I have been lucky enough to see Taekwondo develop from a handful of students practising in small welsh church halls to a full blown Olympic sport.
I have also witnessed many of my students go on to achieve great things in their lives, both inside and outside the sporting arena in today’s large and busy world.

Our Friend Matt Lozano
It is with great sadness that we all at taekwondo Cymru have been informed that our American training partner and friend Matt Lozano across the water has been taken into hospital. more info

Tiny Tigers show their claws and bring home a bag full of medals
Sunday 1st June saw a selected team of sleepy Welsh Tiny Tigers embarking on their trip out of Wales at 5.30am traversing along the M4 to reach Bournemouth by 8.30am. more info

Welsh National Open Championships
Monmouth Leisure Centre, South Wales October 5th 2008 more info

Please feel free to contact us with any
comments or enquirys you may have

Master Porl Stone: 07766178384
email porl@taekwondo-cymru.co.uk

Cymru's Tiny Tigers Grading Results
On Tuesday 3rd April 2007 the Tiny Tigers were more than ready for their grading after weeks of hard training and dedication plus a lot of sweating.  They stepped into the Dojang wearing their crisp white doboks and lined up ready for action.

The students were taken through their basic movements, press ups, Kibon and knowledge of Korean terminology by Master Porl Stone…….. it was a nail biting experience for them all! Once the grading was over it was time to chill out and do a bit of sparring.

The results are as follows:
Ricky = White Belt / Yellow Tips
Baaqui = Yellow Belt
Salam = Yellow Belt
Taqrim = Yellow Belt
Ethan = Yellow Belt / Green Tips
Connor = Yellow Belt / Green Tips
Abdullah = Green Belt / Blue Tips
Tayler = Green Belt / Blue Tips
Maz = Green Belt / Blue Tips
James = Green Belt / Blue Tips
Casey = Green Belt / Blue Tips
Joseph W = Blue Belt
Joey = Blue Belt


Chungdokwan National Championships 2007
Personally I thought that all of Taekwondo Cymru’s performances where yet again outstanding and further demonstrated my full belief that real talent and an open door policy can work right though Wales. 

Hard work and commitment in training combined with a strong structured training sport program can work. I feel by using proven grass root coaches and coaching methods which are supported and encouraged by all Taekwondo Cymru instructors coupled with a true and open family feeling at each club produces front line sport Taekwondo within Wales show that talent is on the increase, solid results at championships and the knowledge that there is 20 years sport  experience coupled with committed student and instructor support at all levels including the many parents who give up there precious time and of course hard earned money team Wales can only carry on growing from strength to strength in the future.

Cowbridge Club Show Young Guns At Chungdokwan National Championships
Taekwondo Cymru was once again putting their skills to the test under the main guidance and coaching skills of Master Porl Stone, accompanied by Welsh Instructor and former AUU junior Olympic Silver medallist Mr Simon Griffiths who made a welcome return for himself and his students back to the championship circuit after a three year absence.

 Simon started coaching the first of his students, Sebastian Davies, from the Vale of Glamorgan club, this being his first Championships outside Wales.  Sebastian’s nerves were preventing him from relaxing and unfortunately he soon found himself trialling in points scored after the first round. 

A quick corner talk and adjustment to game play by Simon saw Sebastian enter round two with full guns blazing and he didn’t waste any time exposing all his opponents weaknesses throughout the whole of his division, his final match finished with a 7 point lead and a gold medal to proudly take back to Wales and The Vale. 

Next up representing The Vale in the medal race was Jaize ‘Jake’ Zasalona whose six foot frame and laid back relaxed approach shone through as he made small work of all 3 opponents, he secured the second Gold for The Vale.  Last but by no means least was Samuel Jones, unexpectedly Sam found himself in the largest and most experienced division of the whole day with European medallists and members of the Irish National team looking for a run out. 

Undaunted Sam never stopped battling for Cowbridge and Taekwondo Cymru until unfortunately he was stopped at the bronze medal stage by European medallist and Irish national team player. 

The boys showed that Cowbridge Taekwondo are back and they mean business!! After 9 hours of competing including very vocal Welsh support from the team’s supporters the whole day came to a very enjoyable and productive end, all that was left was the 2 hour journey back to the Valleys of home, reflect and dwell on the day’s victories in accumulating yet another multiple of medals. Well Done Taekwondo Cymru!!

Bournemouth championships 12th November 2006
12th November 2006 Saw Welsh Junior players from Taekwondo Cymru Elite team once again show their speed, strength and authority right throughout this years Bournemouth championship with a 100% medal haul.

Chungdokwan International Round up: Windmills Championships 2006
With a personal invitation to Master Porl Stone by Dutch organisers, a combined group which included a number of selected Chungdokwan players representing England and Wales (Taekwondo Cymru) boarded their luxury coach and headed down to the port of Dover all wanting to sample four days of the best Dutch hospitality and a chance to show their sparring skills to some of the best domestic players within European Taekwondo.

With over 400 players already confirmed from Germany, Belgium, France and Spain and an additional 200 hundred also registering from many well established local Dutch clubs including a combined British clubs BTCB Team the total amount of players quickly increased to over 600 competitors which made an explosive and diverse Championship.

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WELSH DRAGONS BREATHE NEW FIRE!!! WITH ANOTHER HAUL OFDOMESTIC MEDALS
Away from the media's medical preoccupation with Metatarsals and footballs world cup frenzy this years May-day Bank holiday weekend saw another kind of dynamic foot action in progress with the cream of Taekwondo Cymru players enjoying themselves down at the Dorset Open held at the Littledown sports Centre Bournemouth.
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TAEKWONDO CYMRU PLAYERS STRIKE JUNIOR OLYMPIC MEDALS IN TENNESSEE
Welsh Taekwondo Cymru students showed their worth once again on the World stage by fighting their way through four days of gruelling opposition and returning back home with eight cherished Olympic medals.
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TORFAEN GETS ITS FIRST WELSH OLYMPIC TAEKWONDO CLASSES FOR THE UNDER 7's.
For the first time in Wales , Full Olympic Style Taekwondo is being taught to a class of 4 to 7 year olds.

The AUU Junior Olympic Taekwondo Coach Master Porl Stone is bravely trying to catch future medallists early in life - as the class is designed and run exclusively for this very young age group.

The class appropriately called the "Little Dragons" will introduce the youngsters to the fundamentals of Olympic style Taekwondo in a fun yet disciplined environment.

The children will be taught to improve their motor skills, co-ordination and learn the basics of this fast growing Olympic sport giving them the perfect start and introduction to the Taekwondo way of life.

Master Porl Stone says "This is a marvellous opportunity for the young children in the area, nowhere else in Wales or great Britain that I know of is teaching Olympic style Taekwondo exclusively for this age group - we all at taekwondo cymru are expecting the school to be a huge success" our main aim will be not just self-defence but total self improvement.

TAEKWONDO CYMRU RECEIVES FULL BACKING FOR 2003 FROM THE MILLENIUM STADIUM CHARITABLE TRUST
Master Porl Stone and Events Organiser Mrs Sharon Griffiths spent an evening at the Welsh Assembly in the company of Mr Tom Jones OBE and other officials of the Millenium Trust Fund

TAEKWONDO CYMRU GAINS TOP HSBC TORFAEN COMMUNITY AWARD
Students from local Pontypool club beat off contenders for the top award by showing their determination and indomitable spirit within the field of community sport.

Students ranging from eight to eighteen spent a gala filled night demonstrating their kicking skill within this new Olympic Sport to the Mayor and County Councillors and Council Officials covering Leisure and Life Long Learning. The award was for the outstanding work which Taekwondo Cymru had achieved within the deprived areas of South Wales, attracting people of all ages and social backgrounds and introducing them into sport for all.

Master Stone and Miss Draper were presented the limited edition Commemorative Plate, which was hand-crafted by local Welsh artist Ms Molly Curley.

The award ceremony was brought to a spectacular close with a dynamic demonstration from local Taekwondo stars accompanied by elite black belts from the Welsh National Team.

DUTCH TOUR, DECEMBER 2002
The Welsh team Players once again braved the Channel crossing and pulled themselves together for another campaign into Europe, this time flying from Bristol Airport to Amsterdam then on to the beautiful Dutch city of Oldenzal Why? Simple - this was the location for the last European championships for 2002

Hosted by members of the Dutch Taekwondo Bond, and promoted by the Secretary General of the ETU - Mr. Gerritt Essink and Ex-world Champion -Mr. Hank Meyer. And supported by many countries, with top players from as far a field as Belarus and Kenya, as a result of Essink and Meyer's friendly manner. So a personal invitation by such important figures within European Taekwondo was not one to be missed or taken lightly - and was also another great opportunity to strengthen friendships and contacts between Europe and Wales.
Although most of the Welsh National Team had closed up camp for a long well earned Christmas rest Vice Chairman Master P. Stone decided that it was a good opportunity to give a few of the new welsh Squad members a run out at this class of Championship - to test their "metal" as one would say! So a few 'phone calls between himself and Irish National team coach Master Gerry Reilly who also had two players not quite ready to hang up there body armour for Christmas, the trip was all set to happen. The three players who went to fly the Welsh flag where Mr Alastair Eustace, Mr Von Pearce of Cardiff TAGB, and Ms Victoria Unt.

Day one saw the team arriving finally at Amsterdam airport after a bus shuttle back to Cardiff airport from Bristol, a four hour delay and the loss of team mate, Von Pearce, at Amsterdam airport. After finally gathering the teams spirits - the team was shown to their hire car a dashing bright new VW Lupo - well it was a dashing green !!! We were off on a quick, and one must say interesting, journey down the Dutch motorway due to Master Stone's crash course in continental night driving and some very strange map reading by team members. We finally arrived safely and in one piece at the team's hotel - and what a hotel it was set in thirteen acres of Dutch National Park and only five minutes from the sports venue - now that's what I call organisation. With the team players all settled in and unpacked it was time to meet the Dutch Bond's representatives for an informal meal in the town.
Mr Alastair Eustace, from the Vale, was elected Team Captain to supervise both team player conducts, weigh-in times and any other requests the players might have over the weekend. Whilst Master Stone and Master Gerry Reilly were left sharing the paperwork and Official responsibilities as Team Managers.

Day two with the team now fully rested in such beautiful surroundings it was such a shame to leave the hotel's peacefulness and spend the day inside a noisy bright sports hall, but it was back to the real business of Taekwondo it was play time !!!
9.00am and the hall began to fill, within twenty minutes it was impossible to keep track of all the different languages being spoken kicks and drills being practised with both Team players from all over Europe and further a field represented. With old friends exchanging stories and catching up with what's been happening throughout the year, new friends being made - it's a strange world of Taekwondo, and unless you're really involved in it it's sometimes impossible to explain the strange attraction it holds or the excitement of experiencing the true WTF full on combat of the Olympic sport.
Once the days championship dust had settled and the days stories of 'heroes and villains' played - a total of three medals where won with Master Gerry Reilly's Irish boys taking two gold's and newcomer for Wales, Victoria Unt returning home with her first international bronze medal, but more to the point a good day of valuable experience was gained by all involved - Well done everybody!
So with all the hard work over it was back to the hotel a quick shower, change of clothes and on to the championship farewell meal and party.

Day three, after a sound night sleep by all and a hardy continental breakfast it was time for the team to leave their idyllic surroundings. This time it was the first leg of the journey home back into the little VW that was now slowly growing on us all - even the funky colour was starting to look good! And Master Stones driving was definitely improving! With a few hours left to spent sight seeing in Amsterdam and a chance to do some last minute Christmas present shopping, things were shaping up to be a good trip. It was only left to hop on to the flight back to Bristol and finally on to see what every true Welshperson loves to see, Yep!! - That little sign that say's so much.
"WELCOME TO WALES".

WAKEFIELD BROTHERS COMPETE AT THE WTF JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN CRETE, GREECE - SEPTEMBER 2002
Furthering their experience straight from the Junior Olympics, brothers Lee and Jamie Wakefield flew out to face four days of the World's elite junior Taekwondo players.

Accompanied by Master Porl Stone and Mr Stuart Armotrading, the two brothers found themselves rubbing shoulders and training with today's and tomorrow's Olympians.

 

TAEKWONDO CYMRU COACHES HOST OLYMPIC KYROUGI SEMINAR IN BASINGSTOKE
Head coach - Mr Jamie Keyse, Vice-Coach - Master Porl Stone, and six team players held the first Olympic sparring seminar in Basingstoke for Master Gerry Reilly in January 2003.

Players were met with enthusiasm from all participants

 

TAEKWONDO CYMRU PLAYERS SHOW MTV 'JACK ASS' HOW TO KEEP IT REAL
Filming took place amongst Welsh Squad training held at Pontypool Leisure Centre last summer.

Catch this on MTV, Wednesday 5th March at 22:30

 

AARON COOK TAKES TOP HONOURS IN GERMANY THIS WEEKEND - 1st & 2nd FEBRUARY….
Not content with showing Europe's best by taking Gold within the Poomse Championship on the first day's events, Aaron then established once and for all his superiority within the next day's Kyrougi section.

After dismissing Holland 5-0, Germany 4-0, Belarus 3-0, his final with Yugoslavia ending 6-0 was a testimonial to his natural fighting ability, coupled with his hard preparation training with Taekwondo Cymru's elite Welsh squad.

 

©Taekwondo-cymru 2008