Tae Kwon-Do International Ireland / GST

Nov 3rd 2008
TII / GST clean up at the IUTF National Championships,Day 1 on Sat Nov 1st Coach Mr. Darren Buckley & TII Offical Mr. Chris Fitzgearld brought 4 Black Belts to the event taking 5 medals:

Carl O'Brien - Sparring - Gold
Kieran Histon - Sparring - Gold
Luke Mansfield - Sparring - Silver
Kenneth Fuller - Sparring & Patterns - Bronze / Bronze

Day 2 Sunday Nov 2nd, TII/GST Pesident Mr. Brian Buckley along with Coach Mr. D.Buckley had 12 Students taking home 12 Medals:

Nicole Sawani - Junior Black Belt - Patterns & Sparring - Bronze & Gold
Jack Palmer - Red Stripe - Sparring - Gold
Conor Tynan - Green Belt - Sparring - Gold
Daniel Stack - Green Belt - Sparring - Silver
Tara Griffen - Green Stripe - Patterns & Sparring - Bronze & Silver
Ceilem Cole - Yellow Belt - Patterns & Sparring - Silver & Silver
Rachael Fitzgearld - Yellow Belt - Sparring - Bronze
Jake Sawani - Yellow Stripe - Sparring - Silver
Lee Barry - Adult White Belt - Sparring - Silver

We would like to thank the I.U.T.F for another fair & well run competition

Oct 13th 2008
TII / GST would like to congradulate the TAGB masters Committe on their recent promotions by Legendry TAE KWON-DO Pioneer Grand Master C.K.Choi

Promoted to 8th Degree: Master Dave Oliver, Master Ron Sergiew, Master Paul Donnelly, Master Kenny Walton Master Mike Dew & Master Don Atkins

Promoted to 7th Degree: Master Gianni Peros Master Brian Towndrow

TII/GST We had a very successful Weekend at the British TKD Champs on 12 Oct. we won 4 Silver, and 3 Bronze. Our team consisted of the following.

From Cobh we had Jason, Kieran, Kathy, Lisa, and Fidelma Histon, Danielle and Nicole Sawani, Sarah and Dahana Randalls, Ross Mc Bride, Luke Mansfield, Jack Palmer and Emma Hackett.
The 2 Coaches were also from Cobh, Brian Buckley and Chris Fitzgerald.
From Little Island Robyn Madden and Katie Kirwan.
From Glounthaune Sam Murray and Carl O Brien.
From Lismore Kenneth Fuller.

The British Championships was held in the Nottingham Arena on Sunday 12 October a Team of eighteen competitors along with 2 coaches and 12 supporters traveled.
This tournament is the largest in Europe every year with over 1700 competitors taking part visiting countries included Poland, Norway, Holland, Germany, and Ireland.
At 10am everything kicked off with 18 competitive areas staffed by over 300 officials.
Guest of Honour at the event was Grand Master C.K. Choi one of the very original Grand Master’s of TKD, who was responsible for the Creation of Gae Baek Tul. This Grand Master’s Bio is unreal. I have put a few of his achievements underneath.

1956 Began training in Tae Kwon Do and Karate.

1958 Trained under Master [Major] Woo Jong Lim, Director of Tae Kwon Do for the Korean 1st Army.

1960 Master Woo Jong Lim created Tae Kwon Do Championships, the first ever held in Korea in Tae Kwon Do history. Won the 1st Tae Kwon Do [Oh Do Kwan] Championship in Pattern and Sparring in Won Ju, Kang Won Do, Korea

1961 Taught Tae Kwon Do at the largest Korean Army Recruiting Training Center under Lieutenant Colonel Woo Jong Lim and General Choi Hong Hi.
Assisted General Choi in creating Gae-Baek Pattern

1963 Won First Korean Tae Soo Do (Tae Kwon Do, Tang Soo Do and Kong Soo Do) Full Contact Heavy-Weight Championship in the 3rd/4th/5th/ Degree Black Belt Division in February. The Korean Tae Kwon Do Association was called the Korean Tae Soo Do Association from 1962 to 1965 because the heads of Tang Soo Do and Kong Soo Do [Korean Karate] did not want to use the “Tae Kwon Do” name. This was the first Mixed Martial arts Championship ever held in Korea.
Selected as one of the ten First Korean Army Representative Team members
Won Korean Tae Soo Do representative Heavy-weight Championship in June
Was the first Professional Tae Kwon Do Instructor recognized by the Korean government.

1964 Invited by Malaysian Tae Kwon Do Association to teach Tae Kwon Do in Penang, Malaysia.

1966 International Tae Kwon Do Federation (ITF) was formed and received No. 5 Recognition Plaque as a founding member and instructor.

1970 Opened the first Tae Kwon Do School in Vancouver, Canada.

1973 Selected as one of four ITF Demonstration Team Members to tour 13 countries around the world.
Was the Chairman of the Umpire Committee of ITF

1978 Selected as one of four ITF Demonstration Team members to tour Sweden, Poland, Yugoslavia and Hungary.

1979 Selected as one of ITF Demonstration Team members to tour Argentina.

1980 Designed the ITF Uniform Logo.
Advised Gen. Choi not to take ITF Tae Kwon Do Demonstration Team to North Korea

1981 Promoted to 8th Degree Black Belt by General Choi.
Attended the 1st South Pacific Tae Kwon Do Championships in Australia with General Choi
During this trip, Master Choi advised General Choi to resign from his position as ITF President and remain as Founder of Tae Kwon Do. This was because of General Choi's personal ties with North Korea and his insistence on taking the ITF Demonstration Team to North Korea without the support of the majority of the ITF Masters. At this junction, South Korea had no diplomatic ties with North Korea.
Electedas one of two ITF Representatives to hold talks with the World Tae Kwon Do Federation [WTF] in an attempt explore the possibility of a merger between the ITF and WTF. Met with Mr. Kim Un Yong (President of the Korean Tae Kwon Do Association, Kuk Ki Won and World Tae Kwon Do Federation) and his representatives but no agreement could be reached.

1980’s-1990’s
Taught Tae Kwon Do and gave assistance to Tae Kwon Do practitioners through teaching and promotional tests
Created practical sparring patterns.

2002 After General Choi's death, Grand Masters: Nam Tae Hi, Kim Jong Chan, Kong Young II, Park Jong Soo, Rhee Ki Ha, Yang Woo Yup, Lee Yu Sun, Choi Chang Keun and others began discussions to unify Tae Kwon Do.
1. Wrote Dateline Tae Kwon Do history.
2. Currently gives instruction, promotional tests, seminars and other assistance to Tae Kwon Do practioners Teaches Tae Kwon Do based on his own experience with training, teaching, competition and street self-defense.
GM CK Choi believes that Tae Kwon Do practioners must train both the mind and the body to achieve the highest levels of physical fitness and mental discipline. This will uncover the ultimate person within.

The Competition was of a very high standard and all medals came from a lot of hard work, all sections were very Big no easy medals.
The following is a list of our medal winners.

Ross Mc Bride (COBH) Silver in Men’s Black Belt Light Weight Sparring losing to Gordon Fern the Current World and British Champion. Gordon has not lost in a Major Competition in Many years.

Kenneth Fuller (LISMORE) Bronze in Cadet’s (U 17) Black Belt Sparring

Kathy Histon (COBH) Silver in Cadet Team Event.

Lisa Histon (COBH) Silver in Cadet Team Event Black Belt.

Danielle Sawani(COBH) Silver in Cadet Team Event Black Belt

Kieran Histon (COBH) Bronze in Cadet Team Event Black Belt

Cathy Histon (COBH) Bronze in Cadet Girls Light Weight Black Belt Sparring

Click for Pics

Oct 7 th 2008

On the 27th of Sept '08, TII/GST brought a small group of 6 competitors to this Fantastic Event held in Disney Land Paris. The event was the European Festival of Martial Arts, the Tae Kwon-Do side of the festival was run by TAGB/TI. TII returned home with 3 Medals out of 6:
Ms Karla Tate-McCann - Black Belt - Sparring - GOLD
Mr Cian Horgan - Blue Belt - Patterns - Gold
Ms Cliona McGrath - Green Belt - Sparring - Sliver

Coach Mr. Brian Buckley said " This was a fantastic event, the kids really enjoyed it, we cannot wait to return next year with a much bigger group of Competitors as this years group enjoyed it so much!"

Click for Pics

Aug 30 th 2008

Back training in all Locations week starting Sept 1st, last year proved to be an eventful and successful year with GST/TII taking part in many national and international competitions including the W.A.S.C.O World Championships & the TI European Champs which was run by us at TII. This season is already shaping up to be better than last year with thte following so far scheduled:

1. TAGB Scottish Champs - Sept 7th
2. Euro Disney Martial Arts Tournament - 27th Sept
3. TAGB British Champs - Oct 12th
4. Canada TKD Champs - Feb '09
5. TI Switzerland Champs - April 3-5 '09
6. W.A.S.C.O World Champs (Montenegro) - May '09

For more info on these events contact TII: TII@eircom.net or Darren@TKDinternational.ie

Website updates: I am currenlty working on a new www.TKDinternational.ie i hope to have it up and running by the end of Sept!

May 14th 2008

On Sunday 11th May GST/TII held the final prelim Black Belt Gradings for Students going for promotions from 1st Dan to 5th Dan Black Belt (56 Students in total). Also on the day was a written Theory Test for all students going for 1st Dan Promotion. The Black Exam itself will take place on May 17th under Master D.K Oliver (President Tae Kwon-Do International / Chairman TAGB)

Click for Pics

April 28th 2008

The Tae Kwon-Do International European Championships took place in Neptune Stadium in Cork City on the 26th and 27th of April. This event took months of pre planning by Mr.Buckley.
Weight ins and height checked began on Friday evening in the Quality Hotel for all competitors and continued until sunday as people arrived from the 14 countries that attended.
the competition begin at 12pm on saturday with Black Belts competiting in Patterns, Sparring and Destruction. The day rang like clockwork with 8 full size matted rings running. On display was the best competitors from around the world, with the standard of people like Mr. Warren Vice, Mr. Gordan Fern & Master Svendsen, competitors and Spectators alike were in awh.At the end of the day was the Team events with Ireland coming second to the TAGB Team England.The event finished amazingly at 6.30pm. After the competition we changed the ring setup of the arena from 8 to 10 rings for the Juniors on the following day.
Sunday begin with competitors arriving at 8am, the event began at 9.30am, again the 10 rings rang like clockwork. All Juniors displayed their Patterns & Sparring for all to enjoy, with the amazing standard on display the future is bright for Tae Kwon-Do Internationals up and comers. the event again amazingly finshed at 3.45pm!!
We would like to give a special thanks to everyone from GST (Instructors, Referres & Parents) who helped,all the conutries & organisations that attendedand, also a BIG THANK YOU the TAGB Committe & Referees whom without this event would not have been possible (never has thier been fairer, professional or more efficent officals!) Thank you to all and see you all again soon.

Click for Pics T

March 27th 2008

GST / TII will travel to the W.A.S.C.O. World Champs being held

28 May–1 June 2008 - LIGNANO SABBIADORO –FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA - ITALY
To register for this Competition please contact Mr. Brian Buckley A.S.A.P as we are bringing a limited number of Competitors to represent Ireland on this grand Stage!

Also Spectator tickets are now availlable for the Euro Champs 2008, Tickets are limited to 700 per Day and with Half Sold already contact your Instructor A.S.A.P or goto www.tkdeurochmaps.com now and fill out an order form.

Jan 21st 2008

First off all sorry for lack of updates on the site recently, we are extremly busy with the upcoming Tae Kwon-Do International European Championships (April 26th & 27th).
Master Sergiew & Master Donnelly arrived in Cork on Sat 19th, they then travelled with Mr. Buckley to Erins Own GAA Hall to meet over 50 GST / TII Black Belts +, they conducted a very indepth Judges & Referres Course from 2.30pm to 7.30pm, the course inculded Theory and Practical including all new Tae Kwon-Do International rules & scoring systems for Patterns,Destruction, Piont Break Sparring & Continuous Sparring.
From there Masters Donnelly and Sergiew enjoyed a night out with Senior TII / GST Instructors and Students.
Sunday 20th Masters Donnelly & Sergiew Conducted a Seminar on Sparring Techniques and Drills, with Master Donnelly taking the 1st Portion of the Seminar & Master Sergew the 2nd. Enjoyed emensly by all Students and Instructors, it was a pleasure having 2 Legends of Tae Kwon-Do in Cork,
Master Donnelly has been training for over 32 years and in 1980 was selected by General Choi Hong Hi to take part in the World Masters Demonstration tour which Introduced TKD to North Korea. General Choi hailed Master Donelly as one of the finest practioners of Tae Kwon-Do in the World.
Master Sergiew is a Five Time World Tae Kwon-Do Champion, European Champion & WAKO World Champion.
A founding member of the T.A.G.B & one of the Worlds all time great Competitors.
We at GST / TII would like to Thank Masters Sergiew & Donnelly for an amazing weekend of Tae Kwon-Do!

Click for Pics T

Also we would like to Welcome Mr. Nicole Mesina to Tae Kwon-Do International Ireland, Mr. Messina is 5th Dan Black Belt who recently moved to Ireland and is now Instructing in Dublin.

Oct 31st 2007

Tae Kwon-Do International European Tae Kwon-Do Championships (Ireland)

We are proud to announce GST / TII will host the 2008 Tae Kwon-Do International European Champs in Cork City on April 26th & 27th.
More info soon on www.TKDEUROCHAMPS.COM

August 28th 2007

GST resumes training this week! This season we will be running Instructors Courses, Umipre & Referre Courses,
First Aid Courses, as well as some very Special Seminars!
International events include TAGB Brittish & English Champs, Holland Jan '08,
Also be on the look out for our MEGA SUMMER CAMP taking place in the Canairi Islands Summer '08.
We also hope to run a MEGA WINTER CAMP in Switzerland & hold a Friendly Team Event against our good Friends in Tae Kwon-Do International Switzerland. (Will get the dates up A.S.AP)

Squad training resumes Sunday Sept 8th - Remember Students preparing for black promotion you are only allowed miss 3 Squad Training Sessions a term if you wish to Grade in May '08!!
2008 Black Belt exams will be GST/TII largest ever with over 100 grading for Promotions from 1st-5th Dan
(Students under 16years please check your new TII Black Belt Licence Books for our new Star Sytem!)

August 27th 2007

GST ANNOUNCES the "GST National Championships" to take place OCT 21st in Little Island Sports Complex,Cork.
This has always been a popular event throughout the many years it has been running for. All Information will be up of GST.ie next week. Also be on the look out for something VERY BIG to take place in conjunction with Tae Kwon-Do International Ireland in 2008 (more Details soon ;)

August 26th 2007

GST Student Sebastin Barwich recieves 590 points out of a possible 600 in the Irish Leaving Cert.
Sebastin is along time GST Black Belt and recently fought in the TAE KWON-DO INTERNATIONAL WOLRD CHAMPIONSHIPS as part of the Tae Kwon-Do International Ireland Squad. Sebastin fought well at the event and was Drafted by TAGB Scotland to fill in as their Heavy Weight Fighter. With the help of Sebastin Team Scotland came 3rd. Sebastin now plans on studing Science in Trinity College Dublin.
All the best with your bright future!
From all the Instructors, Students & Staff at GST/TII

July 3rd 2007

GST / TII returned from the Tae Kwon-Do International Open World Tae Kwon-Do Championships with 18 Trophys / Medals (results willl be updated tomorrow). The trip began Thursday, Flying from Cork to Liverpool, from Liverpool over 50 Students & Parents travelled to Alton Towers for a Fun Day before the World Champs began on Saturday. Friday morning bright and early GST left for the Weigh-Ins in the Crown Plaza in Birmingham City Centre, all Students had been training hard all year & had been monitering there Weight so there was no problems with anyones weight class. Friday afternoon all GST Students & Coaches relaxed and did a bit of Shopping in Birminhams World Famous "Bullring". Early to bed Friday night & early to rise Saturday Morning. All coaches made there way to the N.I.A for 8.am & Students followed @ 8.30am. Students & Coaches alike were amazed upon entering the N.I.A with a seating capacity of 10,000 and 26 Rings covering the floor Area. The opening cereomny began @ 10.am with over 25 Countries lining up, TII had officaly the largest amount of Competitors outside the U.K with 91, a true Irish Team with competitors for all over the Country, travelling with GST was members of the I.U.T.F (ITF IRELAND), Kinsale TKD & Busido Martial Arts. Day 1: All Adults Sparring T.I & WTF, Musical Patterns, Tag-Team Sparring. Day 2: Veterns Sparring, All junior Sparring & Paterns, WTF Finals, Destruction & Senior Team Sparring. Team Ireland: Ross McBride (GST), Colin Shaughnessy (Busido Martial Arts), Stephen Lucy (B.M.A), David O'Sullivan (I.U.T.F) & Stephen Edwards (I.U.T.F). The Irish Team was narrowly beaten by the Argentines in the First round, however GST Student Sebastin Barwich was picked to Fill in the Light Heavy Weight postion for Mr. Roger Lawernces Team Scotland, with his help Team Scotland came 3rd! A great time was had by all, definitly the largest & best run Tae Kwon-Do Competition the World has ever seen, with nearly 2500 competitors the T.A.G.B Committe and officals rang the tournamnet like clock work. A big thanks to all our competitors and coaches, and all to all the Parents & Supports who travelled with us.

Click for Pics Tae Kwon-Do InternationalClick for Pics Page 2

June 17th 2007

GST held a Seminar w/ Master Mark Oggbourne & Mr. John Black from PUMA UK,50 Gst Students attended the event. Master Oggbourne covered Sparring Drills and Technique while Mr. Black took charge to do a Cardio KickBoxing Class. A great day had by all. Thank you to Master Oggbourne, Mr. Black & Mr. Don Dalton(IUTF)

Click for Pics

Next up: TI World Championships.

May 26th 2007

GST held its annual Black Belt Gradings in Cobh on may the 26th '07, Examiner for the Gradings was
Master D.K Oliver (Chairman T.A.G.B & President Tae Kwon-Do International) 50+ Students Graded for various Degrees of Black Belt including Mr. James Kelly for 4th Dan (Mr. Kelly also holds a Black Belt in Karate & also studies Ju-Jitsu), Mr. Barry O'Mahony and Mr. Michael Bolger for 3rd Dan. Congradulations to all! And thanks to Master Oliver

Next up: Seminar with Master Ogbourne & Mr. John Black, TI World Championships.
Click for Pics

May 21st 2007

GST had Mr. Dalton (6th Dan, President IUTF & ITF Ireland) Conduct a Seminar on Sparring on Sunday 20th May '07. New & old Methods of attack & defence were convered, over 70 Students attended, ranging from Red Belt - 4th Dan Black Belt, all of which enjoyed the seminar greatly. GST would like to Mr.Dalton

Next up: GST Black Belt Gradings, Seminar with Master Ogbourne & Mr. John Black, TI World Championships.
Click for Pics

May 16th 2007

14 GST Students travelled to the IUTF Connachact Championships on the 6th May '07, out of 14 students GST took home 17 Trophys!
Thank you to Mr. Fitzgibbon & all the IUTF.

April 30th 2007

GST National Championships was held yesterday in Little Island Sports Complex Cork. With just under 300 competitors from GST, IUTF, FOCUS MARTIAL ARTS & PWONG-HWA. GST ran 8 rings, the competition started at 10am and was over for 3.30pm. Congradulations to all competitors & thank you to all the officals. NEXT UP THE IUTF CONNACHT CHAMPIONSHIPS, GST BLACK BELT GRADINGS (Examiner: Master Dave Oliver) & THE TKD INTERNATIONAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Click for Pics

April 15th 2007

GST / TII Championships on 29th of April,
All Students / Clubs travelling with GST to Tae Kwon-Do World Championships it is essential you particapate
in order to futher your progress.

Entry Forms available from your Instructors

April 15th 2007

GST Results from Kinsale TKD Championships:
Ross McBride - 2nd - Mens -65kg Sparring
Aoife Sheehan - 1st - Ladies Sparring
Danielle Sawani - 1st - Patterns & Sparring
Kathey Histon - 3rd - Patterns
Jamie Googan - 2nd - Creative Patterns
Kiran Sawani - 2nd - Sparring Mens Colour Belt
Amanda Sawani - 3rd - Ladies Sparring & Patterns

Click for Pics

March 5th 2007

The 7th Annual GST West Cork Tae Kwon-Do Championships took place on Sunday March 4th,
With the offical Competitor count at 453, this was the biggest ever attendence at the West Cork Tae Kwon-Do Championships. The day kicked off at around 10.30 and with 7 rings running non stop the competition finished just after 5pm (the bulk of the sections,over 300 Competitors were finished before 1pm). A great day was had by all, next up the GST National Championships on the 30th of April,which must be attended by all Students/ Associations who are traveling to the TKD International World Championships '07

Click for Pics Click for Video

March 5th 2007

On Saturday the 24th of feburary, GST 3rd Dan Black belt Mr. Ross Mc Bride took part
in the first ever mixed martial arts intervarsities tournament hosted by ITT
Dublin. The tournament contained martial artists from WTF Tae
Kwon-Do,Kickboxing,Shotokan Karate and ITF Tae Kwon-Do. While competing for
Cork Institute of Technology Mr. Mc Bride beat a shotokan karate fighter in
the semi final of the -75kg division to progress to the final where he lost
out to a tough Bushido kickboxer to take second place.

Feb. 2nd 2007

GST/TII return from the dutch open tkd championships.
On Friday 26th January Great Southern Tae Kwon-Do took a group of 59 competitors, officials and spectators. It was an early start with the bus starting the journey from west cork at 5.30am to Dublin Airport. We stayed at the 4* Holiday Inn Eindhoven, where everyone made great use of the facilities, swimming pool, sauna, gym etc. Saturday was a free day with about 20 of our group heading off to Amsterdam with the TAGB on their bus for the day. Everyone else had a great day in Eindhoven. Sunday Morning the tournament started at 10am with all the countries lining up. There were 12 countries present. The morning started with Patterns, even though it was a predominately ITF tournament, our first trophies came in the patterns our results were, Sarah Randalls (Cobh) 2nd Girls Black Belt Patterns, Emma Hurley (Clonakilty) 3rd Junior Patterns, Amy Shorten (Clonakilty) 3rd Girls Black Belt Patterns, and Claire Wilcox 2nd junior Black Belt Patterns. In Ladies Sparring, Sarah Devlin 2nd ladies sparring while Deirdre Buckley and Fidelma Histon placed 3rd all from Cobh. In the men’s colour belt sparring Victor Randalls (Cobh) 3rd narrowly beating Donal Shorten from Clonakilty. In the Junior and Cadet girls we had Kathy and Lisa Histon(Cobh) both placing 2nd in their respective Black Belt sections along with Sarah placing 3rd in girls Black Belt Section. From Clonakilty Claire Wilcox took 3rd in Junior Black Belt section. Junior boys the following were our results Jason Histon (Cobh) our youngest competitor 5yrs came 3rd in the -120cm boys, while Nathan Kingston (lisgoold) and Luke Mansfield (Cobh) got 3rd places in Sparring & also Cait o'Donavan from Clonakilty came 3rd in a very tough womens section. All in all a great achievement. Sunday night party time, we all went to a local Chinese Resturant had a great night and finished off back at the hotel late.

Click for Pics

Jan 21st 2007

GST Cork, West Cork & Waterford got together today for their Montly training session.
GST holds squad training every Sunday morning in both Cork City and in West Cork, and 1 once a month hold a joint session, these classes are for Students who are preparing for upcoming Black Belt Gradings and Students who wish to compete in upcoming Tournaments.
Class was taught by Mr. Brian Buckley 6th Dan, 98 Students attended this mornings class!
Next up the Dutch Open Sunday 28th Jan & TKD INTERNATIONAL World Champioships,
AGAIN ENTRY IS THROUGH GST ONLY!!!!

Click for Pics