Taekwondo is a Korean martial art. There are lots of different kinds of Taekwondo. I practise WTF (World Taekwondo Federation).

Hopefully this page will provide you with all the information you need whether you want to find out how to start taekwondo or just want to find out more about me. If there's anything missing from here that you'd like to see e-mail me or stick a note in the guest book.

Walking into a class full of people in white suits can be quite intimidating the first time, but its well worth taking that first step. Maybe take a friend along the first time if it would make you feel better. All you need is jogging trousers or shorts and a T-shirt. No special shoes are required as we mostly train in bare feet. It is important to have short finger and toe-nails. Firstly, you should go and talk to the instructor, they will bring you up to speed with what to expect as it varies from one club to another. Anywhere there's a gym hall there's likely to be a club, so ask in at your local leisure centre.

I have been doing Taekwondo since I was 8. The one thing I remember about my first class was stretching. We stretched as far as we could at the beginning and the end of the class. Everyone in the class was able to stretch further by the end of the night.

Five and a Half years later I passed my 1st Dan black belt grading. It was a great achievement. But black belt is by no means the top of the ladder. As my instructor said to me after he'd given me the result. "This is only the beginning". Since then, after a long and lazy summer's break to let overstretched and overworked muscles rest, I have still been attending classes regularly and sometimes helping out with classes. I got my 2nd Dan, Black belt in June 2000.

On occasion I have been known to instruct the class myself. I did that more often at my old club, now I give the instructor a hand with the junior class when he can't make it. But I've managed to get myself a mention as an "assistant instructor" on my club's site: Caledonian Taekwondo

The main thing missing from my training has to have been competitions. I finally entered my first competition in March 2000. I came in third in the black belt patterns at the Central Taekwondo Cup. I am yet to compete in the sparring. So my knowledge in this area is limited, except that the one guarantee is impressive bruises. Not that I'm trying to deter anyone from them at all. There are many different reasons for doing taekwondo. There's the social side, the fitness side, the general interest in the martial art, learning self-defence techniques and of course there's the competitions. Since Taekwondo became an Olympic sport there are several classes that train with the view to going in for competitions and only competitions. Make sure you find a suitably orientated class.

In April 2001, I passed my Class 3 corner judge certificate. That means I'm qualified to sit at the corner of a fight and award points. I passed with 90%. That's a pretty damn good score considering I'd never been to a competition! I'll need to get myself along to more competitions...

In March 2003 I attended a seminar hosted by a member of the Korean Demonstration team and the female world champion from 1995. We did some interesting training, realising that most of us were miles from demonstation standard. I swear this man could fly. 5 kicks in mid air without landing, I managed to get a short film of it, but it eh...disappeared off my camera somehow. I got a picture of everyone that was there though. Can you spot me? I'm in the picture.

I started taekwondo with a small Chung Do Kwan club, its now not quite so small now and has split between Paisley University and Hillhead community centre in Kirkintilloch. The Kirky club is going strong and has just recieved a grant from east dumbartonshire council as its a non-profit club. All the money goes back into the club in the form of kick pads and other equipment. Kirky will be hosting its own competition in June 2003, hopefully I'll get some photos and things online after that.

I currently train with Caledonian Taekwondo and have done for around 5 years now. I train under the watchful eye of John Haggerty the Scottish National coach who recently got his 4th Dan. The club has put together an excellent and ever developing site with training syllabus, pattern diagrams and all the latest information. It's at Caledonian Taekwondo.

John and Russell showing off their skills

David, Russell, Kevin and John R