|
Articles
Craig Collins
A Journey through Tae Kwon Do
Written by Craig Collins
My first Experience of a martial
art was Karate at a local school hall. I was five
years old, I attended regular classes but my dad
realised that I didn't have the concentration
at that age to benefit from Karate. Two years
later at the age of seven I started to train in
Tae Kwon Do with Kim Stones school of Tae Kwon
Do. This is where my journey through Tae Kwon
Do started. I regularly trained once a week, but
as I progressed through the grades one class didn't
seem enough. I spent two years training at Kim
Stones school of Tae Kwon Do up to 2nd Kup. At
this point I changed Tae Kwon Do Schools.
I started to train at Graham's school of Tae
Kwon Do. This was a bit hard for me, I had to
relearn patterns I knew but I eventually cracked
it. I achieved my First degree Black Belt Graham's
School of Tae Kwon Do at the age of ten. Graham's
School of Tae Kwon Do was later renamed the TKD
Centres of Excellence who are affiliated to IMA.
At the age of eleven I won my first major trophy.
It was a local club competition and I came runner
up in sparring. Then my Dad decided to enter me
in more competitions. So I entered the AIMAA North
of England Championships April 1998 and I achieved
third place in sparring. At the AIMAA 1998 British
Championships I came 2nd in patterns and came
third in sparring. Also I was in the junior team
sparring and we came 2nd as well. I felt proud
of my achievement. I felt I needed to attend more
competitions to gain in Tae Kwon Do.
Leading up to my grading for my
2nd Degree Black Belt I went to every class I
could. I passed my second Degree Black Belt when
I was 12 years old. At this time I was the youngest
2nd Degree Black Belt in this country for AIMAA.
Also in 1999 I attended the AIMAA 1999 British
Championships and came 3rd in sparring. At the
end of the year I received an award for Junior
student of the year 1999 I was over whelmed and
got even more into the art.
In 2000 I attended many seminars
and courses to improve in my Martial Art. At the
age of thirteen I received a trainee instructor
certificate. This meant I could now teach under
the supervision of my instructor. This paid of
because in 2001 at the AIMAA British Championships
I got gold in each event (Patterns and Sparring).
It was a joy for me and for my instructor Mr Graham
Lambert. At the end of 2001 I received another
award for senior student of the year 2001. I had
broken a club record. I was the first person to
have won a junior and then go into the seniors
and win the award. So far this year I have entered
two local competitions and come away with 2nd
in patterns/sparring in Mr Steve Cox's open competition
at Rossington. He then Recently held another Competition
and I gained 2nd in patterns and 2nd in the B
division sparring. I am concentrating on entering
competitions as next year when I move into the
senior division it will be a lot harder, but my
indomitable spirit will help me strive towards
the progression into the senior ranks.
I have also stated Kickboxing
with Mrs A Lambert I wanted to excel at this as
well as I did in Tae Kwon Do. In June of 2003
I achieved my 1st Degree Kickboxing Black Belt.
I have recently been teaching parts of Kickboxing
classes and Junior Tae Kwon Do classes. I have
entered two Junior Kickboxing competitions achieving
North of England Belt status on my first attempt
and then defending my title in March of this year.
When I am old enough I want to have my own School
and teach people what I have learnt through my
training. I will be entering more competitions
this year and hopefully come away with something.
There are only two people I can Thank for my success,
My Dad and my Instructor Mr Graham Lambert.
|
