10 Yrs Ireland and we're N01 School

On April 18th 2008 Master Wahid and Master Carol Halimee, accompanied by Instructor Patrick Matthews, Instructor Murray Forbes and Instructor Ghazi of all arrived into Dublin Airport and were greeted by Instructor Sheamus O`Neill and a team of Black Belts. The Masters travelled in a Limousine to Nenagh.

In Nenagh they arrived at the Abbey Court Hotel where they have been staying for the last 10 years and have seen the Hotel improve year after year. Saturday morning started with a World Taekwondo Boot Camp, and at 9.30am Indoor Seminars began in Nenagh until 1.00pm. After this the Masters went to Templemore Secondary School to introduce Sport Taekwondo, Long and Short Stick to the Irish students.

Sunday morning started with Kids World Taekwondo which was just great; to see the children's eyes when they first saw Master Wahid and Master Carol and the class was powerful and exciting I am sure you could hear the sound of KIHAP all over Nenagh. Sunday afternoon the time had come for students from all over to take to the floor and test in Hapkido and World Taekwondo 1st and 2nd Black belt. World Hapkido is taught in Ireland only by World Taekwondo and is growing stronger every year. Master Wahid Halimee is the Head Instructor for World Hapkido in Australia, Ireland and Middle East and was appointed by Grand Master Don Oh Choi. In World Hapkido students tested from White Belt to Red Stripe and all were successful, and in World Taekwondo Michael Botha ( Kilkenny ) Shannon, Liam and their Mum Sabine Fullbrook ( Ballingarry ) Darren Prout (Ballingarry ) Jessica Banaghan ( Nenagh ) and TJ Mockler ( Durrow ) all tested to 1st Dan International Kukkiwon Black Belt and Siobhan Carroll ( Urlingford ) tested to 2nd Dan International Kukkiwon Black Belt. This was a great day for all.

Sunday Night, Jin`s Chinese Restaurant in Nenagh we all set down to celebrate our 10th year and our New Black Belts. During the meal there were citations presented to some students for their work, commitment and support in making World Taekwondo Irelands No.1 Martial School. Senior Instructor Sheamus O`Neill received a Plaque to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the formation of World Taekwondo in Ireland.

The Instructors and students in Ireland would like to thank Master Wahid, Master Carol Halimee and Head Instructor Sheamus O' Neill for a great weekend, Also thank you to Jin`s Chinese and to all that helped out to make this weekend happen. By Instructor Eileen O`Boyle.

Instructor Jenna Bonavita

Jenna has a Bachelor Music Degree in Jazz, has been a professional musician for over 20 years and has toured extensively, not only locally, but nationally and internationally. She has performed at numerous festivals across the world such as WomAdelaide, Vancouver Folk Music Festival (Canada) and Speyfest (UK). Jenna was twice nominated and winner of the SAMIA (South Australian Music Industry Association) award for 'Most Outstanding Bass Player', and has recorded with many artists including world renowned folk musician Eric Bogle and award-winning world music band Fruit. As well as being a radio presenter and street press journalist/reviewer, Jenna has been employed as composer, choirmaster, musical director and session musician on a cruise ship in the South Pacific. Jenna has instructed numerous private students and has run Bass Master-classes locally and in Scotland. She is currently a professional instructor of electric and double bass both in private schools and for the Education Department and is the lecturer in bass for the Commercial Music courses at Salisbury TAFE.

Tyson Ottaway has been a member of World Taekwondo since he was seven years old and currently holds a brown belt. He has practiced hard. When asked whether World Taekwondo is dangerous, Tyson said “The championships are not just a competition to fight; but is an opportunity to test your skills and stamina against people of equal skills. Injuries occur in all sporting activities but it is the discipline and correct training that reduces these injuries”.. To read Tyson's article click here

How Wrong Was I ?

My name is Eric Cohen and I am a student and instructor with World Taekwondo. It has been a little over 7 years since I joined the club after my sonsenrolled in the Kids Taekwondo program. After about four and a half years training, and in September 2005 I gained the rank of 1st Dan Black Belt. This was a special day and I did not believe it could get better than this.
Well, how wrong was I!
More recently in February 2008, about two and a half years after grading to 1st Dan Black Belt, it was confirmed that I would be grading for 2nd Dan Black Belt on the 15th of March. Well it has been a while since my last grading and reality was starting to bite, the butterflies in the stomach and a bit of nervous tension was creeping in. My fellow students, instructors and my senior instructors were all wishing me the best on this day, reminding me how it will all be ok. Then it started, it was great. I needed to settle the nerves and the best thing was to let the training over these last years kick in and do the job. It was a hot day, around 40°C, keeping the fluids up and staying focused was important. I soon realized that I was not getting my 2nd Dan handed to me on a platter. I had to go out there and earn that ranking. I was sparring multiple opponents with no energy left in reserves, but somehow found myself getting through it. I was breaking double boards on my first attempt, that previously I may have struggled to break at all. After sparring again with more opponents and battling to get air back into my lungs, I had to perform my patterns to the best of my ability. I was starting to wonder when it would ever end. Well it did.
What a feeling!
That would have to be one of the most satisfying days of my life. Making the step to join World Taekwondo, would undoubtedly be one of the most beneficial life decisions I have ever made for myself and my family.
Thankyou Kwan Jhang Nim and World Taekwondo.

World Taekwondo- An ancient art for a brave new world.

It was four years ago, I was thinking about the Martial Arts. I was a fan of the late Bruce Lee, thinking how I would love to execute a spinning back kick, to get fit and really enjoy having something more than everyday life, another world I could enjoy. So I joined World Taekwondo and it has brought the best in me. My favourite moment was meeting the late Grand Master Park, he told me, "Never Leave Always Stay With Me" So I trained hard ,at least four nights a week, gained the rank of 1st dan blackbelt. I am honoured to be promoted to an instructor, and one day I hope to become a master, and I will help the ancient art of World Taekwondo live for many years to come.

World Taekwondo gets my vote

My name is Amy Kershaw. I am 10 years old. I have been doing World Taekwondo for 2 years. I am currently a Green belt with blue stripe. I train with Instructor Peter Whitbread at the Salisbury and Modbury training centers. I enjoy learning my patterns and prepare for gradings as well as learning self defence. Since I got my green belt I have been going to power breaking classes which I really enjoy. I also took part in the World Taekwondo tournament in November at which I received a gold trophy for non contact sparring. I was really happy that all my training paid off. I really enjoy Taekwondo because it keeps me fit, its lots of fun and I am always learning new things World Taekwondo really gets my vote.

Hello I am Ruby Mazik. I am ten years old and I train and assist at Somerton Park with the Kids Taekwondo Program. World Taekwondo is such a great experience because the Instructors never pressure you to do things that you don’t know how to do.

World Taekwondo builds my confidence to be able to stand up for myself.

World Taekwondo has many different programs for every one such as board breaking, pomsae and sparring classes in which we make no contact. We also do demonstrations that are really exciting and fun. World Taekwondo really gets my vote.

My name is Madeleine Gunn and I am twelve years old. I’ve been attending World Taekwondo classes for approximately two years now, at the Walkerville Training Centre. Senior instructor Peter has made my World Taekwondo journey something to remember. Everything you learn in class may help you one day to save the life of a friend, or even your own.
World Taekwondo has built up my confidence and I remember everything I’ve been taught through the past years. You never know when it may come in handy.
My three younger brothers have been attending classes too. My Brother Josh, who is eighteen months younger than me started World Taekwondo at the same time I started, but he still likes to think he is better than his older sister. Later down the track Charlton my second to youngest brother started. He is seven and just did his first power breaking lesson and successfully broke two out of four boards.
Marcus the youngest started World Taekwondo six months ago and is still enjoying it very much. We all wish to carry on our World Taekwondo and make it all the way to Black Belt.