Annaghmore Taekwondo Club

Good grief, it's a hot one over here. Long day with some excellent poomsae displays being scored.

Always glad to be representing UTA Ni.

Tommy, Jim & Michael supporting the 5th Best leg Championships

Tommy & Jim Poomsae
Michael Poomsae & Kyourgi

Great job guys

Class will finish for summer on 23rd June, we will look to resume in September.

Hopefully a second night will be available in Portadown, however this is dependant on a number of factors. I will obviously keep everyone update. New Dobok design below (not really!)

In other news, Maisie took part in her kup grading on Saturday and performed very well, we are hoping to have a result over the next few days and even more importantly Maisie wearing a new green belt.

July I will be away to London for the Best Leg championships, September Bluewave, October possibly Munich, November the BT National Poomsae championships and potentially also the Danish National Championships as well, after which I intend to hibernate.

This month marks 30 years since I started as a white belt in Cascades leisure centre, Portadown. I knew I was hooked from my first lesson with Mini Matier as my instructor for the next several years. Now I'm teaching and traveling all over the UK and parts of Europe as an international referee, thanks mainly to GM Glen Culbert who developed us and many others in the UK over the years. Taekwondo has given me a second family and friends who always smile and say hi, even if it is months between when we bump into each other.

I have been fortunate enough to see and help a few other people get their black belts over the years too which is even more satisfying in ways than doing it myself. It is all I can do to give a little bit back while I'm able to and hope that others have the same opitunities and experiences I have been fortunate enough to enjoy.

Anyway, make the most of summer break, I will be training at other clubs when I have time and energy 😂

This time last weekend I was on my way to Liverpool to support the Gajok Poomsae championships with two other UTA NI referees.

Great weekend had by all, some very high level athletes competing and every single person seemed very happy to be there.

Thanks again for having us!

Thomas McGuinness Michael Beacham

Not long back from the British Taekwondo National poomsae championships, a very well run event this year with some world class performances on display over 2 days.

Privileged to work with some of the finest and most experienced referees in the world and of course our very own GM Glen Culbert, GM David Bailey and GM Tong Wan Shin among many others. As always a great showing from the United Taekwondo Association Northern Ireland contingent. With Master Kambiz R Ali overseeing the event, everything ran smoothly and even ahead of schedule!

Wonderful to see the progression of the UK national referees, many of whom will be aiming for their International Referee qualification in the near future, a testament to the referee pathway developed here in the UK.