In the early days (1990’s) IL Shim Taekwondo had 45 clubs. The passing of the father of Taekwondo, General Choi, required Master Daher to spend a lot of his time travelling overseas. During this time the organisation has lost momentum, Master Daher is now focusing all his energy on rebuilding the organisation and ITF Taekwon-do in Australia as a whole.
Within a short time the organisation has already started to gain energy and momentum, now it is necessary to begin developing new instructors in a targeted manner. We have 7 students participating in the first of many Instructors Courses with an aim of having them ready to open new clubs under the umbrella of IL Shim Taekwon-do, thus resulting in 7 new clubs opening next year.
The course will focus on physical and theoretical aspects of Taewon-do to ensure the participating students receive the correct techniques, knowledge, and discipline required to be good practitioners of ITF Taekwon-do. From World Championship through to the World Cup, and International Instructors Course (IIC), the prospective instructors will learn their responsibilities and requirements for these events.
Participants will also learn other aspects of running a club such as; how to choose a location for the School, how to market, how to organise a clubs web presence, and how to be a role model and show strong leadership.
Click on the links below to view the profiles of our academy instructors

Blake_1

PROFILE

NAME: Blake Willis

LOCATION: Bundaberg Region

Blake_1

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.

 

Johnny_Bowman

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 2nd 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 1st 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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


   

 

                                                   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Meghan_Weir_photo

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 1st degree black belt at the age of 13 in 2004 and then went on and achieved my 2nd 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


   

 

                                                   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Michelle_Harper

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 1st 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!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Jessica_Bull

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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