Instructors

GTUK Wellingborough Taekwon-do Instructors

All GTUK instructors hold full Indemnity insurance and have current DBS from the British TaeKwon-Do Council (BTC).

Master Steve King 7th Degree – Wellingborough Senior Instructor

“I started Taekwon-Do in December 1984 in Wellingborough and the club had only been going for nine months when I was told to take over the training at red tag and I have been running the club ever since. I took my 1st Degree Black Belt in 1988 with Grand Master Hee Il Cho (TAGB) I have started clubs at Olney, Leicester, Kettering and a few more besides.

I joined the GTUK in 1991 and currently hold 6th Degree Black Belt and the main Instructor at Wellingborough. I am also the Senior Instructor for Northants and have taught at the Northants JeeGoo club since 1997. Upon joining the GTUK I am now the only one left who took their 4th degree test with Grand Master Park Jung Tae in Scotland at the European Championships in 1996 along with Mr Ridley, Mr Archer, Mr Cunningham, and Mr Iqbal. The test was the hardest physically I have every taken lasting more than four hours. Grand Master Oldham and Master Andresen (Norway) successfully passed their 7th degree tests at the same time. This promotional test is still talked about to this day.

I have won many medals in the past 26 years including British, Scottish and International Championships together with some team medals. I have always believed an Instructor should compete in competitions, so I regularly took part from yellow belt until 2009 when I was Hong Kong Champion at the age of 48. I am Proud to be a member of the GTUK.”

Mr King has been the main Instructor at Wellingborough and the Senior Instructor for the Northants Jee Goo club since 1997.

Ms Jane Aikman 5th Degree – Wellingborough Tkd Assistant Instructor

What made you start Taekwondo?
I started training originally after becoming obsessed with the Kung fu films
that were huge at the time and i wanted to be like Bruce Lee when i returned
in 1986 it was more to get my confidence back.

Who was your first Instructor?
My first Instructor was Murray Walker, unfortunately the club folded.

How long have you been training?
I first started training in 1977.

What is your current grade and when did you pass it?
I am currently a 4th Degree Black Belt. I passed this grade in April 2015.

What is your biggest achievement?
My greatest achievement was becoming one of the first lady 3rd degrees.

Tell us something that people may not know about you?
I enjoy sewing, in particular making fancy dress costumes.

What is your most memorable Tkd moment?
Has to be meeting Grand Master Park Jung Tae for the first time.

Have you trained in anything else other than Taekwondo?
I trained in Karate before getting married in 1979. I restarted in 1986 at Wellingborough.

Who is your Tkd Inspiration?
My biggest inspiration is Grand Master Oldham.

What would be the one bit of advice you would give someone thinking of coming to their first Tkd lesson?
To anyone starting out i would say that whatever age you are whatever your size and shape Taekwon do can work for you if you put the work in.

What is the best thing about the GTUK organisation?
GTUK is the most friendly, family orientated organisation, it has a brilliant Grand Master and an awesome team of senior instructors.

Mr Roy Quadlin 4th Degree – Wellingborough Tkd Assistant Instructor

What made you start Tae Kwon Do?
I was looked for a new challenge and saw a poster for Tae Kwon Do demonstration in Wellingborough. The demonstration caught my imagination with the various  disciplines; patterns, spectacular destruction, free flowing sparring and self-defence. Soon after joining I soon realised I had a whole new family of great friends who support and help each other’s confidence grow.

Who was your first Instructor?
My first instructor was Ms Knight and Mr King. Mr King has been my Tae Kwon Do Instructor for all my Tae Kwon Do journey from White Belt to Black Belt and we still train together today.

How long have you been training?
I started training 1986, the same year Ms Aikman returned to Wellingborough Club.

What is your current grade and when did you pass it?
I am currently a 4th Degree (International) Black Belt. I passed on Friday 22nd April 2016, which was very memorable and proud day for me.

What is your biggest achievement?
I have achieved many things with Tae Kwon Do. To have gained my 4th Degree was amazing, as I never really thought what’s beyond black belt. Being able to represent the association and compete as part of the England Squad which has been my biggest achievement and privilege. I have competed in numerous international tournaments which include Sardinia, Moscow, Scotland and the UK

The stand-out Tournament must be 1993 in Moscow which took place in the Olympic stadium, during a volatile time when the Russian White House was set alight. During the presentation ceremony, all the teams were locked in the sport stadium with the lights dimmed, whilst gun shots could be heard outside. When we emerged later the streets where lined with miles of tanks. That was different, but we were well looked after.

Most recently being able to return with an international team medal, competing with Mr Twelvetrees and Mr Reeson, fellow club black belts which just goes to show that we train to the highest standard.

Tell us something that people may not know about you?
Prior to Tae Kwon Do I was in Cubs and Scouts, and a keen canoeist. I once took a Canoeing trip from Hard Water Crossing to Billing Aquadrome, camped overnight before returning. (shush)

What is your most memorable Tae Kwon Do moment?
Watching all our student grow, progress and succeed is a privilege but being able to see both my Daughters achieve their Black Belts has been great moment for a very proud Dad.

Have you trained in anything else other than Tae Kwon Do?
My Father and I trained in Judo.

Who is your Tae Kwon Do Inspiration?
Our students inspire us, to provide the best instruction we can. Mr King is my greatest Tae Kwon Do inspiration. He has always been there with a smile on his face and a story to tell. He has provided the motivation, encouragement and guidance to ensure we all succeed. Mr King has help guide many students to Black-belt and been part of Ms Aikman / Mr Twelevetree / Mr Hawdon / Mrs Parker / Mrs Wright and my own training to 4th Degree.

Mr King, guided the club to the GTUK and we have had the privilege to training with associations Grand Master Oldham and Master Auceillo. Where we have been able to meet and train with Grand Master Hwang and Grand Master Park Jung Tae. Meeting and being and being part of the organisations is truly inspirational.

I have seen Mr Kings perseverance, Indomitable spirt over the many years and it’s an honour to be able to stand alongside him now.

What would be the one bit of advice you would give someone thinking of coming to their first Tkd lesson?
Bring a drink, loose clothing and come prepared to have some fun. Tae Kwon-Do is a Martial Art, so it can work for anyone. We were all new to Tae Kwon-Do once, you can achieve success to.

What is the best thing about the GTUK organisation?
The GTUK is like one big family with friends all over the world. We have a tremendous Grand Master and an incredible team of senior instructors. We all help and support each other all the way through our Tae Kwon-do voyage.

Mr John Bowman 5th Degree – Wollaston Tkd Instructor

What made you start Taekwondo?
After a few years of not training in any type of Martial Art, I was looking to start something new and after looking around the internet I came across Taekwondo.

Who was your first Instructor?
My first Instructor, and now close friend, is Mrs Kay Parker from Northampton Taekwondo. She trained me from my white belt right up to my 1st Degree Black Belt.

How long have you been training?
I’ve been doing some kind of Martial Art almost my entire life but I started Taekwondo In January 2001.

What is your current grade and when did you pass it?
I am currently a 3rd Degree Black belt. I passed this in 2015.

What is your biggest achievement?
Brining home the Gold Medal from the 2017 ITF World Championships in Holland. Making me a World Champion in sparring.

Tell us something that people may not know about you?
I love chick flicks! (10 things I hate about you / Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging / Bridget Jones).

What is your most memorable Tkd moment?
My most memorable Tkd moment was winning the 2017 ITF Open World Championships in Poland.

Have you trained in anything else other than Taekwondo?
Yes I trained in Kempo Karate for many years and also RSDA (Realistic Self Defence Association).

Who is your Tkd Inspiration?
My wife Gemma, she started training with me shortly after giving birth to our first daughter. She trained then right up to before giving birth to our twins a few years later and was back in training weeks later. Her dedication to the art and the GTUK is second to none and I’m proud to be her husband and instructor.

What would be the one bit of advice you would give someone thinking of coming to their first Tkd lesson?
Relax and enjoy the lesson. We all were once that person walking through the door for the first time.

What is the best thing about the GTUK organisation?
The GTUK is like one big family with friends all over the world.

Mr Phil Miller 4th Degree

What made you start TaekwondoMy friends and I were bored one Sunday evening on a summer holidays and walked up to the leisure centre near where we lived and saw Master King’s class on and thought we’d give it a go!

Mr Chris Reeson 2nd Degree – Grange Park Tkd Instructor

What made you start Taekwondo?
I had always wanted to learn a martial art. I was also looking for something that my daughter and I could do together. I had a look at what martial arts clubs were running close to where my daughter lived in Wellingborough that would allow us to train side by side, and that’s when I found Wellingborough Taekwondo.

Unfortunately after one year and a couple of grading’s my daughter decided that taekwondo wasn’t for her, by that time though I was hooked and have been training ever since.

Who was your first Instructor?
When I first started at Wellingborough taekwondo I trained under Mr Steve King and Mr Darren Twelvetree. While still a colour belt I then started training at the Wollaston club as well under Mr John Bowman.

How long have you been training?
At the beginning of 2019 I will have been training 10 years.

What is your current grade and when did you pass it?
I am now a 1.5 degree after grading in October 2018.

What is your biggest achievement?
I suffer from a number of physical conditions and training through them has been a huge achievement for me. Tkd has taught me much more than just self-defence and punching, blocking and kicking. It has shown me how persevering with something you enjoy doing can bring with it many, many rewards.

Tell us something that people may not know about you?
I don’t need much of an excuse to drop into the splits!

What is your most memorable Tkd moment?
There have been many memorable moments through my time practicing taekwondo. As a coloured belt I won three gold medals at the GTUK National Championships. I’ve also earned an ‘A’ pass at a December grading officiated by GM Oldham then won Student of the Year later that day at the end of year presentation evening. I had also been asked to join the GTUK England Squad as part of the veteran male team with two of my instructors Mr Darren Twelvetree and Roy Quadling, where we were able to win a silver and two bronze medals at a UITF World Championship.

Have you trained in anything else other than Taekwondo?
I trained in Judo for a very short time when I was around 9 or 10. It was on a Saturday morning and unfortunately it clashed with wrestling and Air Wolf! I think I passed one grading and then regretfully gave it up.

Who is your Tkd Inspiration?
I’m inspired by all the other people in taekwondo who I train under, next to, and who train under me. Everyone has a story to tell and their own Tkd journey and it’s a privilege to be part of that journey and be able to observe how people grow through the highs and the lows they experience through their training.

What would be the one bit of advice you would give someone thinking of coming to their first Tkd lesson?
Come and give it a go!! It’s a great way to keep fit, gain confidence, meet new people in a friendly class, and learn a martial art / self-defence.

What is the best thing about the GTUK organisation?
The GTUK is like one big family. The senior instructors are all very approachable and are happy to support or offer advice. It’s also nice knowing that the instruction we get through the GTUK and GM Oldham can closely trace its lineage back to General Choi.

Mr Jon Cebula 1st Degree

What made you start Taekwondo?
Two of my friends wanted to do a martial art and had already found the Wellingborough Taekwondo club, they asked me if I wanted to come along. It turned out an old childhood friend was a black belt at the club, and I really enjoyed my first lesson. My two friends stopped shortly after the first grading, but I loved it.

Who was your first Instructor?
Master King, he was a 3rd Degree when I started and took his 4th Degree shortly after I began.

How long have you been training?
I started in 1997.

What is your current grade and when did you pass it?
I am 1 1/2 degree and passed it in October 2022.

What is your biggest achievement?
The first tournament I competed in was a team competition with Mr Miller and a friend of his called Andy. It was teams of 3 and we were yellow tags, all 3 of us were incredibly nervous and with 8 teams in our group we knew it would be tough. But we ended up getting gold in both patterns and sparring. Since then I’ve done a lot of tournaments and won a lot of medals, but having the courage to do that first one and overcome those nerves is something I’ve always been very proud of, it might not seem like a big achievement, but if I hadn’t have done that one tournament I probably wouldn’t have had the courage to do the others.

Tell us something that people may not know about you?
I once appeared on the TV show bargain hunt in a team with my Wife, we did quite well and made a £110 profit the other team made a £126 loss, so quite a convincing win.

What is your most memorable Tkd moment?
Going to the World Championships in Italy, Rimini 2001. I have lots of memory’s relating to this trip, but one thing always stuck with me, one afternoon while training on the beach with the England team I met a member of the Italian squad and ended up training with them at their local dojang. None of them really spoke English, but I got by with some of the Korean for the moves I had learned, some pointing and of course speaking loudly. Anyway, it was a fun and strange experience and some of the Italian guys bought me some photos of me fighting one of them in the ring, apparently the only ones where I wasn’t kicking him in the head.

Have you trained in anything else other than Taekwondo?
I started off doing Jujutsu when I was 11, and then Ninjutsu when I was 19 before I switch to Taekwondo, I’ve also done some MMA, Wing Chun and lots of seminars on other Martial Arts along the way.

Who is your Tkd Inspiration?
Master King, he’s always been so knowledgeable and talented, yet despite all his achievements he is one of the humblest people I have ever met. Aside from that when he spars, he strikes incredibly fast yet with some of the lowest contact you will ever experience, it means you can always learn something from sparring him.

What would be the one bit of advice you would give someone thinking of coming to their first Tkd lesson?
The sooner you start, the sooner you can improve and you will be surprised at the things you can do in such a short amount of time. Learning to kick properly is a great feeling, you’ll feel like Jackie Chan in no time.

What is the best thing about the GTUK organisation?
Definitely the people, but also the flexibility. Taekwondo is an art form, so there are so many areas you can excel at, you always feel like you are improving.