Growing up as a child, I was quiet, introverted and not athletic at all. I really had no major interests and was just passing by through school. At the age of 12, my interest sparked in Martial Arts. After pushing my parents to take me to see a number of Martial Arts clubs, there was no question of where I wanted to train after I had completed a trial class with Grandmaster Yoo at Taekwondo World.
My life absolutely turned around, and throughout my teenage years Taekwondo was my passion. It had such a positive impact on my confidence which really helped me through school. Under Grandmaster Yoo’s guidance I found success in competitions and was also given opportunities to teach. Who would have thought the quiet introverted boy that avoided speaking in front of his class in primary school would be willing to compete in front of hundreds of spectators and teach large classes of students!
The positive impact that Taekwondo had on my life also inspired my father and younger brother to join Taekwondo World with Grandmaster Yoo.
Many years later, as a parent, when my daughter expressed interested in Taekwondo at the age of 4, I took her straight away for a trial class at Taekwondo World headquarters in Castle Hill. Right from the moment she walked in, she absolutely loved the classes. Taekwondo World offers a variety of classes for people from all walks of life, and the specialised kids classes were a perfect fit for my daughter. The facilities and instructors are second to none. All the instructors know how to get the best out of every student, even in kids as young as 3! After the trial class, my daughter had me holding pads for her in our garage, where she practiced what she had learnt for another 2 hours!
I was so proud to hear my daughter tell me, at 5 years of age, that it was her goal to obtain her blackbelt and that she’ll never stop training.
I am extremely grateful to have trained under Grandmaster Yoo. His training and guidance has really built a solid foundation that has benefited me right throughout life. I am even more grateful now that a third generation of my family is continuing the tradition, training at Taekwondo World, with Grandmaster Yoo and his niece, Master Yoo!
