PROFILE
NAME: Paul Harper, 5th Degree
LOCATION: The Basin, Melbourne
Brief History:
I began training in 1985 when I was 12 years of age at a local Taekwon-Do school. To start with the school was small, and at times I was the only student, which was great for me!
My first gradings were under Master Yun. By the time I reached red belt Master Yun had left ITF and as my instructor was a second degree meaning he was unable to grade me to first degree. This was when I first met Master Daher. At the time he was a Fourth Degree and I traveled to Ballarat to do a seminar with him before traveling back three months later to grade under him. I was 16 at the time. I did well at my grading but Master Daher told me to put on weight and cut my hair as I had long hair at the time and was very skinny!
I trained for another 2 years with Knox Taekwon-Do before the school closed. Over the next 7 years I tried to find an ITF school in the Eastern suburbs of
In March, 2004 I graded to Third Degree and in December, 2006 I graded to 4th Degree. Some highlights along the way have been grading trips with Master Daher, traveling to the World Championships in
A large part of my family does TaeKwon-Do with me which is fantastic. I love being able to train with my wife and two sons. I can’t wait for my little kids to be old enough to train alongside all of us.
Master Daher has had an enormous influence on my life and I thank him for his guidance, assistance, support and friendship over the last 20 years.
Paul Harper