Taekwon-Do I guess I am what you would call a late starter, in the world of Tae Kwon-Do. I started a long time ago with Master Roy Oldham. I achieved, green belt or blue stripe. I cant remember which, (nether are black belt.) But I stopped, having had a few problems that needed sorting out. I generally lost interest after that.

However I returned to Tae Kwon-Do a couple of times after that, but did not stick to the regime. It takes a whole lot of commitment? Any way a friend started at a club and suggested I came along to have a look. The club was at Earnsford Grange, and run by Mr Barry Parsons, A great technician in his own right. His assistant instructors were Mr Colin O'Donnell and Mr Duncan Hogg, there were also a lot of other black belts and high grades in the club, all of which would help the lower grades whenever they could. (Thanks go to all of them, for their help)

I started training ,in January 1997. Starting back at white belt, and working my way up through the ranks. Having fun and making a whole lot of new friends on the way. I achieved my Black Belt 1ST degree on 11/11/2001. This was a fantastic achievement for me, I was 47 years young at that time. I achieved my 2ND degree on 13/12/2003 This was even more of an achievement, as I was 49 years young at that time. So take this on board, if you are mature and it is stopping you from having a go. Age is in the mind? Age does not have to stop you from achieving your goals.

Somewhere in my training Mr Jon Tizick, Miss Zoe Ramskill, now of course Mrs Zoe Tizick, and Mr Kevin Sowerby, joined the club, we all became very good friends, all three later became instructors at the club. This helped me enormously in my quest for my black belt. (Many Thanks go to all three of you, for your greatly appreciated help)

In 2004 Mr Tizick, Mrs Tizick, and Mr Sowerby left the club in order to start their own academy. I decided to go with them. We joined the A.P.T.I. (Association of Professional Tae Kwon-Do Instructors) Headed by Master Ian Ferguson and Mrs Deborah Ferguson. All A.P.T.I. instructors have to undergo a police check and be First aid trained. I became an assistant instructor, for TST academy. For which I am very proud, as this is a great club.

This progression through the Martial arts would not be complete with out my mentioning two brothers that helped me enormously in another Martial art. That art is another Korean art? Hapkido. Although I never graded in Hapkido, I certainly enjoyed my time training. Many thanks for your help, and patience in teaching me guys, Mr Dave Hastings, and Mr Paul Hastings. Also thanks go to Mr Kevin Dorrington And Mr Paul Wilkins for their help.


Favourite pattern:
GE-BAEK

Favourite Technique:
Side Kick (Yop Chagi)

Favourite Time in Tae Kwon-Do:
Doing the two demonstrations was brilliant. The first one at the school fate was excellent. However the second demonstration at the first anniversary evening was fantastic. All the black Belts that took part had a fabulous night. And the feed back from students and the audience was extremely positive. We had the pleasure of Master Ian Ferguson and Mrs Deborah Ferguson to add to the pressure we were all under already.

Likes:
Martial Arts, Walking, Swimming, Motor Cycling, Cycling.

Dislikes:
Negative Attitudes.

Favourite martial artist:
Bruce Lee, Jean Claud Van Dam, Steven Seagull.

Achievements in Tae Kwon-Do:

Achieving Black Belt 1ST Degree.
Achieving 2ND Degree.
A.P.T.I. assistant instructor.