The national organisation,Taekwon-Do Association of Ireland provides coaching, education and competition for members.
Robert Howard has been involved in the combat sport of Taekwon-Do for twenty eight years. A roofing contractor by trade, he is also a certified Taekwon-Do master and introduced the Korean martial art to Ireland.
Robert Howard has passed on his love of the sport to his son Robert junior. The pair regularly pound the interior walls of their home to toughen up their fists.
Taekwon-Do is one of the most lethal martial arts and can be used in self defence. Practitioners are not a danger to the general public however. Proper training means following the tenets of the martial art which are,
Courtesy, integrity, self-control, perseverance, indomitable spirit.
Children as well as adults are members of the Irish Taekwon-Do Association, and training sessions feature cardiovascular activity with a focus on coordination, strength, balance, flexibility and speed.
The force of a kick or a punch is directed at bricks, roof slates and planks of wood rather than on each other, explains Gerard McClelland,
That is where the power is focused and illustrated, not on an opponent.
Floyd Keane explains how Taekwon-Do is an effective form of self defence. He used his martial arts training to defend himself against an unprovoked attack.
Walked away without a scratch.
Deborah Manning initially joined Santry Taekwon-Do with her family. Over time they lost interest, but she continued to train and is now a second degree black belt grade. Andrew Birthistle remains impressed with the organisational structure of the Irish Taekwon-Do Association and the fact that it encourages people to focus on achieving their goals.
You realise that you're going somewhere.
To restore balance after the exertions of a high-energy training session, participants wind down with a calming yoga exercise.
This episode of 'Nationwide’ was broadcast on 26 November 1997. The reporter is Diarmuid Peavoy.
