September 2010 - Page 2 of 3

Instructor Profile Bruce Fisher – Redlands

Instructors

PROFILE

NAME: Bruce Fisher, 3rd Degree

LOCATION: Redlands, QLD

Bruce_Fischer_photo

BRIEF HISTORY:

I started training in Taekwon-Do in 1986, where a work colleague was teaching a few people at Dunwich, North Stradbroke Island. The small class quickly grew into a club and my journey with Taekwon-Do had started.

A work move in 1989 saw me in Dysart, Central Queensland which just happened to have a Taekwon-Do club. In 1991 our instructor organized a visit by Il Shim International Taekwon-Do – Master Daher. This Taekwon-Do was impressive and not long after, our instructor joined Il Shim International Taekwon-Do.

I attained my 1^st degree black belt in 1996. A move to Brisbane in 1998, found me travelling 40 minutes to an Il Shim club. I graded for my 2^nd degree in 1998 and started my own club in the Redlands that year.

In 2007 I attained my 3^rd degree.

Over the years I have attended numerous seminars and training courses with Master Daher, as well as the International Instructors course in 2006, 2008 and 2010.

The passion I saw in Master Daher in 1991 continues today.

Taekwon-Do has taught me perseverance, to keep on chipping away to strive for that next belt or to better a poor technique and I trust my students will learn this as well as the other tenants of Taekwon-Do.

Describe your best moment in Taekwon-do: Gaining my 3^rd degree after some physical setbacks and seeing my first two students ( one my son) get their first degree black belts.

y.

13 September, 2010/0 Comments/by Shawn Sutton

Melbourne Master Class Sept 2010

Melbourne

We then focussed on our breathing and using knee spring. Following on from this we then needed to look at what we were doing when an opponent attacked. We were all trying to block the attack rather than simply trying to avoid it. We then worked on our breathing and trying to avoid the attack.

We then moved onto counterattacking after avoiding the attack. The students gained a lot out of the Masterclass and hoped that the work they had done will hold them in good stead for the upcoming tournament. Some of the senior students then stayed back and worked on their fundamental movements particulary hand position, feet position and timing of legs and hands during the movement.

This ended the Masterclass and was a great reminder of the focus we need to place on our fundamental movements.

The skill of the students had improved dramatically by the end of the class, the improvement came as a result of using their knee spring, which enabled them to breath correctly. Breathing correctly means oxygen is getting into the body, enabling the student to think more clearly. Also Master Daher spent a lot of time teaching the students how to avoid an attack by stepping backwards or sideways instead of blocking, as they learnt the reasons for moving this way, they could then see how much quicker it is to counter attack the opponent.

13 September, 2010/0 Comments/by Shawn Sutton

Instructor Profile Dave Proctor – LaTrobe Valley

Instructors

PROFILE

NAME: Dave Proctor, 3rd Degree

LOCATION: LaTrobe Valley, VIC

David_Proctor

BRIEF HISTORY:

Early in 1986, aged 9, and after many Bruce Lee movies, I pestered my parents into letting me try martial arts. After trying a local Karate school in Moe, a family contact reminded Dad that his second cousin was the local Rhee International Taekwondo senior instructor. I can remember the first night and the nervousness I felt, so much so that Dad joined in. We trained for about 5 years (the memory blurs a bit with time!) at which stage Dad had achieved his First Degree and I was Brown Belt (2^nd Gup). At which time we decided to take a break.

We returned (along with my sister) to Rhee Taekwondo in (about) 1992. 1993 was VCE for me so, naturally, I trained 4-5 nights a week! Thankfully a sparing accident left me with a couple of badly broken bones in my foot which preserved my university aspirations as I could only train 2 nights a week. I completed VCE and was accepted into Melbourne University – which had a Rhee TKD club.

A month into first semester I attained my First Degree, I also met my future wife that month so it was a busy time. Some time later the instructor left and I was both club secretary and instructor. This was a huge challenge as we had over 150 members; my largest class was 74 students- rather intimidating for a newly promoted First Degree Blackbelt.

Two years later I left Melbourne to pursue other study. Returning to Melbourne, getting married and starting an apprenticeship left little time for Tae Kwon-Do but in 1996 I resumed training with Rhee Tae Kwon-Do with my wife starting as a beginner. Two years later I was again graded by Master Rhee earning a Second Degree.

I then returned to the LaTrobe Valley, in Gippsland Victoria, still training with Rhee TKD. After a time I left Rhee TKD and joined Southern Tae Kwon Do (no relation to Southern ITF). There I was asked to start a club in Morwell, which I subsequently moved to Traralgon. At around this time Dad restarted training in Taekwon-Do. By default I was given a 3^rd degree Blackbelt by the club’s director in late 2006- I thought I was going to the grading to make up the numbers for sparring!

After much soul searching I decided in 2009 to seek out another Taekwon-Do organisation. My criteria were relatively simple, or so I thought: A professionally managed organisation, consistent standards applied impartially to all students, ITF style and, most importantly, headed by a true Master of Taekwon-Do.

After much searching and discussion with people in the Taekwon-Do community in late 2010 I discovered Il Shim. I asked around and found some people who knew of Il Shim by reputation and spoke highly of the organisation but did not directly know any Il Shim member. I emailed the organisation who put Mr. Paul Harper in touch with me. Mr Harper travelled to Traralgon to meet me and invited some students and I to attend a MasterClass and grading to meet Master Daher.

Finally I’d found what I was searching for, a true Master of Taekwon-Do and a properly managed organisation. I raced to join myself and my students.

Taekwon-Do Highlights.

Watching my father and daughter train together – we regularly have three generations training together.

Seeing students who entered my hall years before as beginners achieve their Black Belt

y.

12 September, 2010/0 Comments/by Shawn Sutton

Instructor Profile Shawn Sutton – Northern Gold Coast

Instructors

PROFILE

NAME: Shawn Sutton, 2nd Degree

LOCATION: Coomera, Gold Coast

BRIEF HISTORY:

I first came across Taekwondo when I was looking for a sport to get my 10 year old daughter into, something that will keep her physically active, but also teach her discipline and respect. She had attended a Taekwon-do class with a friend and thought she might want to give it a go. I knew a friend from Soccer that ran a local school (Mr Wayne Ebert at LowerHuttTaekwondoAcademy) so I took her and two of her brothers to have a look. All three decided they wanted to give it a go, although they felt a little embarrassed because it seemed quite strange to them. I joined them up and wearing their new Doboks they got into it.

I had broken my leg playing soccer the year before and mentioned to Mr Ebert that I needed to get active again. He said “why don’t you join in”, now at 37 I thought I would look a little silly at the back in my white belt with a bunch of kids, then an ex work colleague of mine walked in with a yellow tip on a white belt. Without being disrespectful, he was a “little” bit older than me and I though well if he can do it so can I. There my journey in learning Taekwon-do began

For the first year or so I felt fairly uncoordinated but managed to work through to my Green tip, I was more enthusiastic than my kids at this point as there was something about Taekwon-do that was alluring. At the beginning of 2009 my family and I all moved to the Gold Coast for a better lifestyle and future for the family. I asked Mr Ebert who to contact about ITF Taekwon-do on the Gold Coast, he advised me to “contact Master Daher as he is a good friend of ITFNZ”, I went on to their website and found some contact details for the only club on the Gold Coast, it was a bit further from where I live than I first wanted to travel, but after a couple of months on the Coast I thought it was time to check out Mr Abdullah’s club, and I liked what I saw, a family friendly ITF style Taekwon-do school.

We joined up and I haven’t looked back since, at one stage my wife Helen and all 4 kids had joined, but the logistics and the kids other sporting activities worked against us. My 3 boys and I are the only ones currently training.

As I progressed through to my Red belt, I began looking for ways I might assist Mr Abdallah in running the club. I think it extremely important that all members assist with the running of the club where they can. I began helping to update the website and thought “why not put a new website together” I socialised this with Mr Abdallah and away we went, we also created a presence on Facebook.

I’ve also recently had the privilege of working with Master Daher to add more value to the ITF Australia/IL Shim Taekwondo Website, and a number of other activities that Master Daher is working on as he brings the organisation back up to it heydays of the 1990s. I am also fortunate to be to train at Master Daher’s Parramatta club when in Sydney for work, and this has given me an opportunity to learn from the most senior Master in Oceania.

Inspired by the passion and drive from Master Daher and Mr Abdallah, I have opened a club at Coomera, Northern Gold Coast. My aim is to help students, young or old, be the best they can be in Taekwon-do and take that through to life in general.

In more recent times I have Graded to 2nd Degree and represented Australia in Power Test at the 2013 World Championships in Benidorm, Spain.

Kind regards,

Shawn Sutton

11 September, 2010/0 Comments/by Shawn Sutton

Instructor Profile Nathan Tyson – Sydney

Instructors

PROFILE

NAME: Nathan Tyson, 2nd Degree

LOCATION: Sydney, NSW

Nathan_Tyson

BRIEF HISTORY:

I started (Rhee) Taekwon-Do in 1985, training solidly for 5 years. I reached my 1^st Kup before finishing high school.

I commenced Jurisprudence/Law at UNSW in 1990 and over the next 7 years I trained sporadically, but the demands of university study and the need to work casual jobs to support myself through my studies made it difficult to attend regular classes.

I met Master “Jim” Lim (5th Degree Black Belt, WTF) in 1998 and he asked if I would be willing to assist with instructing a junior class at La Perouse NSW. Over the next 18 months I trained with Master Lim and assisted with instructing class. I was awarded my 1^st Degree Black Belt by Master Lim (WTF) in late 1999.

In 2000 my second child was born and my family moved to a new area in Sydney. I then stopped Taekwon-Do training as I couldn’t find a local club and also had the responsibilities of a young family and my career. In 2004 we moved to western Sydney.

In January 2009 I fortuitously met Master Daher and Mr Greg Ferguson (2^nd Degree) who had recently started a club in Toongabbie. I wanted my children to begin training and Master Daher also encouraged me to return to my training. In December 2009 I attained certification of my 1^st Degree Black Belt with the ITF.

I attended the 50^th ITF International Instructors Course in New Zealand in March 2010 and was privileged to witness Master Daher achieve his 8^th Degree Black Belt. I also attended the 2010 National Championships in Hobart to support my daughter and other Il Shim competitors in August 2010.

I achieved my 2^nd Degree Black Belt at the Senior Black Belt Grading held at the Gold Coast in September 2010.

I am currently an Instructor with Il Shim Taekwon-Do at the Toongabbie and Parramatta clubs.

10 September, 2010/0 Comments/by Shawn Sutton

Instructor Profile Jessica Bull 2010 – Melbourne

Instructors Academy

PROFILE

NAME: Jessica Bull

LOCATION: Melbourne

Jessica_Bull

BRIEF HISTORY:

I began Taekwon-Do (Rhee) at the age of 18 and when I was Red Belt my club closed and I found myself part of Il-Shim Melbourne.

My eyes were opened to the greater world of Taekwon-Do and with this new club I began training with some of the best Taekwon-Do practitioners in Victoria. I was introduced to tournaments, which unleashed my competitive spirit.

Some of my proudest moments have been associated with Taekwon-Do; grading to 1st Dan in 1999, representing Australia at the First Asia Taekwon-Do Championships, Japan in 2000 in which I won a Bronze medal and being selected to represent Australia in the 12th World Taekwon-Do ITF Championships, Italy in 2001.

My love for the fitness arena, in general, began when I started instructing Taekwon-Do in 1999 and after the First Asia Taekwon-Do Championships my journey into the fitness industry started. I am a qualified Fitness Instructor, Group Exercise Instructor inc. water aerobics and group exercise for children and Personal Trainer inc. Older adults strength training.

Being the competitive and demanding industry it is I found less and less time to practise my first love, Taekwon-Do. And before I knew it I’d met my husband and now have two lovely children.

Now fitter and stronger than I’ve ever been I have returned to Taekwon-Do, thrilled to be welcomed back into Il-Shim Melbourne, with Paul Harper, who I’ve trained with for many years.

I am working towards my next grading, 2nd Dan, and look forward to Instructor training and opening my own club in South-East Victoria in 2011 and working with Master Daher and this great organisation ITF Australia.

y.

8 September, 2010/0 Comments/by Shawn Sutton

Instructor Profile Michelle Harper 2010 – Melbourne

Instructors Academy

PROFILE

NAME: Michelle Harper

LOCATION: Melbourne

Michelle_Harper

BRIEF HISTORY:

I had been around Taekwon-Do for a few years having supported and accompanied my husband to many Taekwon-Do seminars and tournament events, including World Championships as well as a “grading run” with Master Daher up the Queensland coast. I also assisted my husband to establish his new club by being in charge of all the paperwork and the admin side of things, and I went along to watch his every class. It was at one of the seminar events that I was sitting quietly watching when one of the black belts walked past me and whispered “You should be a black belt by now!” She had seen me attend so many events but of course my attitude was “I can’t do THAT”. Well as it happened I came home from work one day in March 2006 with the need to blow off some steam so I asked my husband if I could join in class. That was the beginning of it all…….

Six months after first joining in I commenced teaching, with Master Daher’s permission. I began running my own children’s classes with 6 kids on opening night. I am proud to say that some of the children that began their training in my junior class back in 2006 are still training, now under Mr Harper in the senior class. When I got pregnant with my first child I needed Mr Harper to take over my juniors’ class. I did, however, continue training and attended every class right up until I was 8 months pregnant. Obviously I modified what I was able to do in class (definitely no jumping or flying kicks!), but I was glad that I could maintain an exercise routine throughout my pregnancy, even with such a huge belly! After the birth of my daughter I resumed training as soon as I could and this was instrumental in helping me lose my pregnancy weight. My training continued to progress and it wasn’t long before I was heading towards my 1^st degree black belt. The only “problem” was that I was now pregnant with my second child. I did continue to train though, and at 5 months pregnant I was very proud to have Master Daher grade me for my black belt. Again I continued to train until I was just over 7 months pregnant.

After another forced break from training with the birth of my son, I then decided that I needed to return to training. It was difficult in the beginning as I do not have a babysitter available to me and need to bring my babies to training with me. With both being 2yrs of age and under it has been challenging but fortunately I have a very understanding instructor! So now that I am back I continue to assist with instructing in both our club’s junior and senior class. (Needless to say I am also still the admin guru!) Through Mr Harper’s hard work our club has progressively grown to the success it is today. We enjoy being a great team and feel a sense of achievement in bringing Il Shim Taekwon-Do to Melbourne. Being family people ourselves, we have developed Taekwon-Do for families, making it easy for parents and siblings to train together.

Taekwon-Do has taken us to many places and has introduced us to many new and wonderful friends. I am glad that I changed my mind from “I can’t do that” to “If I can do it, anyone can!” I’m not the fittest, I’m not the strongest, I’m certainly not the most athletic. I’m just a wife and mum with 2 small children and the desire to continue improving!

y.

8 September, 2010/0 Comments/by Shawn Sutton

Instructor Profile Megan Weir 2010 – Redlands

Instructors Academy

PROFILE

NAME: Megan Weir

LOCATION: Redlands

Meghan_Weir_photo

BRIEF HISTORY:

I started Taekwondo at the age of 9 in the year 2000, purely just looking for something that would keep an over active child like myself happy. I started training with Mr Bruce Fischer and fell in love with the art. I was a determined little thing and before I knew it I was at my first grading, going for my yellow belt. Terrified; I stood up there fumbling through what I knew and probably not breathing at all. However after anxiously watching every higher belt grade, I knew I wanted to stick around just to try half of what these students had achieved; to me they were amazing.

I was training as much as I possibly could and moving up fast, thanks to Mr Fischer and his son Yarnell who I eventually was on par with and grading next to. I then got to know Mr Abdullah and Master Daher who both turned out to be not as scary as I thought and are still huge influences on me. They keep me going and persevering to reach greater heights in my Taekwondo career. Their stories inspire me to be the best I can be in every aspect of my life not just Taekwondo.

Since starting I have achieved well beyond what I could ever have imagined, I have competed in many tournaments, most of which I was placed in the top three and have been a part of many demonstrations and Taekwondo events. I achieved my 1^st degree black belt at the age of 13 in 2004 and then went on and achieved my 2^nd degree a few years later in 2007. However my proudest achievement would have to be obtaining a spot in the 2007 Australian Team to compete in the world championship in Canada. This was something that I never thought I would be given the chance to do. To represent my country in something I love would be a dream come true; however that same year I had the chance to compete in the World rock n roll dance championships. I had what seemed like an impossible decision to make, but I chose to Dance because I felt that it was the honourable thing to do when I had another person such as my dance partner to think about. We went on to win the world title that year and I will never forget it.

Even though dancing was a huge achievement I still would give anything to have been able to do both. However now it is time for me to give something back, to pass on everything that I have ever been taught, to share my knowledge and growth with others; this is why I want to start a club. Taekwondo is not just a martial art it is a way of life, it can carry you through anything if you just give it a chance. Courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self control and indomitable spirit these tenets are something everybody should live by and I feel that this is what should be taught; how to be a true champion not just in taekwondo but within yourself.

y.

8 September, 2010/0 Comments/by Shawn Sutton

Instructor Profile Johnny Bowman 2010 – Hunter Valley Region

Instructors Academy

PROFILE

NAME: Johnny Bowman

LOCATION: Hunter Valley Region

Johnny_Bowman

BRIEF HISTORY:

I first became interested in Taekwon-do when I was a teenager. I had always been interested in Martial Arts but the awesome kicks in Taekwon-do drew me in and it became my favourite. I started doing some basics with a friend of the family who was a 2^nd dan and got the kicks and punches down pat.

A class started in town not long after this and I started attending regular classes. I made Green Belt and competed in one tournament before the classes got cancelled, which was a shame. It was a long time without Taekwon-do after the club closed, but I never lost my passion for it.

A few years ago I started training again in a local Rhee Taekwon-do class and worked to my Red Belt. I wanted to start competing again and saw an opportunity to start training in ITF Taekwon-do after seeing Mr. Christensen’s success in a local paper; I started travelling to Aberdeen to train with him regularly. I started training for competitions and began competing in tournaments. I was successful in a few tournaments in sparring and power breaking and I grew a passion for it.

I am still competing today and plan on Taekwon-do being part of my life for a long time to come. I recently received my 1^st dan in ITF Taekwon-do which was a very happy day for me. I was recently selected for the Australian team to compete at the 2011 World Championships in New Zealand.

I love Taekwon-do and would recommend it to anyone

y.

8 September, 2010/0 Comments/by Shawn Sutton

Instructor Profile Blake Willis 2010 – Bundaberg Region

Instructors Academy

PROFILE

NAME: Blake Willis

LOCATION: Bundaberg Region

BRIEF HISTORY:

I have been practicing Taekwon-Do since March 2008. I started when my sister convinced me to join as she was also a member of IL Shim Bundaberg. She said it is great for fun and the perfect form of exercise, her constant nagging is what caused me to start and just for a quiet life I began, this is when I realised that she was right, thanks Sis!. From then on I have loved it ever since.

I plan on going as far as I can, developing my skills, ability and knowledge, pushing myself further each time to be the best and make my instructor proud. My primary goal is to run my own club one day and pass on the knowledge that I have been fortunate to acquire onto others similar to those like myself.

Blake Willis.

8 September, 2010/0 Comments/by Shawn Sutton