Thai Kickboxing and held both the Super-Light and Lightweight Championship titles.

In 1975, he was transferred to the 2nd infantry Division South Korea , it was not long before Grandmaster McCarthy II tried out for the Division Tae kwon do team and made it, he held the Lightweight Division title until he left Korea. In 1976, Grandmaster McCarthy II was transferred back to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Brag, North Carolina Upon arriving at Fort Bragg, Grandmaster McCarthy II became the head instructor of his old Tae Kwon Do school due to Grandmasters Brown and McMurray, being transferred to Germany.

During 1977 to 1982, Grandmaster McCarthy II expanded the school’s enrollment and made it the number one school in the Southeast Division. His students captured the amateur Kickboxing title in every weight division from super lightweight to heavy weight. Grandmaster McCarthy II captured and held the professional lightweight state kick boxing title until his retirement in 1982. He was also selected as the head instructor for the 18th Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg. As head instructor for the Fort Bragg Taekwondo team, he was given the opportunity to conduct training classes for the Special Forces and Ranger Units.

In 1982, Grandmaster McCarthy II was transferred to West Berlin, East Germany and was there for five years. While in West Berlin, he became the instructor for the Berlin Brigade and the middleweight champion. He was also selected for the security for President Reagan’s visit to West Berlin. Grandmaster McCarthy II sponsored two Taekwondo/Karate tournaments and a TV demonstration with world renowned Bill “Super Foot” Wallace. Grandmaster McCarthy II was transferred to Fort Hood, Texas November 1987, where he became assistant instructor/coach to Grandmaster McMurray for the Fort Hood Taekwondo Team. In 1992, Grandmaster McCarthy II retired from the United State Army with twenty years of proud service.

In February 1995, he started teaching at Family Martial Arts in Temple, Texas as the head instructor, since then he has rebuilt and renamed the school, McCarthy’s Taekwondo and Self Defense, and has made it the number one school in the Central Texas area. Some of his school’s accomplishments include over 152 state champions in the United States Taekwondo Union (USTU) and Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and 30 National champions in USTU and AAU. In 2004, Grandmaster McCarthy II had a student selected as a National team member for the AAU National team.

In 2000, Grandmaster McCarthy II was inducted into the Texas Martial Arts Hall of Fame. In 2002, on his 50th birthday, Grandmaster McCarthy II, along with his two sons Lascelles McCarthy III, and Alex McCarthy competed at the USTU State tournament where he took the gold medal in both forms and fighting.

Grandmaster McCarthy II, in 2004 was nominated and presented with the Who’s Who in Martial Arts Award for his dedication and teaching of the art Taekwondo and Hapkido. Grandmaster McCarthy II also sponsors and conducts seminars and training sessions for Hapkido, Olympic Fighting, Point Sparring, and Senkotoris Arnis Filipino ( Sticks Fighting). He is also involved with the DARE program for at risk kids, and is active with the Texas Martial Arts Hall of Fame Committee, and South Texas AAU Committee.

Grandmaster McCarthy II is always seeking more knowledge , after several years of training in the Filipino Art of sticking fighting. On February 16 thru 18, 2007. The Grandmaster was invited to Oakland CA where he tested and received his Black Belt in the Filipino Art of Senkotoris Arnis.

Grandmaster McCarthy II was honored in San Antonio Texas on May 24, 2008. he was inducted in to the World Head of Family Sokeship Council, International Martial Arts Hall of Fame. http://www.bushido.org/hof/pictorial1.htm

PHOTO EVENTS

Grandmaster Lascelles McCarthy II Inducted into the World Head of Family Sokeship Council, International Martial Arts Hall of Fame, May 24, 2008. In San Antonio Texas.

Grandmaster Brown and Grandmaster McCarthy II share a very special and personal moment

Grandmaster McCarthy II with his students at the South Texas AAU Awards Banquet in San Antonio, honoring the students for being National Champions for 2004.

Grandmaster McCarthy II with the Saudi Arabia military team at the CISM International Taekwondo championships games held at Fort Hood TX. 2002

Grand Master McCarthy II, Master Lascelles McCarthy III, and other US military members with the Vietnam military team, for the CISM International Taekwondo friendship Games at Fort Hood TX 2002

Grandmaster McCarthy II received his second gold medal from his son Master Lascelles McCarthy III, at the 2002 Texas State Taekwondo Championships Dallas Texas.

From left to right Grandmaster McCarthy II, Master Michelle Guzman, Master McCarthy III, after state 2002. Taekwondo Tournament Dallas Texas.

Grandmaster McCarthy II with two of his students at a Taekwondo Tournament

Grandmaster McCarthy II accepting his certificate from Grandmaster In Sun Seo in Killeen Texas .

Grandmaster McCarthy II, with Bill "Superfoot" Wallace doing a Demonstration for the US Army Berlin, Germany, 1987.

Grandmaster McCarthy II fighting in the brown belt division, North Carolina 1973

Grandmaster McCarthy II in forms Competition , 1976 Fayettiville, North Carolina

Grandmaster McCarthy II in southern Thailand 1974, at Camp Samii San,

Grandmaster McCarthy II (blue) at Camp Casey, South Korea in 1975 kicking it up in individual competition

Grandmaster McCarthy II first victim for 1975, Camp Casey, South Korea.