After eight years in Taekwondo, in 1995 as I was progressing to Black Belt I was encouraged to start up a Taekwondo club in Banbury. After an International and National Instructors qualification I decided to take on the challenge. The internet wasn’t a popular option for marketing in the mid 1990’s so it was posters in shop windows and local newspaper advertising, North Oxfordshire TaeKwon-Do were looking for members.
The first venue was at The Institute, in Adderbury, Oxfordshire. A village community hall built in 1897. I started with three or four enthusiastic students from the village. As the membership grew I moved to a Martial Arts gym called The Dojo, on the Station Approach trading estate in Banbury. The Dojo was run by John Shiels, a British Kickboxing and Karate champion. The Dojo later changed it’s name to Fighting Fit. It was a good feeling teaching my own students and being part of the dedicated martial arts dojo.
In 1997 myself and the club became affiliated to The British TaeKwonDo Union. The BTU was a combination of both ITF and WTF styles with Master Andrew Davies as the President. Later that year I was graded to 2nd Dan Black Belt.
Banbury Taekwondo Academy
The club had a marketing upgrade to Banbury TaeKwonDo Academy and moved to the Police station gym in Banbury.
1998 was a busy year through the BTU I completed a National Sports Coach Diploma. I Qualified as Police Officer Safety Instructor after seven years police service instructing officers in tactical communications, side handled baton, handcuffs and arrest techniques. I won a Gold medal in the Korean Patterns category at the World United Martial Arts championship in England.
The club continued to develope with around 20 dedicated members. I continued my own knowledge and experience attending many more seminars and Black Belt sessions. In 2001 I was graded to 3rd Dan Black Belt with the BTU
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