On this page you will find accounts from some of our School members, these serve to illustrate that TKD has something to offer everybody - it can be moulded to meet what ever you want it to be. No experience is necessary! It's best to come along and experience it for yourself. I guarantee you will have great fun! The design of Taekwon-do is such that it is available to everyone, irrespective of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, financial or social status, political or spiritual beliefs, etc.
Our School is lucky to have five regular black belts who provide a broad and varied base of knowledge and experience gained from many years practising TKD.
Taekwon-do itself is a wonderful means of maintaining physical health, promoting flexibility, strength, and endurance. At the same time, it teaches you how to protect yourself, a priceless skill to learn. Lastly, your improved health and the knowledge that you can protect yourself will yield a wealth of self-confidence and personal satisfaction that will lead to success in all areas of your life.
Mark (1st Dan) and Jac (1st Dan) - Aged 48 and 16. My son (Jac) and I have been with the School since it started. My initial reasons for starting were purely personal, firstly to halt my rapidly expanding waist line and secondly to find some common ground with Jac (with some father and son bonding thrown in). These reasons would not seem uncommon as the School always seems to have a large number of students who are related in some way or another, it sometimes feels like one big family. I feel that it is important for all parents to provide the best start in life for their children.
TKD provides base qualities such as respect, control, moral decisiveness and self confidence, it has made me a very proud dad to see such qualities develop in Jac.
For me personally it has become a way of life, something that is never far from my thoughts, TKD has provided psychological stability, and when things get rough in everyday life, it acts as a focus of what life is really about.
(Updated 3/6/09)
Ben (1st Kup) and Ella (2nd Kup) - Cardiff North TKD School is a really fun School to be in because of the events, including gradings, competitions, seminars, parties, BBQs and awards to be won. Me and my brother Ben go and think it’s great. Sparring, patterns, board-breaking and step spar are also included as you progress through higher grades. Mr Johns our instructor will help you in class sessions. Even if you join just for exercise and fitness you are welcome to join in.
(Updated 15/2/09)
Rhianon and Louise
We first heard of Cardiff North TKD School from Mr Darren Johns when we took part in a self defence class at Llanishen High after school. Mr Johns showed us some very useful techniques and deciding that we wanted to learn more we joined his TKD school on Sundays at the Heath Sports Social School.
There we have learned many self defence techniques and have achieved a green tip belt. We have also met many new, friendly people and have lots of fun. We enjoy learning the art and theory behind it as we find it interesting and we know it will come in very useful if we ever find ourselves in a position where we have to defend ourselves.
(Updated 9/8/07)
Mr. Darren Johns - (3rd Dan) - I have been training for the over 24 years starting at the age of 9, I trained under Master Prewett in Fairwater. I have enjoyed and experienced all aspects of Taekwon-do from local, national and international competitions to the technical, self defence, human body and weapon training.
I have learned a lot from my learning and understanding of Taekwon-do, not only the physical aspects but also the moral understanding, its ethos and discipline.
It is evident that in today's society the basic courtesy and consideration for our fellow man and woman are all to often overlooked due to a lack of individual discipline. The bone structure of Taekwon-do consists of these values that we need to exist. Fused into the bone structure is the knowledge and confidence Taekwon-do practice provides.
The combination of these basic fundaments result in a strong base for the individual in life and as a student of Taekwon-do . I enjoy immensely being able to develop my students, watching their qualities and abilities flourish as they achieve... I am putting back into Taekwon-do, what Taekwon-do has given me .I am proud of the strong family base that I have achieved with Cardiff North Taekwon-do School during it's start in 2003 Learning is based on enjoyment and the understanding of the need for self discipline. We as a school have achieved this and are continuing to achieve. Since the beginning of the School, I am pleased to say that I have seen each individual constantly reach their personal goals and better them. We will continue to enjoy and learn through Taekwon-do.
(Updated 1/12/08)
Mrs Clatworthy (School Secretary)
(Updated 1//09)
As we start 2009, I am looking forward to a positive and productive year in which Cardiff North has so much to look forward to.
I am so pleased at how we have continued to grow as a school in each and every aspect of our Tae Kwon Do, continuing each year to gain in strength and basic core values.
I anticipate with great excitement that this year may provide us with the well earned result of perseverance, integrity and hard work that has taken place by my students and is required in order to progress through the ranks of promotion.
The result being, the first black belts to be promoted under Cardiff North.
I am sure there will be more stories to be told and laughs to have as our “Timber Hill” #2, training weekend draws ever closer.
During the closing weeks of 2008, we as a school met and looked how we could continue to improve our school. I wanted to hand back to my students a greater input to how we continue to develop. This is important to me as the instructor and I hope to see the fruit of this investment in our school as we move through 2009.
I wish my students the very best for 2009 and I am in no doubt that we will continue to enjoy our learning together.
(Mr. Darren Johns - 3rd Dan)
