• 9th Dan Hapkido — World Ki-Do Federation / Hanminjok Hapkido Association
• Founder “Combat Hapkido” - President “International Combat Hapkido Federation”
• 9th Dan TaeKwonDo - Founder “Independent TaeKwonDo Association”
• Instructor Certifications in Jeet Kune Do and Aikido
• Master Instructor Certification — “CaneMasters”
• Master Instructor Certification in “Hosinsul” (Self Defense) US Martial Arts Institute
• Certified Instructor “Monadnock Expandable Baton”
• Founder / President of the “International Police Defensive Tactics Institute”
• Founder / President of the “Military Combatives Association”
• Founder / President of the “World Martial Arts Alliance” & “Self Defense America”
• Member “Hapkido Examination & Deliberation Committee” World Ki-Do Federation
• International Board Member “Hanminjok Hapkido Association”
• Member Board of Directors “International Disabled Self Defense Association”
• Member “International Law Enforcement Educators & Trainers Assoc.” (ILEETA)
• Founding Member “World Black Belt”
• 1988 USA Korean Karate Association “Instructor of the Year”
• 1995 World Martial Arts Hall of Fame “Diamond Life Achievement”
• 1996 WHFSC Int. Martial Arts Hall of Fame “Golden Life Achievement”
• 1996 Florida Martial Arts Hall of Fame “Pioneer”
• 1997 WHFSC Int. Martial Arts Hall of Fame “Founder of the Year”
• 1998 Martial Arts Masters, Pioneers & Legends Hall of Fame “Founder of the Year”
• 1998 “Seminar Sensation” at the Chuck Norris Martial Arts Expo.
• 1998 World Karate Union Hall of Fame “Outstanding Contribution to the Martial Arts”
• 1999 United Martial Arts Association Hall of Fame “Outstanding Contribution to the Martial Arts”
• 2000 United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame “Founder of the Year”
• 2001 Action Martial Arts Magazine Hall of Fame “Outstanding Contribution to the Martial Arts”
• 2002 — 2003 — 2005 Faculty Instructor Karate College
• 2003 United States Martial Artists Assoc. Hall of Fame “Golden Life Achievement”
• 2003 Masters Hall of Fame “Silver Life Achievement”
• 2003 Int. Assoc. of Martial Arts Hall of Fame “Outstanding Practitioner”
• 2004 World Karate Union Hall of Fame “Golden Lifetime Achievement”
• 2004 Inducted in the “TaeKwonDo Times Magazine Hall of Fame for Hapkido”
• 2004 Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame “Instructor of the Year”
• 2005 Budo Int. Magazine Hall of Fame “Legend Grandmaster”
• 2006 Grandmaster Aaron Banks World Professional Martial Arts Organization Hall of Fame : “World Renowned Hapkido Grandmaster”
• 2007 Artes Marciales Magazine Hall of Fame “Martial Arts Pioneer”
• 2007 Cinturon Negro Magazine — (Spain) International Hall of Fame “Distinguished Founder” & Appointment to the “Board of Advisors”
• 2008 Inducted “Hall da Fama Das Artes Marciais Brasileiras”
• March 1990 Cover feature “TaeKwonDo Times” Magazine
• 1991 Featured on “ESPY-TV: World of Martial Arts”
• 1992 “Who’s who in the Martial Arts” — Karate International Magazine
• April 1994 Cover feature “TaeKwonDo Times” Magazine
• June 1995 Cover feature “Martial Arts Business” Magazine
• October 1996 Cover feature “TaeKwonDo & Korean Combat Arts” Magazine (UK)
• July 1997 Cover feature “TaeKwonDo Times” Magazine
• June 1999 Cover feature “Martial Arts Professional” Magazine
• October 1999 Article in the “Wall Street Journal”
• September 2000 Cover feature “Artes Marciales” Magazine (Latin America)
• June 2001 Cover feature “Martial Arts Business.com” Magazine
• September 2002 Cover feature “TaeKwonDo Times” Magazine
• June 2003 Cover feature “Black Belt Magazine”
• Featured in the 2003 Edition of “Who’s Who in the Martial Arts” Book.
• December 2004 Cover feature “Budo International” Magazine (7 languages)
• February 2005 Cover feature “Action Martial Arts” Magazine
• April 2005 Cover feature “Mundo Marcial” Magazine (Latin America)
• May 2005 Cover feature “Disciplinas” Magazine (Latin America)
• August 2006 Cover feature “Afghanistan Freedom Watch” Magazine
• Mayor/Governor Proclamations declaring “Grandmaster John Pellegrini’s Day” in:Anchorage, AK; Seaside, CA; Waco, TX; Bellemead, TX; Nacogdoches, TX;Thunder Bay, Canada; Moca, PR; State of Nebraska, California State Assembly, California Senate, Maryland Senate
• Certificates/Plaques/Letters of Appreciation from: Royal New Zealand Police College, Rome Municipal Police, United States Air Force, New York City Police Dept., Federal Air Marshall, NATO Forces Europe, , US Army 10th Mountain Division, Costa Rica Police, US Office of Naval Intelligence and dozens of other Police Depts. & Military Units around the World.
• Honorary Fellow of the “National Law Enforcement Academy”
• 1980 & 1983 Editions of “Who’s Who in American Law Enforcement”
• 1982 Edition of “Who’s Who in Professional Security”
• Certified Firearm Instructor (NRA) - Certified Fitness Instructor (FAU)
• 1996 Awarded Commission in the “Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels”
• 2001 Appointed “Special Deputy Sheriff” — Buncombe County, NC