Preston TAGB Tae Kwon-Do

🏆 NSTA Instructor of the Year 2026 🏆

I’m incredibly proud and honoured to have been awarded Instructor of the Year at the National Student Tae Kwon-Do Awards.

There were 84 nominations for Instructor of the Year and 13 of us shortlisted, so it was amazing to be announced as the Instructor of the Year 2026.

To be recognised amongst so many outstanding university instructors across the UK and Ireland is something I never imagined when I first started teaching, and it’s an achievement that reflects far more than just my own efforts. This award belongs to every student who turns up, works hard, supports their teammates and represents our clubs with pride.

Over the past few years I’ve had the privilege of helping grow and transform University of Lancashire Tae Kwon-Do, and create Preston TAGB from the ground up. Watching all our students achieve incredible success. From National and International Champions, to University World Champions and Medalists, Northern Cup winners, Team Event champions, grading successes and personal milestones, the progress made by our students continues to inspire me every day.

From 900 Nominations from 70 Universities, myself, a few of my students and the University Of Lancashire club were shortlisted for 8 out of 14 categories, a great achievement for everyone involved in the club:

Seeing the university club grow to more than double its size, helping students develop confidence both on and off the mats, and building a strong Tae Kwon-Do community has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

A huge thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout my journey, my instructors, fellow coaches, training partners, family, friends and, most importantly, my students. Your commitment, trust and hard work are what make achievements like this possible.

This award is a proud moment for me, but it’s also a proud moment for University of Lancashire Tae Kwon-Do and Preston TAGB. The journey continues. 👊

Welsh Championships 2026 🏆

Our team of 10 students had a fabulous time at the Welsh Championships in Cardiff the other week. There were 22 competition areas in the arena and our spectators did a fabulous job cheering us on, thank you 😊. Between us we brought home 13 medals - 3 x Gold, 5 x Silver and 5 x Bronze:

🥇 Welsh Champion Individual patterns (Callum)
🥇🥇 Welsh Champion Individual sparring (Jack, Sophie)

🥈 Individual patterns (Jack)
🥈🥈 Individual sparring (Callum, Phoebe)
🥈🥈 Tag team sparring (Sam, Sophie)

🥉🥉 Individual sparring (Amanda, Sam)
🥉🥉🥉 Tag team sparring (Callum, Jack, Phoebe)

Alanna performed a superb pattern, Janet enjoyed sparring and they both officiated on the day. Rohan fought a tough opponent, but unfortunately injured his knee. And as always Sir was around rings, supporting his students and being a great coach.

A big congratulations to Preston TAGB’s own instructor, Jason Neville! On April 17th he partook in his 3rd Dan Grading, in front of the Grandmasters, and passed! This is amazing news as many of you will know, he has overcome so many setbacks this year with his knee, but did not let that get in his way, and still performed brilliantly!

A huge achievement and an inspiration to us all at Preston TAGB! 🥋🤛🏼

Preston TAGB’s own instructor, Jason Neville, is undertaking his next Black Belt grading exam today for his promotion to 3rd Dan, in front of a panel of 5 TAGB Grandmasters. Good luck Sir 🥋👊

Coloured Belt Grading March 2026 🥋

We recently held our coloured belt grading with 9th Dan Grand Master Walton. The club achieved 100% pass rate with 64% of the students achieving an advanced pass. Well done to all the students who graded and congratulations to Lila on being awarded the ‘Best in Grading’ trophy as selected by GM Walton. 🥋

Thank you to Assistant Instructor Sir Oliver for joining me at the top table for the first time, where he enjoyed listening to GM Walton’s advice. Also, thanks to Sir Rohan for assisting the students in their grading and to Ma’am Janet and Emma for organising the students. 👊🥋

English Championships 2026🏆

A small team of 5 of our members and their supporters travelled to Worcester to attend the TAGB English Championships on Mother’s Day weekend. Between us we brought home 5 medals - 1 Gold, 2 Silver and 2 Bronze.

🥇 English Champion - Individual sparring (Dee)

🥈🥈 - Individual Sparring (Amanda); Tag Team Sparring (Sam).

🥉🥉 - Individual Sparring (Phoebe and Sam)

Janet enjoyed her fight and due to Sir’s injury he unfortunately pulled out of his pattern category to prioritse his next grading.

Thank you to our spectator supporters who cheered us on. Very well done to you all and thank you Preston TAGB TKD family.

Thanks to the TAGB and all the officials, medics and media who make the competitions happen. 🥋🤝

🏆Proud Preston!

What a start to the 2026 competition year. 13 of our members and their supporters travelled to Kettering to attend the TAGB Midlands Championships at the weekend with 650 competitors. We had some 1st time competitors, a 1st time official (Orion) and our students competed in some very tough categories. Between us we brought home 19 medals - 6 Gold, 6 Silver and 7 Bronze.

🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 Midlands Champions - Individual sparring (Callum, Rachel, Rohan and Sophie);
Team Patterns (Sophie);
Tag Team Sparring (Sam).

🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈 -
Individual patterns (Instructor Jason and Rachel);
Individual sparring (Maryam, Phoebe and Sam);
Tag Team Sparring (Phoebe).

🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉 -
Individual Patterns (Assistant Instructor Oliver);
Individual Sparring (Adil, Amanda and Janet);
Tag Team Sparring (Adil, Maryam and Sophie).

A few students were also in the individual patterns playoffs and narrowly missed out on a medal. We all get nervous when stepping onto those mats and it's also especially hard when you have to compete against your fellow club mates and friends. Sir is super proud of you all for all your performances and how you all supported each other, including our spectator supporters who cheered us on. Very well done to you all and thank you Preston TAGB TKD family.

Thanks to the TAGB and all the officials, medics and media who make the competitions happen.

Well done to 4 Black Belt students who travelled to Pontefract today to undertake Umpires Part 1, Umpires Part 2 and Referee Part 1 Officials courses. They all had a good day and thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you to GM Sergiew, GM Walton and World Master Brown. 🥋

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