Last Saturday marked the 40th Anniversary of the first Taekwon Do Class in Cork in 1974. Mr. Aidan Walsh instructed that first class, and over the next few years made a weekly train journey to Cork from Dublin until he could pass the responsibility of instruction to Mr. Norman Creedon and Mr. Frank Murphy. My Taekwon Do journey began a few years later in 1981 when I agreed to accompany a friend to classes in Sawmill Street for a few weeks until she settled in 33 years later Im still hooked. I had an amazing first instructor in Mr. Tom Desmond who terrified and inspired me in equal measure, and I was lucky enough to be on the periphery of the most talented and driven group of martial artists of any generation. The training was hard, facilities were basic, and the women were expected to train every bit as hard as the men. But once you were bitten by the TKD bug you were in it 110 per cent. Mr. Creedon ruled the club with an iron fist, but his high standards and incredible ability inspired you to always want to try harder. As a colour belt you knew your place and never addressed black belts unless spoken to first and then always with the respect they deserved. Ive made lifelong friends through Taekwon Do with people who have encouraged and supported me, who have beaten me up and occasionally held me up, and who Ive laughed and cried with. The memories that I have are priceless and Taekwon Do has given me much more than I can ever repay. Last Saturday, thanks to HistoryOf CorkTaekwondo group, students of Taekwon Do in Cork had the opportunity to join together to pay tribute to Mr Aidan Walsh and the legacy that he created 40 years ago. I usually just post club news and pictures to this page but I want our students to have an understanding of the rich heritage that Cork Taekwon Do has so if you are reading this as the parent of a student of Ballincollig Taekwon Do School please share the pictures of the day with the kids. Maybe in 40 years time theyll be at an event sharing their memories of Taekwon Do too.
Posted on: Wed, 01 Oct 2014 14:52:38 +0000
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