Master Marcello Profile
Master Marcello F. Cancelliere
8th Degree Black Belt • International Taekwon-Do Federation
Founder & Head Instructor, USTC’s Red Tiger Taekwon-do
For more than four decades, Master Marcello F. Cancelliere has dedicated his life to the study, teaching, and promotion of authentic ITF Taekwon-do.
As the 8th Degree Black Belt and leader of USTC’s Red Tiger Taekwon-do in Philadelphia, Master Marcello represents a tradition that extends far beyond martial arts technique. His teaching is built on the belief that Taekwon-do should develop the
whole person—body, mind, and character.
A Family Legacy
Master Marcello's journey in Taekwon-do began in 1980. He later continued his development in ITF Taekwon-do after moving to Argentina, where he trained under Grandmaster Héctor O. Marano, one of the senior figures in the development of ITF Taekwon-do in Argentina.
His connection to Red Tiger is deeply personal. His father, Grandmaster Mario Cancelliere, founded Red Tiger Taekwon-do in Philadelphia in 1983. Following his father's passing in 2018, Master Marcello became the successor of USTC's Red Tiger TKD and has continued to build upon the foundation established by his father.
In 1988, at just 17 years old, Master Marcello opened his first dojang. Since then, teaching Taekwon-do has become his life's work.
A Champion Competitor
Before becoming known primarily as a teacher and leader, Master Marcello established himself as an accomplished competitor.
He is a five-time National Champion and a four-time U.S. National Team member, representing the United States internationally in 1994, 1997, 1999, and 2007. He was also selected by his teammates to serve as U.S. National Team Captain in 1997 and 1999.
His international accomplishments include:
- Silver Medal — 1999 ITF World Championships, Argentina
- Bronze Medal — 1997 ITF World Championships, Russia
- Four-time U.S. National Team Member
- Two-time U.S. National Team Captain
- Five-time National Champion
These experiences gave Master Marcello a unique understanding of what it takes to compete at the highest level—discipline, preparation, confidence, perseverance, and the ability to perform under pressure.
That philosophy remains at the heart of his teaching.
But for him, competition has always been a means of personal development rather than simply collecting medals.
“One day when you look back at years of training, you should have more to show than just medals and trophies on a wall.”
Coach, Mentor, and Leader
Master Marcello has served the U.S. Taekwon-do community in numerous leadership positions, including national organizational roles and coaching positions. He served as U.S. National Team Coach in 2005, 2009, and 2013.
He has also devoted considerable effort to developing the next generation of competitors, instructors, and leaders.
In 1994, he established the Red Tiger Black Belt Class Team Fund to help sponsor Philadelphia-based black belts competing internationally. His commitment to supporting athletes reflects his belief that students should be given opportunities to test themselves beyond the dojang.
The Red Tiger Cup
One of Master Marcello's most enduring contributions to Taekwon-do has been the development of the USTC Red Tiger Cup.
Hosted since 1988, the Red Tiger Cup has grown into a major ITF-style competition, bringing together competitors of different ages and ranks while providing a challenging but positive competitive environment. The event has helped develop numerous national competitors and world-level athletes.
For Master Marcello, tournaments are not simply about determining winners. They are opportunities for students to demonstrate courage, sportsmanship, discipline, and indomitable spirit.
Teaching the Next Generation
Today, Master Marcello continues to teach students of all ages and abilities at Red Tiger Taekwon-do.
His approach combines traditional ITF Taekwon-do with practical self-defense, physical conditioning, technical development, patterns, breaking, and free sparring. Red Tiger's curriculum emphasizes the traditional values of Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control, and Indomitable Spirit.
For children, Taekwon-do becomes a vehicle for developing confidence, discipline, respect, focus, and responsibility.
For adults, it provides an opportunity to improve fitness, learn self-defense, reduce stress, and continue challenging themselves.
For advanced students and black belts, Master Marcello emphasizes technical precision, leadership, teaching ability, and the responsibility that comes with rank.
More Than a Martial Artist
Master Marcello's commitment to his community extends beyond the dojang. In 2003, he was inducted into the Multiple Sclerosis Society's Hall of Fame following charitable efforts that raised more than $250,000 through USTC's Red Tiger Taekwon-do.
He also established the Red Tiger annual Future of America Scholarship, continuing the school's commitment to helping young people pursue their goals both inside and outside of martial arts.
A Philosophy for Life
At Red Tiger, Master Marcello teaches that earning a black belt is not the end of the journey. It is the beginning of greater responsibility.
The goal is not simply to become stronger physically. It is to become more disciplined, confident, respectful, courageous, and capable of overcoming adversity.
His vision is reflected in the principles that have guided Red Tiger Taekwon-do for generations:
Courtesy.
Integrity.
Perseverance.
Self-Control.
Indomitable Spirit.
After decades of training, competing, teaching, coaching, and mentoring, Master Marcello continues to believe in the same fundamental idea:
Taekwon-do should leave you with more than medals and trophies. It should leave you with character.
That is the legacy of Master Marcello F. Cancelliere—and the legacy he continues to build every day at USTC's Red Tiger Taekwon-do.
