Dragon's Spirit Taekwon-Do

BLACK BELT ACADEMY STARTS AGAIN SHORTLY!

All DSP Members wishing to grade in December should attend.

The second Black Belt Academy for the year starts on Sunday 16th August 2026 at the MMC – 198 Marua Road, Ellerslie.

This is open to 1st Gups and for 1st to 2nd Dans.

To register please go to

https://www.blackbeltacademy.co.nz/

Any question, please send an email via the Academy website.

Black Belt Academy The Black Belt Academy program is a 14 week intensive program for ITFNZ members on Sunday afternoons run twice per year in the lead up to the June and December gradings - one for 1st gups and another...

INSPIRATION FROM THE DRAGON’S DEN

"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses — behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."
— Muhammad Ali

Most people only see the moment.

- They see the grading.
- They see the tournament.
- They see the pattern performed in front of others.
- They see the board break, the sparring round, the final bow.

But they do not always see what came before it.

• The quiet repetitions.
• The tired legs at the end of training.
• The correction taken with humility.
• The extra stretch, the extra round, the extra pattern.
• The choice to keep going when no one is watching.

That is where the real work happens.

In Taekwon-Do, success is not created on the day of the test. It is built long before that moment. It is built in the dojang, at home, in the small decisions, in the disciplined habits, and in the willingness to prepare when there is no applause.

So train when it is hard. Practise when it is quiet. Prepare before the moment arrives. Build the person before the performance.

The fight is won long before the crowd sees it.



Master Raukura

싸움은 사람들이 보는 곳에서 이기거나 지는 것이 아니다.
그것은 무대에 오르기 오래전, 보이지 않는 훈련과 준비 속에서 결정된다.

The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses, long before the lights come on.

LITTLE DRAGONS ON FIRE!

Well done to our smallest Dragons with the biggest hearts on Monday night!

Another grading round completed, with plenty of happy smiles and proud moments. Congratulations to everyone on a fantastic effort — you should all be very proud.

A special thank you to our Head Little Dragons Instructor, Ms Drylie, and her awesome teaching team: Ashlyn, Helena, McKayla, Sophie, Caylix and Tallyn.

Congratulations to all our Dragon's that recently competed at either the Midlands Regionals or the P*e Wee Tournament. You did outstanding. We are all very proud of you!!! 👊👊👊

Midlands Regionals

Club total: 5 Gold, 6 Silver, 4 Bronze — 47 points, 5th overall club.

Gold
Aaliyah Ali — Junior Minikids Open Sparring
Sarah Keay — Female Veteran 7th–6th Gup Patterns
Briyanna Sutherland — Female Pre-Junior / Junior 4th–3rd Gup Patterns
Aaliyah Ali — Senior Minikid Open Power Punch
James Carver — Male Senior Dan Power

Silver
Malik Berima-Fowler — Male Pre-Junior 48–56kg 2nd Gup–1st Dan Sparring
James Carver — Senior 3rd Dan Patterns
Ayush Kumar — Male P*ewee 6th–5th Gup Patterns
Aaliyah Ali — Senior Minikid Yellow Gup Patterns
Ayush Kumar — Male P*ewee High Kick
Aaliyah Ali — Senior Minikid Open High Kick

Bronze
Briyanna Sutherland — Female Pre-Junior 48–62kg 4th–1st Gup Sparring
Ayush Kumar — Male P*ewee / Pre-Junior 41–47kg 7th–5th Gup Sparring
Malik Berima-Fowler — Male Pre-Junior 4th–1st Gup Specialty
James Carver — Male Senior Dan Specialty

P*e Wee Series 2026 #2
Club total: 4 Gold, 3 Silver, 3 Bronze — 3rd overall club.

Gold
Briyanna Sutherland — Fundamentals and Patterns 4th Gup–3rd Gup
Briyanna Sutherland — Sparring F 8th Gup–3rd Gup +50.1kg
Briyanna Sutherland — Power Punch 0–12 years F 8th Gup–1st Gup
Kiyera Dix-Goh — Sparring F 10th Gup White–First Black

Silver
Aaliyah Ali — Sparring F 8th Gup–3rd Gup +50.1kg
Ayush Kumar — Flying High Special Technique M 8th Gup–5th Gup
Ayush Kumar — Power Punch 9–12 years M 8th Gup–1st Gup

Bronze
Briyanna Sutherland — Flying High Special Technique F 4th Gup–1st Gup
Aaliyah Ali — Fundamentals and Patterns 8th Gup–7th Gup
Ayush Kumar — Sparring M 6th Gup–1st Gup 40.1–50.0kg

Taekwon! Master Raukura.

'Taekwon-Do Legends' pdf files I created.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1oBXr9Hr266HJjwBYEZ1lNRoBPWy1OabM?usp=sharing

Please feel free to use my Taekwon-Do friends. Together we grow the legacy left to us.

Taekwon!
Master Raukura 👊👊👊

Taekwon-Do Legends - Google Drive

INSPIRATION FROM THE DRAGON’S DEN

“Choose the positive. You have choice, you are master of your attitude, choose the positive, the constructive.”
— Anonymous

Some nights at training are hard.

• You feel tired.
• You get corrected.
• The pattern does not flow.
• The kick does not work.
• Someone else seems to be moving ahead faster than you.

That is when attitude matters.

We cannot control everything, but we can control how we walk back onto the floor.

• Choose to listen.
• Choose to reset.
• Choose to keep working.
• Choose to lift others up, not pull them down.

That is real strength. Taekwon-Do is not just about strong kicks or sharp patterns. It is about learning to master yourself.

Choose the positive. Choose the constructive. Then get back on the floor.



Master Raukura
긍정적인 것을 선택하라. 당신에게는 선택권이 있다. 당신은 자신의 태도의 주인이다. 긍정적인 것, 건설적인 것을 선택하라.
Choose the positive. You have choice, you are master of your attitude, choose the positive, the constructive.

DRAGON’S SPIRIT DOJANG GUIDE 👊👊👊

Honouring General Choi Hong Hi | 15 June

Today we pause to honour and remember General Choi Hong Hi, the Founder of Taekwon-Do, on the anniversary of his passing.

General Choi’s vision gave the world more than a martial art. He gave us a pathway of discipline, courage, perseverance, respect, and self-improvement. Through Taekwon-Do, generations of students have learned not only how to defend themselves, but how to stand taller in life, serve others, and build stronger character.

His legacy continues every time a student bows onto the mats, every time a pattern is practised with purpose, every time a black belt leads with humility, and every time the Tenets of Taekwon-Do are lived beyond the dojang.

At Dragon’s Spirit Taekwon-Do, we are proud to continue walking the path he created.

Remembering General Choi Hong Hi
9 November 1918 – 15 June 2002

📢 Important Clarification for Participants of the ITF World Cup 2026

Following questions received from competitors and coaches, the ITF would like to clarify the role of the Medical Fitness Certificate and the Medical Background Sheet for the World Cup in Benidorm.

✅ Medical Fitness Certificate

Athletes are strongly encouraged to undergo a sports fitness examination with their physician and obtain a Medical Fitness Certificate prior to competing.

Every athlete or legal guardian confirms with their signature on the "Declaration of Consent and Data Protection" that they have a medical fitness certificate. And for the ITF World Cup 2026, this certificate may be presented during registration, but it is not a mandatory requirement for participation and athletes will not be excluded from competition if they do not present one.

✅ Medical Background Sheet

Athletes are strongly encouraged to complete and carry their Medical Background Sheet at all times during the event.

This document contains important medical information, such as allergies, medications or pre-existing conditions, and can assist event medical personnel in providing prompt and appropriate treatment should medical attention be required.

Both measures form part of the ITF's ongoing commitment to athlete welfare and safe competition.

We thank all athletes, coaches and associations for their support in helping us create a safer sporting environment for everyone.