Press Releases
October 2011
OVER 100 Taekwondo students from around Great Britain came to Darlington at the weekend to attend a seminar run by a famous Taekwondo master.
Grand Master Kim Yong Ho, 9th Dan, was recently given the top job in Taekwondo in its birthplace Korea, which means he doesn’t have a lot of time to dedicate to teaching, however still managed to come to Darlington.
“It’s a great honour for Master Kim to come here,” said his student Ron Brennan, who is Chief Instructor of Kim Chung Do Kwan based in Darlington. “It seems everyone in the world wants him to come to them and teach so his time is limited. However he loves Darlington as we have some very good martial artists here so he always makes exceptions and comes as often as he can.”
Because of Master Kim’s new job in Korea this may be the last seminar in England for a while.
April 2011
SARA Graham from Frosterley shone yet again at a recent Taekwondo grading in Darlington. The 10 year old, who trains twice a week, was awarded Best Of Grade, meaning she had excellent results throughout her physical exam.
It also means the youngster who has been training for over two years is eligible to take her 1st Dan Black Belt in December.
“Sara is an excellent student,” said her Instructor Katey Wallace. “Not only does she work extremely hard she is a kind, caring and thoughtful girl and the all round package to make an excellent martial artist,” she said.
Sara is not the only member of the family to practise Taekwondo, dad Tony, and younger brother Daniel, also practise twice a week.
October 2009
TWO Darlington Taekwondo students were kicking higher than normal at the weekend after achieving a 100% gold medal record at a competition in Blackpool recently.
Jack Saville, 15, and Connor Bacon, 11, who both train at Haughton Educational Village, went to the sport taekwondo competition and between them they achieved two golds and overall special award trophy.
Coach and instructor Katey Wallace, 5th Dan, said: “They both did exceptionally well. As it was a knock out competition Connor won three fights to win the gold medal and fought out of his skin. He listened to my advice and I was really pleased with him.
“Jack showed a lot of maturity during the competition and managed to win the gold medal by the referee stopping the contest. He also was awarded an overall special trophy by the national body organiser for this attitude. They will both hopefully now go back and work on their weaknesses for next time,” Katey explained.
The pair, who both train twice a week at Haughton Educational Village are now training for a technical competition in the middle of November at Darlington and both are part of the Kim Chung Do demonstration team.
Richard Crawford, 20, from Weardale, completed the Kim Chung Do Kwan team and was narrowly beaten in the final, managing a silver medal.
Richard Crawford left, Jack Saville middle and Connor Bacon right.
July 2009
It’s definitely a family affair for the Graham siblings who graded in Darlington at the weekend.
Sara, 9, and Daniel, 7, from Wolsingham Taekwondo Club, both achieved the rare accolade of both winning ‘Best Of Grade’ and also double promoted at a recent grading in Darlington. This means that they automatically skip a belt and move onto the next one.
Their instructor, Katey Wallace, 5th Dan, said: “Normally only one ‘Best Of Grade’ trophy is awarded but the examiner, Master Ron Brennan, 6th Dan, simply couldn’t pick between them, they were that outstanding.”
The pair who have been training a year, practice twice a week at Wolsingham Taekwondo Club and took their grade at Darlington Dolphin Centre.
“For their age, they are both excellent,” said four times British Champion, Katey. “Hopefully if they continue to train and work hard they will become extremely gifted black belts in a couple of years time,” she said.
Their dad, Tony, also double graded in March 2009, meaning that all three in the family have achieved the top examination mark awarded.
“I think that must be a record! I don’t think many families have three members that have been double promoted,” exclaimed Katey. “Taekwondo must be in their blood!”
Andrew Mokryj from Stanhope Taekwondo club was also double promoted from a white belt beginner.
Other promotions from Darlington clubs were: Promoted to red belt black tag; Luke Bradley, Darlington, John Comett, Daniel Evans, Thomas Evans, Robert Irish, Alannah Newnham, Promoted to red belt; Simon Fung, Promoted to yellow belt, blue tag; Emily Chapman, Joseph Mash, Promoted to yellow belt; Mark Hilton, Ian Hindle; Promoted to double yellow tag; Joshua Patterson; Promoted to yellow tag; Louise Turner, Dylan Wilson.
Jan 2009
A YOUNG martial artist from Catterick, has been rewarded for years of hard work and dedication to taekwondo.
Jack Saville, 14, who trains at Haughton Educational Village in Darlington, was awarded Most Promising Taekwondo Student at a recent presentation in Darlington. The award which is presented bi-annually was presented by Chief Instructor of Kim Chung Do, Master Ron Brennan, 6th Dan.
Jack’s instructor, Katey Wallace, 5th Dan, said that Jack deserved the honour: “Jack has completely changed his attitude towards his training over the past year and is now a hard-working, motivated and dedicated Taekwondo student. He is a delight to teach and is turning into an excellent role model for younger students.”
“This award is not so much for the technical ability of the student but more importantly for their mental attitude and the way they approach their training. Of which Jack is talented in both,” she said.
The presentation took place after a grade, in which the following students from the north east were promoted
13th April 2008
Kim Roberts from Wolsingham was all smiles recently after being awarded her 2nd Dan Taekwondo black belt by one of the highest ranking Taekwondo experts in the world Master Kim Yong Ho
Many years of hard work and dedication paid off for Kim, when Grand Master Kim Yong Ho, 9th Dan, told her she had passed.
Kim’s taekwondo instructor, Katey Wallace, 5th Dan, said: “I’m delighted for Kim she is an absolute pleasure to teach. She listens hard and always puts 100% of effort into her training as well as being an excellent role model to the younger and more inexperienced students.”
Kim is currently studying music at Sheffield University which is lucky enough to have a Taekwondo club there so she doesn’t miss out on training. She will now have to train and work hard for a further three years until she is eligible to go for her 3rd Dan black belt.
While Master Kim Yong Ho was staying in England over the weekend he also held a national seminar which was attended by Taekwondo practitioners from all over Great Britain. Another master in meditation, Kim Sang Tae, also taught a seminar which included meditation and weapons training.
The successful candidates from L-R Adrian Winters, Jenny Ridley, Connor Woodcock, Matthew Brown, Kim Roberts and Nicholas Gibson (all from Darlington)
Behind: Master Ron Brennan, Chief Instructor of Kim Chung Do Kwan, Grand Master Kim Yong Ho, President of Kim Chung Do Kwan and Master Kim Sang Tae, meditation master.
27th October 2007
Wolsingham Kup Grades
WOLSINGHAM Kim Chung Do Taekwondo students have excelled themselves this time by gaining the highest grading results in over five years, plus one of the students winning ‘Best Of Grade’.
Out of eight of the students grading four of them received double promotions, which is where they skip one belt and are automatically promoted to the next.
Wolsingham Instructor Katey Wallace, 5th Dan, said: “It is rare for anyone to be double promoted, Normally there are only one or two students in the whole grade to achieve this so to get four in one club is absolutely outstanding.
These youngsters are the future of the club and I’m sure that if they continue to train with the same enthusiasm they will become excellent martial artists and Kim Chung Do instructors one day. I have 100% faith in both their physical and mental abilities,” she said.
Alex Hughes, who is studying for his A levels at Wolsingham Sixth Form College also won ‘Best Of Grade’ overall, being narrowly awarded it ahead of Charlotte and Isobel Callard and James Lumsdon, all from Wolsingham club.
“Alex won this for not only his physical Taekwondo technique but also for the way he approached his grade mentally and gave 100% effort and concentration,” said Katey.
The other four students who were promoted also passed with some of the highest marks on the day. Promoted to 7th Kup; Josh Kershaw, Tow Law; Hannah White, Tow Law. Promoted to 3rd Kup: Catherine Stelling, Toft Hill; Lauren Smith, West Auckland. Double Promoted to 3rd Kup: Charlotte Callard, Frosterley; Isobel Callard, Frosterley; James Lumsdon, Wolsingam. Double Promoted to 2nd Kup: Alex Hughes, Wolsingham.
Recently Alexander Gray was also promoted to 1st Dan black belt and Richard Crawford was promoted to 2nd Dan black belt.