St. Michael’s Hall, Andersonstown
5.00 – 6.00pm (Active Tigers & Beginners)
Brook Activity Centre, Twinbrook
7.30 – 9.00pm (Taekwon-Do)
Town Hall, Ballyclare
5.00 – 6.00pm (Active Tigers & TKD)
Neillsbrook Community Centre , Randalstown
7.30 – 8.30pm (Active Tigers & TKD)
The Primary School, Dromara
7.00 – 8.00pm (Active Tigers)
8.00 – 9.00pm (Taekwon-Do)
Girdwood Community Hub, Belfast
7.30 – 8.30pm (Active Tigers & TKD)
Foyle Arena, L/Derry
5.30 – 6.30pm (Active Tigers)
6.30 – 7.30pm (Taekwon-Do)
Donegall Pass Community Centre, Belfast
6.00 – 7.00pm (Active Tigers & TKD)
Hamilton Road Hub, Bangor (Adults)
7.30 – 8.30pm (Taekwon-Do)
8.30 – 9.30pm (Taekwon-Do Advanced)
St. Patrick’s Pastoral Centre, Lisburn
5.15 – 6.15pm (Active Tigers & TKD)
The Enler Centre, Dundonald,
5.00 – 6.00pm (Active Tigers & TKD)
The Community Centre, Ballynahinch,
7.00 – 8.00pm (Active Tigers & TKD)
8.00 – 9.00pm (Taekwon-Do Advanced)
Avoniel Leisure Centre, Belfast
7.30 – 8.30pm (Active Tigers & TKD)
Falls Leisure Centre, Belfast
7.30 – 8.30pm (Active Tigers & TKD)
The Old School House, Holywood
5.30 – 6.30pm (Active Tigers 5 to 9 years old)
Whiterock Activity Centre, Belfast
6.30 – 7.30pm (Active Tigers & TKD)
7.30 – 8.30pm (Taekwon-Do Advanced)
The Leisure Centre, Cookstown
6.30 – 7.30pm (Active Tigers & TKD)
7.30 – 8.30pm (Taekwon-Do Advanced)
Dunanney Centre, Whiteabbey
7.30 – 8.30pm (Active Tigers & TKD)
Ballysillan Leisure Centre, Belfast
6.00 – 7.00pm (Active Tigers & TKD)
Omagh Leisure Complex, Omagh
6.30 – 7.30pm (Active Tigers & TKD)
7.30 – 8.30pm (Taekwon-Do Advanced)
Shaftesbury Community Centre, Belfast
7.00 – 8.00pm (Active Tigers & TKD)
The Parish Centre, Magherafelt
5.00 – 6.00pm. (Active Tigers & TKD)
6.00 – 7.00pm (Advanced Taekwon-Do)
The Leisure Centre, Moneyreagh
5.15 – 6.15pm ( Active Tigers & TKD)
The Lurach Centre, Maghera
6.30 – 7.30pm (Active Tigers)
7:30 – 8:30pm (Taekwon-Do)
The Community Centre, Saintfield
7.00 – 8.00pm (Active Tigers & TKD)
8.00 – 9.00pm (Advanced TKD)
Newtownards Leisure Centre, Newtownards
7.00 – 8.00pm (Active Tigers & TKD)
Comber Leisure Centre, Comber
4.45 – 5.45pm (Active Tigers & TKD)
Harpur’s Hill Community Centre, Coleraine
5.00 – 6.00pm (Active Tigers & TKD)
Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre, Ballymoney
7.30 – 8.30pm (Active Tigers & TKD)
Shankill Leisure Centre, Belfast
6.00 – 7.00pm (Active Tigers & TKD)
7.00 – 8.00pm (Advanced TKD)
Grove Wellbeing Centre,Belfast
5.30 – 6.30pm (Active Tigers)
6.30 – 7.30pm (Advanced Juniors)
7.30 – 9.00pm (Adults and HP Training)
The Leisure Centre, Dungannon
5.30 – 6.30pm (Active Tigers & TKD)
6.30 – 7.30pm (Advanced TKD)
Belvoir Activity Centre, Belfast
6.15 – 7.15pm (Active Tigers & TKD)
7.15 – 8.15pm (Advanced TKD)
Bridge Community Centre, Killyleagh
6.30 – 7.30pm (Active Tigers & TKD)
Harmony Hill Parish Centre, Lisburn
10:15 – 11:15am (Active Tigers & TKD)
Marquis Hall, Bangor.
11.00 – 12.00pm (Active Tigers)
12.00 – 1.00pm (Beginner Juniors)
1:00 – 2:00pm (Advanced Juniors)
The Parish Centre, Donaghadee
11.30 – 12.30am ( Active Tigers & TKD)
Academy Sports Club, Mallusk
12.00 – 1.00pm (Active Tigers)
1.00 – 2.00pm ( TKD)
The Leisure Centre, Crumlin
12.45 – 1.45pm (Active Tigers & TKD)
Ballymote Sports Centre, Downpatrick
2.00 – 3.00pm (Active Tigers)
3.00 – 4.00pm (Taekwon-Do)
NCC Main Street, Newcastle
11.00 – 12.00pm (Active Tigers & TKD)
Olympia Leisure Centre, Belfast
2.30 – 3.30pm (Active Tigers & TKD)
Scout Hall, Hillsbourough
11.45 – 12.45pm (Active Tigers & TKD)
St. Comgalls Youth Centre, Antrim
3.00 – 4.00pm (Active Tigers & TKD)
Modern Taekwon-Do differs greatly from other martial arts. In fact, no other martial art is so advanced with regard to the sophistication and effectiveness of its technique or the over-all physical fitness it imparts to its practitioners. technically, 1955 signaled the beginning of Taekwon-Do as a formally recognized art in Korea. During that year, a special board was formed which included leading master instructors, historians, and prominent leaders of society. A number of names for the new martial art were submitted. On the 11th of April, the board summoned by Gen. Choi Hong Hi, decided on the name of Taekwon-Do which had been submitted by him. This single unified name of Taekwon-Do replaced the different and confusing terms; Dang Soo, Gong Soo, Taek Kyon, Kwon Bup, etc.
In 1959, Taekwon-Do spread beyond its national boundaries. The father of Taekwon-Do and nineteen of his top black belt holders toured the Far East. The tour was a major success, astounding all spectators with the excellence of the Taekwon-Do techniques. Many of these black belt holders such as Nam Tae Hi, President of the Asia Taekwon-Do Federation;
Colonel Ko Jae Chun, the 5th Chief of Taekwon-Do instructors in Vietnam;
Colonel Baek Joon Gi, the 2nd Chief instructor in Vietnam; Brigadier
Gen. Woo Jong Lim; Mr. Han Cha Kyo, the Head Instructor in Singapore
and Mr. Cha Soo Young, presently an international instructor in Washington
D.C. eventually went on to spread the art to the world.
In this year, Choi was elevated to two illustrious posts; President of his newly formed Korea Taekwon-Do Association and deputy commander of the 2nd Army in Tae Gu. In 1965 Ambassador Choi, retired two star general, was appointed by the Government of the Republic of Korea to lead a goodwill mission to West Germany, Italy, Turkey, United-Arab Republic, Malaysia, and Singapore. This trip is significant in that the Ambassador, for the first time in Korean history, declared Taekwon-Do as the national martial art of Korea.
This was the basis not only for establishing Taekwon-Do Associations in these countries but also the formation of the International Taekwon-Do Federation as it is known today. In 1966, the dream of the sickly young student of calligraphy, who rose to Ambassador and the Association President of the most respected martial art in the world came true. On the 22nd of March, the International Taekwon-Do Federation was formed with associations in Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, West Germany, the United States, Turkey, Italy, Arab Republic of Egypt and Korea.
The life of a human being, perhaps 100 years, can be considered as a day when compared with eternity. Therefore, we mortals are no more than simple travelers who pass by the eternal years of an eon in a day. It is evident that no one can live more than a limited amount of time. Nevertheless, most people foolishly enslave themselves to materialism as if they could live for thousands of years. And some people strive to bequeath a good spiritual legacy for coming generations, in this way, gaining immortality. Obviously, the spirit is perpetual while material is not; therefore, what we can do to leave behind something for the welfare of mankind is, perhaps, the most important thing in our lives.
Here I leave Taekwon-Do for mankind as a trace of man of the late 20th century. The 24 patterns represent 24 hours, one day, or all my life. The name of the pattern, the number of movements, and the diagrammatic symbol of each pattern symbolizes either heroic figures in Korean history or instances relating to historical events.
Set sparring
Sambo Matsoki (3 step)
Ibo Matsoki (2 step)
Ilbo Matsoki (1 step)
These also take an important part of the grading syllabus with most ITF associations including 1, 2 and 3 step sparring. These are a set series of defending and attacking movements that are practised with a partner.
These will vary between the various associations but they generally increase in difficulty from yellow to black belt, from a structured set of blocks to a basic stepping punch to a complex response to an attack that has been created by the student themselves. These types of attack and defence scenarios are practised both with self-defence applications and preparation for free-sparring.
You do not need to book a lesson – just turn up to any one of the classes wearing a T-shirt and jogging bottoms. We train in bare feet so you don’t need shoes. Bring a bottle of water too. The class will start with a 5-10 minute warm up consisting of slow jogging and a few sit ups, press ups and stretching exercises. The main lesson will vary each time but will include self-defense techniques, kicking and punching practice (into fresh air – not each other!), stamina and general fitness training, stretching exercises, patterns practice and sparring. The class will end with a few more stretching exercises just to warm down.
Squad Training for N.I. National Team takes place on the 1st and 3rd Sunday every month at The Grove Wellness Centre, Belfast
Squad training for N.I. National Team takes place on the 1st and 3rd Sunday every month at The Grove Wellness Centre, Belfast
Children can join our classes from 9 years old. In most of our classes, the children train together with the adults, so mums and dads can either watch or join in too. There is no upper age limit for Taekwon-do.
Do not worry about your level of fitness – most people join a class just to get fit and then get hooked on Taekwon-do. You will be amazed at how much fun it is and how quickly your stamina and flexibility improve. You do not need any previous martial arts experience.
