About us
Our Black Belts
My taekwondo career started in January 2005 when the club first opened. I had previously trained in Shotokan Karate and was looking for a new martial arts challenge along with some kind of sporty activity to keep the beer gut away. Taekwondo seemed to be a logical step.
After plenty of hours training, in April 2010 I passed my 1st Dan Grading and became one of the club’s black belts. I have recently undertaken part 1 of the Umpires Course with part 2 due to follow later this year and am looking forward to attending some of the TAGB tournaments as an official.
The classes tend to vary between each lesson but you are usually guaranteed to have worked up a sweat by the end. Lessons involve anything from line work, set sparring, fitness training, free sparring, patterns, self defence to name but a few things. There is even the odd lesson involving Korean terminology which works the brain just as much as the body.
Throughout the past 6 years there have been some great times and some not so great times in my taekwondo career. Without doubt the best has been obtaining my black belt, in addition the competitions, summer camp and opportunity to train and attend seminars with guest instructors have also been good. Not so great was having to retake my black belt grading after the first attempt didn’t quite go to plan. I have also competed at a few tournaments including the World Championships in 2007, and would recommend that everybody try at least one tournament, be it in either sparring or patterns. The tournaments give you a great chance to try out what you have learnt in class in a new environment as well as watching some exceptional martial artists in action.
We are lucky to have a great club with a diverse mixture of people, a broad range of ages and there is also a good social side to the club. In addition the instructors are brilliant teachers and provide a thorough insight into the methods and reasons behind what is being taught.
So far it’s been an enjoyable few years, with plenty of sweat, a few bumps and bruises, a good amount of laughs, the odd hangover and the making of new friendships. I’m sure there is plenty more to come.
To anyone reading this who may be unsure about training, come along and give it a shot. The lessons are a great form of escapism for an hour or so, and you will probably find that after a couple of lessons you are hooked.
Angie Mitchell (1st Dan)
I first started my Martial Arts training at the age of 13 when I practised Taekwondo under the instruction of Mr Cargin Moss 3rd Dan where i grew up in Bedford. I got into it as my older Brother had started......and as most younger siblings...wanted to do whatever he did! After 2 1/2 years I was well on my way to getting my balck belt, but my family moved away so I had to give it up. Later on in life i tried a few more arts, Tang Soo Do and Aikidao...but none of them ever gave me the Buzz that Taekwondo did all those years ago so at the age of 32 I decided to find a TAGB club in my area and give it another go.
I was welcomed into the club immediately, it has a real warm atmosphere, and I felt part of the group from my very first day. Since that day I have become the first female black belt at the club, and am also a fully trained umpire and attend as many competitions as I can to get more experience. Thats what I love about the T.A.G.B, its not just about turning up for training and learning techniques and patterns, they encourge you to develop in all area's of Taekwondo as an umpire, a referee, to teach....to learn about the History of the art and the background of the inspirational people behind it, you know when you do a pattern or a technique, that there is a story behind it and this for me, makes me work much harder for it.
My Instructors are fantastic, they are so dedicated to their students, they welcome anyone of all ages and abilities and encourage everyone to do their best. I know I am not alone when I talk of the respect eveyone at the club has for them, they really do pass on all their experience on and are still as keen to teach and learn today as they were the first day I met them 5 years ago. They now have the junior class which I assist teaching at and which my Son attends...it's great for all he family.
So come along and give it a try....we are a very sociable club, and spend time together either at training camps in various Butlins resorts, or at Christmas partys or summer BBQ'S!
You may ache after you're first few classes...you may even be a little confused, but take it from me, it soon falls into place......and all your mates will comment on that super fab Body that comes with the training, we look forward to seeing you soon.
John Anderson, 2nd Dan
I started my Tae Kwon-Do training in January 2006 at the club’s first ever lesson and, despite my initial intentions of not getting too heavily involved, I was immediately bitten by the bug and have been training as often as time allows ever since. I’m proud to be among the club’s first students to reach 1st Dan (the first black belt grade), having graded successfully in October 2009. Since then, I’ve successfully completed the TAGB umpire’s training, allowing me to officiate at TAGB competitions, and am hoping to grade for 2nd Dan in October 2011. I also assist at the club’s junior classes on a Saturday morning, which I hope will provide useful experience when I come to train as an instructor.
People who’ve only watched Olympic TKD could be forgiven for thinking that the art consists of nothing but kicks, but in fact, Olympic TKD is just one of several different styles. We train under the Tae Kwon-Do Association of Great Britain (TAGB), which allows punching and kicking to the head and body when sparring, and teaches a full range of striking techniques – punches, kicks, knees, elbows, and more! Many people are surprised to learn that TKD also includes other techniques, such as basic joint locks, chokes, and throws. Not all these techniques are taught as part of the basic TAGB syllabus, but we’re lucky enough to have instructors who are keen to pass on their knowledge of both the more obscure areas of TKD and their experiences of a broad range of self-defence techniques.
Lessons can include any or all of: fitness and strength training; stretching; patterns (a sequence of movements mimicking attack and defence against an imaginary opponent); line work (practicing techniques while standing or moving in lines); set sparring (predefined attacking and defensive drills with a partner); padwork (practicing techniques on pads) sparring; self-defences; and anything else our instructors think might benefit us. There’s very little about training that I don’t enjoy – squat thrusts are the only thing that spring to mind! The lessons can seem like hard work as a beginner – not only can the physical training be demanding, but the mental effort of getting your hands and feet to do the right things can also be tiring – but nobody is expected to do more than they’re capable of, and if you’re willing to stick with it, it gets easier as you gain fitness and experience. Being surrounded by enthusiastic, helpful and supportive students creates a great atmosphere in which to get the best from your training.
As well as regular training, club members also have the opportunity attend other events such as seminars with guest instructors, training camps at some of England’s delightful seaside resorts, and regular competitions at regional, national and international level. There’s no pressure on students to compete, but doing so allows you to try out your patterns and sparring abilities in an unfamiliar environment and against new opponents, which helps broaden your skills. I’ve sparred at all levels, including the 2007 World Championships and, while I’ve acquired more bumps and bruises than medals, it’s all been fantastic experience.
Nick Bailey, 1st Dan
My martial arts career started when I was in junior school. I practised Judo for a number of years in a
Bishop’s Stortford club, joining a Skotokan Karate club in Harlow under Sensei Chris Randall when I
was about 18 years old. I practiced there for about 6 years gaining my brown belt ready to grade for
my 1st Dan, but unfortunately the club closed.
In January 2005 I joined the Bishop’s Stortford Tae Kwon Do Martial Arts club on it opening training
night. Five years on and I have gained my 1st Degree Black Belt (1st Dan) and I am now training
towards my 2nd Dan. I am a fully qualified Umpire and attend as many TAGB competitions as I can. I
am one of the CRB checked assistant instructors in the junior class, where my daughter is a student
and instruct in the senior classes when the opportunity arises. This will help me gain my instructor
qualification in the future.
I enjoy the training which varies from cardiovascular to build strength and fitness to line work to
develop correct posture and focus. At each grade I have learnt different Patterns which are a series
of movements against imaginary opponents and have been taught self defence drills for everyday
life. It fits in perfectly with my family and working life.
From the few martial arts that I have practised this is the one that I have enjoyed the most. Tae
Kwon Do is a martial art that is great for the individual and the family. Many of the parents who have
a child in the junior class now attend the senior classes themselves as they see the many benefits of
the art and club. There are many courses, training camps and competitions to attend, if you wish
too, that keep you interested.
Our club has a mixture of ages and sexes creating a great atmosphere. We hold a Christmas party for
both the Junior and Senior’s students & a summer BBQ, which both the students and their families
support and enjoy.
So if you’re thinking about a martial art then give us a go, you never know………