Maynooth Taekwon-Do School

Hello all, I hope you had a good summer. Classes return in Maynooth on Tuesday 8th September at the normal times.
RITA annual association fees will be due by the end of the month so I will send the registration link soon.
I’ll be conducting the National Colour Belt seminar in Cork on the 6th September and the National Championships will be 21st November in Athlone.
Looking forward to seeing everyone back training.

Master Stephen Doyle VIII Dan will conduct the National Colour Belt Seminar on Sunday 6th September in Watergrasshill, Co. Cork. The event is open to all registered RITA members from 9th Kup upwards. Black Belts may attend to complete the Instructor Pathway Module 302

Congratulations to my Maynooth students who passed the grading. Enjoy your summer and we will see you in September

Today is the Anniversary of the passing of General Choi Hong Hi (9 November 1918 - 15 June 2002) who was the Founder of Taekwon-Do. I had the privilege of visiting his grave during a trip to Pyongyang, DPRK in 2011.
“Here I leave Taekwon-Do for mankind as a trace of man of the late 20th century.” General Choi

All the Black Belts I’ve ever worn. Top is my instructor Mr Michael Nevin’s old belt he gave me to wear in 1991 before he presented me with my official belt which is underneath. I wore that until 2013 until I was promoted to Master when I got the personalised belt. It says roughly “passion for knowledge, strength through perseverance” and the other side is “congratulations on your promotion by Grand Master Robert Howard”. I was never comfortable having my name on my belt as my Instructor GM Howard would joke that it’s only there so I would know who I am. The final belt is the one i’ve been wearing since my VIII Dan promotion in 2020 which is similar to my original belt. My only regret is I never kept my colour belts but I still have my 9th kup certificate!

We are using the big hall tonight

June training dates
Tuesday 2nd
Tuesday 9th
Tuesday 16th - Grading for those eligible
Summer break

This is the belt my Instructor Mr Michael Nevin put around my waist 35 years ago. I wore it proudly for 22 years while competing for Ireland, being corrected by General Choi and through countless classes, seminars and gradings. Finally in 2013 I was made get a new belt when I was promoted to Master and it was a bittersweet moment to take it off for the last time 🥋