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Started training on July 11th 1983 at 22 years old.
What club did you start at, and who was your Instructor?
Started training at the Khandallah club in Wellington under Mr. Evan Davidson.
When did you receive your Black Belt?
I was promoted to 1st Dan in April 1986.
When did you start Instructing, and what club was this at?
I started at instructing (in a way) at Yellow Belt when Mr. McPhail would have us taking warm-ups during our Saturday training sessions at the Khandallah Town Hall. But on a serious note I was instructing a club for the first time in July 1986 when I took over as head instructor of the Khandallah Club.
What are some of the biggest achievements you have made in Taekwon-Do?
Attaining Black Belt was a great thrill. It was a very real goal of mine for a long time and I worked really hard for it. The success of the Tauranga Club also is a great achievement with the club stronger than it's ever been in 13 years.
What is the highlight of your Taekwon-Do career?
A major highlight was testing for my Black Belt at Trentham in Wellington and having my instructor Mr. Davidson come all the way from Te Awamutu to watch me. Being a part of the opening ceremony for the Commonwealth Games in 1990 was also a thrill and I got to know the road between Tauranga & Auckland really well having travelled it heaps for rehearsals.
What are your personal goals for the future?
I'm keen to do more Black Belt gradings and pass on any knowledge I have to all students. I love taking classes at Camps and enjoy the spontaneity of the Camp environment. Lastly I'm keen to have my student's achieve standards in Taekwon-Do that they did not realise they had.
What are your goals for the ITFNZ future?
I think the realisation that we have a great Art at our fingertips needs to be re-instilled in a number of our key personal within ITFNZ. All too often it comes back to a select few to pick up the ball & run with it but we need a team to succeed. Everyone needs to realise that they have a part to play within our Organisation even as a beginning student. I find it disconcerting at Black Belt gradings to see students testing without there Instructors present, I think that's sad. I feel a sense of pride has gone from our Organisation and students (especially seniors) need to be proud again!
Which practising Taekwon-Do practitioner do you admire the most? Why?
In your view how has Taekwon-Do changed in New Zealand in the past few years?
I think certainly that ITFNZ has grown stronger over the last few years, certainly since the upheavals of the early 1990's. We have a small core of volunteers who consistantly are at the fore front of running our Organisation and I think in this respect it's sad that more people don't lend there assistance. When I started my training everyone was breaking his or her neck to be a part of whatever was going down at any given time but now that commitment seems to have disappeared. I believe the standard we have today is far greater than it has ever been. We are more focussed than ever before on the teachings of General Choi, we have more International recognition than ever before and we are more well rounded in our Instruction and syllabus than ever before.
What is your favourite hand technique and foot technique?
Favourite hand technique ?? I like the 'ol Forefist punch, it's the only one the makes my Dobok CRACK !! Favourite foot technique, Back Piercing kick.
What do you think makes a good Taekwon-Do practitioner?
I think commitment is the key to a good practitioner. Also a student who has a flexible mind and understands the Tenet's and becomes a good role model for others, not just Physically but Mentally.