This page allows you to find out all you want about your instructors and their Taekwon-do history. Below are interviews with each of the four instructors, if the question you want asked isn't there, e-mail us or ask in class and the answer will be displayed here within the next week, these questions can be anything to do with their Taekwon-do history or simply what their favourite colour is!
Name: Mr. Nicholas Schober
Grade: Third Degree
Ryan Winter (RW): When did you start TKD?
Mr. Schober (NS): I started in February 1997, when I was 11 years old
RW: Why did you start TKD?
NS: I saw a poster on the doors of my secondary school's assembly hall and noticed that the lessons were in that hall twice a week in the evening, I went the following week with two school friends and my little brother; they don't do TKD anymore and I was hooked. It was ony after I told my grandad that I found out he used to train under Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha in the late 60s and throughout the 70s, and he used to train with Master Oldham.
RW: What school did you start at?
NS: I started at the Leamington School
RW: Who was your instructor?
NS: Mr. Briggs, a second degree when I started, but now a fourth degree
RW: Who is your current Instructor?
NS: I still consider Mr. Briggs my instructor, but because I moved away to start Univeristy at Loughborough, my current Jee-Goo (blackbelt class) instructor is Mr. Ridley, fifth degree.
RW: What is your favourite part of TKD?
NS: Patterns, I think you can learn the most through patterns and in patterns you have most the tools available to develop as a martial artist. Although, I am beginning to enjoy sparring a lot more, especially the England Squad sessions. I also really like the mental side of TKD, not just learning the terminology and technical aspects, but pushing yourself to your limits.
RW: What is your best moment in TKD?
NS: It's not really a moment, but seeing how my students develop and improve continuously and seeing my students compete and grade and try their best; and see that effort rewarded. Personally, I have a few good moments in TKD; including getting double promoted to red belt. And as a competitor, going to the World Championships in Korea and the Norway Open, particularly being selected for the Male Team and getting a silver medal in patterns over there.
RW: What tournaments & Seminars have you done?
NS: I've done numerous GTUK Nationals, and I've competed internationally, at the Norway Open in 2005, and the ITF World Championships in Korea 2004 and I will be going to Germany in June (2006) for the ITF European Champs. I've done seminars under Master Oldham, Mr. Archer and Mr. Ridley in the GTUK and also seminars with other ITF Masters; Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha, Grand Master Park Jung Tae (in the GTF), Grand Master Kong Young Il, Grand Master Choi Jung Hwa twice.
RW: Who would you like to do a seminar under in the future?
NS: Master Andresen and Master Garnes of National Taekwon-do Norway (NTN); the NTN are great friends of the GTUK and from talking to people who have done seminars under these masters, they are fantastic to do seminars under. I would also like to do more seminars under GM Rhee and GM Choi, the seminars I've done under them were fantastic and I'd love to go to more. I'm also really looking forward to Master Oldham's seminar in June. Master O's seminars are amazing, he always manages to teach you something new about a technique you thought you knew all about!
RW: What do you want to do in the future, what are your TKD goals?
NS: My first goal as an instructor is for Coalville to grow and keep on succeeding. I also want to open up another school in the very near future and for that to be as successful as Coalville School. I want all my students to acheive their goals and I can't wait for my first students to open their own school and have their own students. Personally, I want to keep competing and I want to continue through the grades, so I can further my learning and development of TKD
Click Here for Mr. Schober's Photo Gallery
Name: Mr. Matthew Smith
Grade: Second Degree
Interview to come...watch this space!
Click Here for Mr. Smith's Photo Gallery
Mr. Aaron Brindley, first degree; started TKD in March 2003
Miss Georgina Coulson, first degree; started TKD in February 2003
Mr. Ashley Tacey, first degree; started TKD in March 2003
Miss Kelly Townsend, first degree; started TKD in March 2003
Mr. Ryan Winter, first degree; started TKD in February 2003 |
