In 1972 I started training in Shotokan Karate with Sensei Bob Rhodes. I trained under Mr Rhodes for two and a half years, attaining 4th Kyu rank. It was around this time that I met and fell in love with my wife Christine. That was that for Shotokan!!
It would be sixteen years later when I next got involved with Martial Arts. Along with my two sons I enroled in a Tae Kwon-Do class, at Morley Sports Centre, under Sabum Paul Liversidge 5th degree. I soon found that my previous experience of Shotokan helped enormously. I enjoyed being back in the Martial Arts world again and I trained with great gutso and verve. Mr Liversidge recognised my 4th Kyu ranking from my Shotokan days and insisted that I wear a blue belt prior to officially grading me April '90. I emmersed myself in the training and was rewarded by a double promotion to 2nd Kup 'A' pass. In July '90 I was promoted to 1st Kup 'A' pass. On 4th August '90 Mr Liversidge promoted me to 1st degree black belt. Within eight months I had acheived black belt status!!
I know my students reading this will be amazed by this meteoric rise to black belt, aspecially as it would take them two and a half years to acheive the same. However, at that time there were four lessons per week at Morley and two lessons at Pudsey Sports Centre. As you can see I trained far more regularly than my current students do and if you take account the amount of lesson I had in that period of eight months it would relate to two years of my current student's lessons. Add the fact theat I was awarded blue belt from the off, you can see how I did it.
In Feb '92 Mr Liversidge promoted me to 2nd degreee black belt. On 29th Sept '93 Mr Liversidge promoted me to 3rd degree black belt. I continued to train diligently and after six years decided that the time was right to start my own club.
On 11 March 1996 I, along with Kevin Chadwick, and some loyal students, founded Chang Hun TKD club. The first lesson was conducted at the Healthy Options Fitness Centre, Bruntcliffe Road, Morley. After six weeks I was asked by the Management to teach Tae Kwon-Do at Morley Sports Centre. I agreed and the first priority was to associate ourselves with an I.T.F recognised body. This was done when in Jan '97 we joined the U.K.T.A (United Kingdom Tae Kwon-Do Association) and became Chang Hun Morley TKD. From this time on we have had access to a many great Tae Kwon-Do Masters and Grandmasters. Now, my students can claim to have been taught and promoted by the original exponents of the Art. Their promotions/achievements recognised all over the world.
On 6th Sept '98 in Chatham, Kent (5 yrs after my 3rd degree promotion) Grandmaster Rhee Ki Ha promoted me to 4th degree black belt. On 22nd Oct '99 in Dublin, Ireland the founder of Tae Kwon-Do, Grandmaster Choi Hong Hi awarded me International Instructor status. On 10th March '02 in Glasgow, Grandmaster Rhee Ki Ha promoted me to 5th degree black belt. On 10th Sept '02 in Northern Ireland, Grandmaster Rhee Ki Ha promoted me to 6th degree black belt.
I continue to study and teach this wonderful Art of Tae Kwon-Do and wish all students of Tae Kwon-Do the very best.
David Hirst VI
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