Instructor Profile Wade Brereton – Redlands

PROFILE

NAME: Wade Brereton, 1st Degree

LOCATION: Redlands

BRIEF HISTORY: 

My IL Shim career had a late start with me not commencing my first class until August 2007 at age 26. I had dabbled in other styles of martial arts as a kid but like a lot of kids I didn’t have the drive and determination to stick with it. I met my wife when I was 18 and she came with a little sister who was a student of Taekwon-Do. Meghan was a member of Ill Shim Taekwon-Do Redlands Club and was under instruction by Mr Bruce Fischer. I came to a lot of her grading’s and on one occasions met Master Daher and was instantly inspired. It was obvious to me that Master Daher was not only a great teacher but an inspiration to his nation wide following. I watched Meghan grow and develop her skills in Taekwon-Do asking me at every opportunity to come along and learn with her. I finally agreed and came to my first lesson in August 2007. Meghan was already a 3^rd Degree Black Belt so I had a lot of catching up to do.

I participated in my first breaking seminar on the SunshineCoast in September 2007. It was here that I met Mr John Abdallah from the Ill Shim Taekwon-Do Gold Coast club. My love for Taekwon-Do and determination grew after a board break went wrong leaving me with a sore wrist and giving Mr Abdallah a good laugh. I was determined to prove myself and what I could do.

I have participated in a number of tournaments. The first was in October 2007, another in October 2008 and one in early 2010, achieving a third, second and first place respectively. It was at the 2010 tournament that I learnt a valuable lesson. I learnt that achievements should not be measured by how many trophies you receive but by how you feel about yourself and knowing that you have put your heart and soul into your event. This came about by watching children half my size sparring children twice their size. They are the trophy winners in my eyes. This lesson is partly why I want to start my own club. To teach the real meaning of achievement through working hard and being the best you can be. By looking up and saying I can do this.

Wade Brereton