Mike

Mike started his Taekwon-Do training at the Stonehenge Taekwon-Do school back in 1978, where he reached 4th Kup in 1980. Following a move from the area Mike resumed his training in Basingstoke when a new school was started in 1985 by the Reading instructor Mr Paul Cutler 3rd Dan.

Mike O’Neill Richard Pullen Jeaninne Law Flying Overhead kick (aged 27)

Following Mr Cutler’s promotion to 4th Dan a new instructor took over at Basingstoke and Mike progressed, under Miss Jeannine Law 2nd Dan, to take his 1st Dan black belt exam in Derby on 8th March 1987 and was awarded his 1st Dan certificate (ITF certificate no. GB-1-432) by Master Rhee Ki Ha.

It is believed that this makes Mike Basingstoke’s first ITF black belt student.

In July 1987 he attended his first instructors’ course in Derby and succeeded in the examination being awarded his ‘C’ Class Certificate (87-C-9).

Instructors course with Master Rhee - Derby 1987 - Mike is top row 3rd from right

In September of 1987 Mike, who at this time was working in Farnborough, started to teach Taekwon-Do at the Hart Leisure Centre in Fleet.

On 24th July 1988 he attended his second instructors course in London and succeeded in the examination and awarded his ‘B’ Class Certificate (887-B-1) being awarded the highest marks on the course.

On the 30th July 1988 he took his 2nd black belt exam and again, under the examination of Master Rhee Ki Ha succeeded and was awarded his ITF 2nd Dan certificate (GB-2-155)

Fleet students Fleet school training

On 21st April 1990 he took his 3rd black belt exam. This was a special event as the examination board consisted of not only Master Rhee Ki Ha but also the founder General Choi Hong Hi. Whilst being a little nervous performing a grading in front of the founder he was successful, being promoted to 3rd Dan and awarded his ITF 3rd Dan certificate (GB-3-95). A proud moment indeed and General Choi signed Mike’s 2nd Dan volume (volume XII) of the Encyclopaedia of Taekwon-Do as a memento. This followed a weeks’ training in Reading with the founder General Choi and Master Rhee Ki Ha from the 16th – 20th April 1990.

Fleet student Godwin Wong with General Choi Receiving certificate from General Choi

Later in the year Mike attended the final stage of the National Instructor courses and qualified as a national ‘A’ Class instructor (90-A-4) on 14th October 1990.

In January 1991 he attended an ITF Umpire’s course in London with Master Wim Bos who, at the time, was director of competitions for the ITF.

The 10th March 1991 was a special day as Mike flew up to Scotland on the Sunday morning to watch his first two students Brent Lines and Mark Maynard take their 1st Dan exams under Master Rhee Ki Ha, both students successfully passed.

Two more students – Stefan Welfare and Tony Perkins took their 1st Dan exams on 13th October of this year and again successfully passed. This was the start of many students reaching their black belt stages.

On 5th September 1993 Mike took his 4th Dan grading examination in Reading, again, under the examination board consisting of Master Rhee Ki Ha and other senior black belts in the association he succeeded and was awarded his ITF 4th Dan certificate. (GB-4-68)

Demonstration in Church Crookham

Following a change in personal circumstances in 1996 Mike took time out from teaching and devoted his time to developing his own business. Whilst still training locally when he could he was finally forced to stop training in 2000 following a serious back injury. An attempt to resume training in 2001 aggravated the back problem and so he was forced to take a break again.

In 2003 he started going to the local gym and undertook a controlled fitness programme for about 6 months to try and get fit to resume his training. By the end of the year, he had resumed light training with the Basingstoke TKD school and with renewed vigour looked to open a new school in Basingstoke. After applying to the BTC for membership and professional insurance the Oakridge school in North West Basingstoke was started in the following January.

Junior students training with Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha Oakridge Juniors who trained with GM Rhee

In February 2004 Mike attended his first black belt training session under Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha for a number of years and came through it successfully.

11th April 2004 saw Mike attend a day’s basic First Aid (Emergency Life Support) course in Kent organised by the UKTA and run by HeartStart UK, co-ordinated by the British Heart Foundation.

July 2004 he attended the first BTC Instructors’ course to be organised by the UKTA. This course specifically addressed the code of conduct and ethical standards by which all of its instructors should adhere to, including Health & Safety, Child Protection and Criminal Records checks. Mike has been approved to teach children and vulnerable adults.

From the 26th to 28th August 2004 he attended the ITF International Training Seminar in Kent with Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha. Following the course Mike qualified as an ‘International Instructor’ and awarded his ITF International Instructor’s Certificate. (ITF Certificate No. 1254)

Following regular training sessions under Master Ray O’Neill in Salisbury Mike applied for his 5th Dan promotion in Leicester in 2006. After a weekend training session with GM Rhee in Scotland in the March and a similar weekend training session in August Mike took and was successful in his 5th Dan grading under GM Rhee Ki Ha. (ITF Certificate no. GB-5-80)

5th Dan Grading - performing Yon Gae and Flying overhead kick (22 years later!)

11th November 2007 attended a day’s basic First Aid course at Bisham Abbey.

From January 2008 Mike took over as senior instructor of Basingstoke and closed the Oakridge school.

Mike is still training regularly as a student in Salisbury under Master Ray O’Neill and GM Rhee Ki Ha and has now taking over the senior instructor role at Basingstoke.