10th Annual Robert Wright Poomsae competition

Il Gi students competed in the 10th Annual Robert Wright Poomsae competition in memory of Master Robert Wright on the 26th June 2011. Once again Il Gi gained medals in many of the categories. As always, students from Il Gi demonstrated a high standard of Taekwondo. This year the event raised in excess of Eight Thousand Pounds for local charities.

Overall winner of this year's Robert Wright Cup was Nigel Eastham from Skelmersdale Taekwondo who beat our own Connor Bailey by only 0.1 points in a very close fought final.

Well done to all who competed, Poomsae results were as follows:

Dan Grades
Connor Bailey - 1st
Ellie Thurlwell - 1st Place
Justin Rothery - 2nd Place
Mark Blydgen - 3rd

Kup Grades
Ian Cartmell - 1st Place
Daisy Cartmell - 1st Place
Angela Rutherford - 1st Place
Tom Priestley - 1st Place
Molly Cartmell - 3rd Place
Severene Farmer - 3rd Place
Kyle Rutherford - 3rd Place

Il Gi also gained first place in the team event with team 'Youngies and Oldies' (Matthew McLaughlin, Ellie thurlwell, Chris Fish and Caroline Walford) putting on an impressive display of Poomsae, Step Sparring and Destruction. In the individual the Step Sparring competition Connor Bailey earned first place and Andy Peters was awarded second place.

Photos and videos from the event will soon be posted in our Image and Video Galleries

Blackpool Festival of Taekwondo 2011

The Blackpool Festival of Taekwondo held at Blackpool Stanley Park Sports Centre on 28th/29th May 2011 was a huge success. Visit the Festival Website for a full report.

Il Gi Taekwondo earned medals in the Poomsae, Kyorugi and Flying Side Kick competitions held throughout the weekend. Il Gi fighter coach Alison Parkinson provided the following report on our Fighters...

First fight - Nathan Moorhouse
"This was Nathan's first ever fight and competition. nathan fought woth a lot of heart and determination and was a worthy victor in this contest.
Nathan was able to take advantage of his opponent's tiredness and through both rounds was easily the better fighter."

Second fight - Matthew Watts
"Again this was Matty's first ever competition and once he was able to battle through his nerves during the first round, won his fight by 4 points. Matthew had to suffer a punch to the face and showed great spirit in overcoming this. His kicks became stronger throughout the fight which inevitably won him the match."

Third fight - Connor Pickering
"Connor's opponent was of the same grade and it was a hard fought contest in which Connor came out on top winning his fight by 8 points - a very pleasing performance. Connor was also congradulated by Grandmaster Brenda Sell after his fight."

Fourth fight - Ashley Evans
"I considered this to be the best fight of the day. Ashley fought an experienced fighter from Mark Richardson's group. This was technically a brilliant fight which could have gone either way. However, Ashley's perseverance came through and he won by 4 point 28-24."
 

Poomsae, One Step and Flying Side Kick competition entries and results were as follows:

• Connor Bailey - Junior Dan Grades GOLD
• Rosie Walford - Junior Dan Grades BRONZE
• Caroline Walford - Senior Dan Grades BRONZE
• Andrew Peters - Senior Dan Grades SILVER
• Matthew McLaughlin - Junior Dan Grades BRONZE
• Ellie Thurlwell - Junior Dan Grades
• Ian Cartmell - Senior Kup Grades GOLD
• Jane Cartmell - Senior Kup Grades SILVER
• Daisy Cartmell - Junior Kup Grades SILVER

• Connor Bailey - Junior Dan Grades SILVER
• Andrew Peters - Senior Dan Grades
• Caroline Walford - Senior Dan Grades
• Matthew McLaughlin - Junior Dan Grades
• Amy Caterall - Junior Dan Grades

• Mark Blydgen - Seniors BRONZE
• Nathan Moorhouse - Juniors GOLD

Photos from the festival will soon be posted in our Image Gallery

Grand Master Kim Yong Ho Training Seminar

Il Gi Taekwondo were once again honoured to host a seminar conducted by Grand Master Kim Yong Ho, 9th Dan head of the World Chung Do Kwan federation. Master Kim was over from South Korea for a series of seminars and meetings with Taekwondo practitioners in this country and we had the pleasure of hosting one of those seminars.

The event took place at Palatine Leisure Centre on Sunday 27th February 2011 and was very well attended with 100 or so participants from a large number of UK national associations.

Many aspects of Taekwondo were covered during the four hour session including correct breathing methods, philosophy, sport Taekwondo, Poomsae application and self defence.

Thanks to all those in attendance for making the day a huge success.

UKTDC January 2011 Dan promotion

Il Gi students and attended a UKTDC Dan promotion test in Blackpool on Sunday 30th January 2011.

Congratulation to the following successful Il Gi members...

• Promoted to First Dan Black Belt: Scott Burns
• Promoted to First Poom Black Belt: Liddie Eccles
• Promoted to Second Poom: Ivan Villarino, Amy Catterall, Jessica Robinson
• Promoted to Second Dan: Kevin Galle
• Promoted to Third Dan: Bernard Shannagher, Justin Rothery, Matthew McLoughlin, Ellie Thurlwell

Photos from the grading can be viewed in our Dan Gradings Image Gallery

BTA Poomsae Championship and 1-2-1 Competition

Il Gi attended the British Taekwondo Alliance Open 1-2-1 Sparring & Poomsae Southern Championships in Bristol on the 23rd January 2011 collecting Medals in both Kyorugi and Poomsae competitions.

Connor Bailey won Gold in his fight winning by 6 points to 2. He also won 1st place in his Poomsae category. Rosie Walford also won Gold in her fight with a 12 points to 8 victory. Rosie came second place in her Poomsae category. Caroline Walford earned joint 1st place in the Senior Females Poomsae category.

9th Annual Robert Wright Poomsae competition

Il Gi students competed in the 9th Annual Robert Wright Poomsae competition in memory of Master Robert Wright on the 3rd October 2010. All students performed extremely well and once again Il Gi gained medals in many of the 11 categories. Well done to all who participated, students from Il Gi showed a high standard of Poomsae and this was reflected in the results.

Overall winner of the 2010 Robert Wright Cup was Third Dan Black Belt Russ Bailey. This is the Fourth time Il Gi Taekwondo have won the Grand Final.

Well done to all who competed, Poomsae results as follows:

GROUP 2 - Daisy Cartmell 1st
GROUP 4 - Molly Cartmell 1st
GROUP 6 - Stephanie Robinson 1st, Jamie-Lee Benison 2nd
GROUP 8 - Ian Cartmell 1st, Jayne Cartmell 3rd
GROUP 9 - Connor Bailey 1st
GROUP 10 - Ellie Thurlwell 3rd
GROUP 11 - Russ Bailey 1st, Andy Peters 2nd, Mark Blydgen 3rd

Il Gi also gained several trophies in the team Poomsae categories and in the Step Sparring and Individual destruction sections of the competition.

Photos fron the event can be viewed in our Image Gallery

Blackpool Community Sports Council 5k Fun Run

Congratulations to the following Il Gi Taekwondo students who took part in the Blackpool Community Sports Council 5k Fun Run at Stanley Park on 14th July 2010.

• Brian McCormick - 22min, 3secs
• Ashley Evans - 24min, 48secs
• Nathan Moorhouse - 25min, 38secs
• Patrick Farmer - 25min, 38secs
• Katie Barratt - 35min, 41secs
• Clare Ellis - 36min, 46secs
• Lydia Ellis - 36min, 46secs
• Jennifer Chaimberlain - 41min, 38secs
• Jasmin Chaimberlain - 41min, 38secs

Grand Master Kim Yong Ho Training Seminar

Il Gi Taekwondo hosted a Training Seminar conducted by 9th Dan Grand Master Kim Yong Ho from South Korea. The 4 hour seminar took place on Sunday 4th July at Palatine Leisure Centre. The seminar was well attended with over 120 Taekwondo practitioners from all over the UK in attendance.

Grand Master Kim Yong Ho, 9th Dan, was the Chairman of the World Taekwondo Federation Technical Committee from 1998 to 2001 and is the founder of the World Taekwon-Mudo Academy.

Born 21/10/1942 in North Korea as it is today, Grand Master Kim Yong Ho's family moved to Seoul in the 1950's during the Korean war and he began his training in martial arts at the age of 11 in a gymnasium affiliated to Chung Do Kwan under Master Lee Seung Kook.

Training for 2 to 3 hours daily, he obtained his 1st provisional Dan (chodan bo) in Tang Soo Do the following year. His rank was confirmed in 1956 in front of Grand Master Uhm Woon Kyu at Chung Do Kwan in Seoul and he became the 61st Black Belt (yoodanja) and a student of Grand Master Uhm Woon Kyu.

As an instructor of Tang Soo Do, Grand Master Kim studied at the Jyung Hee University from 1962 - 1966 and then served as an officer in the Korean Army. He became a 5th Dan in Taekwondo in 1967. It was in this period that Master Kim went to Vietnam initially as an advisor to a Vietnamese General. During his last 6 months in Vietnam, Master Kim trained the bodyguards and other people responsible for the safety of the Vietnamese Prime Minister.

Following this, Master Kim held a post as an instructor in Iran and subsequently in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. At the end of his tour in 1978, Master Kim settled in France and spread Taekwondo to neighbouring countries (England, Morocco, Portugal, Luxembourg, Greece etc.)

Not wanting to see art of Taekwondo become reduced to a sport, Master Kim opened his own schools (Kim Chung Do Kwan) and formed the World Taekwon-Mudo Academy in Darlington (England) which was inaugurated with an International tournament in October 1997.

The following year, the first World championship of Taekwon Mudo was organised in Mexico (November 1998) with the participation of 17 delegations from 10 countries. The third big event was the Taekwon Mudo championship at the World Festival of Taekwondo at the University of Chung Cheong in Cheonju (July 2000).

First UKTDC National Poomsae Training Seminar

The first UKTDC National Poomsae training seminar took place at Stanley Park Sports Centre, Blackpool on Sunday 11th April 2010. The session was hosted by Master Des Day who was former BTCB Great Britain National team member and National coach on several occasions competing at European championships. The Seminar was attended by green belts and above and covered Taegeuk patterns from Sah Jang to Pal Jang and Dan grade Poomsae from Koryo to Hansu.

1st UKTDC National Poomsae Championships

The UKTDC in association with ILGI & Ilyo Kwan hosted the 1st UKTDC National Poomsae championships for Dan grades and Open 1-2-1 Sparring and 1,2,3,4 Poomsae competition at Stanley Park Sports Centre, Blackpool on 14th June 2009.

Il Gi gold medalists and UKTDC National Champions are as follows:

Cadet Male - Connor Bailey, Junior Male - Jack Wills, Junior Female - Ellie Thurlwell, 2nd Senior Male - Justin Rothery, 1st Masters Female - Caroline Walford

3rd UKTDC Dan Promotion

Il Gi students and instructors attended the 3rd UKTDC Dan promotion test in Blackpool on Sunday 22nd February 2009.

Congratulation to the following successful Il Gi members...

• Promoted to First Dan Black Belt: Dave Raggozino, Caroline Walford, Rosie Walford, Tyler Roberts, Ivan Villarino, Rebecca Reeder, Charley Conifey, Kenny Venning, Jordon Robbins, Amy Catrall and Megan Eccles
• Promoted to Second Dan: Mark Dowling, Mark Blydgen and Steven Skelly
• Promoted to Third Dan: Russ Bailey, Connor Bailey and Jack Wills
• Promoted to Fourth Dan: Alison Parkinson

2nd UKTDC Dan Promotion

Il Gi students and instructors attended the 2nd UKTDC Dan promotion test in Billinge on Saturday 29th November 2008.

Congratulation to the following successful Il Gi members...

• Promoted to First Dan Black Belt: Andrew Fish (Blackpool), Joe Naylor (Blackpool)
• Promoted to Second Dan: Justin Rothery (Blackpool)
• Promoted to Third Dan: Rob Hinchliffe (Blackpool & Preston)

Master Ky Tu Dang Poomsae Seminar

Il GI Taekwondo in association with the United Kingdom Taekwondo Development Council hosted a Poomsae seminar conducted by Master Ky Tu Dang, 7th Dan WTF World champion and seven times European champion. The seminar took place on Sunday 26th October 2008 at Blackpool sports centre, Stanley Park.

Over 100 Taekwondo practitioners from all over Britain attended the event which was hailed a huge success. Master Ky Tu Dang is very much sought after on the world Taekwondo circuit.

UKTDC Liverpool Capital of Culture Championship 2008

Team Il Gi had a very successful day at the Liverpool Capital of Culture Championship on 28th September 2008. Clubs in attendance at the event Included North west TKD Academy, Il Gi TKD, Quest, Baekho, Liverpool, Burnley, Edgewood, Strike TKD, Ilyo Kwan, Wigan academy, Eccleston TKD, Free Spirit, BTA, Preston, St Annes and Fairhaven.

Il Gi Winners in the Kyorugi section were:

Kenny Venning, Jordan Robins, Connor Stanhope, Andrew Fish, Stephanie Robinson, Arron Williams, Rosie Walford, Dave Raggozino, Jack Wills, Samantha Nash, Connor Bailey, Ivan Villarino and Richard Wareing. Andrew Fish of Il Gi Blackpool also won the award for 'Best Male Fighter' of the day.

Poomsae competition results were as follows:

Connor Bailey - GOLD, Ellie Thurlwell - GOLD, Mark Blydgen - GOLD, Jessica Robinson - GOLD, Caroline Walford - GOLD Stephanie Robinson - SILVER, Thomas Murphy - SILVER, Andrew Boulden - SILVER, Megan Eccles - SILVER Liddy Eccles - BRONZE, Emily Maguire - BRONZE, Ivan Villarino - BRONZE, Katie Barratt - BRONZE, Chris Fish - BRONZE, Jordan Robbins - BRONZE, Kenny Venning - BRONZE

Il Gi Taekwondo also won first place in the Team rankings, results were as follows: 1st Il Gi, 2nd Baekho, 3rd Strike, 4th Edgewood, 5th Liverpool.

1st UKTDC Dan Promotion

Il Gi students and instructors attended the 1st UKTDC Dan promotion test on Sunday 15th June 2008 at the North West Taekwondo Academy in Skelmersdale. The events was well attended by participants from several full member clubs within the UKTDC. The standard was extremely high and the pass rate reflected this.

Congratulation to the following successful Il Gi members...

• Promoted to First Dan Black Belt: Katie Barratt (Blackpool), Olivia Blydgen (Blackpool), Zach Thompson (Blackpool), Daniel O'Connell (St. Annes), Betsy Hindle (St. Annes), Molly Hindle (St. Annes), Robert Hawes (St. Annes)
• Promoted to Second Dan: Matthew McLaughlin (Fairhaven), Ellie Thurlwell (Fairhaven), Joe Bannister (Fairhaven), Niel Young (Fairhaven)

All candidates were given feedback and an opportunity to discuss their particular grading with the Kukkiwon registered examiners - Master Craig Waddington 7th Dan, Master Chris Davies 6th Dan, and Master Nigel Hudson 5th Dan.

8th Annual Robert Wright Poomsae competition

Il Gi students competed in the 8th Annual Robert Wright Poomsae competition on the 18th May 2008. All students showed great spirit and Il Gi swept the board with 16 medals out of 11 categories. Well done to all who participated, students from Il Gi showed a high standard of Poomsae and this was reflected in the results.

Overall winner of the 2008 Robert Wright Cup was First Dan Black Belt Mark Blydgen. The competition itself was in memory of Master Robert Wright and all proceeds were donated to Blackpool Victoria Hospital Oncology Day Care Unit, Trinity Hospice and The Cystic Fibrosis Trust with 4,600 pounds being raised.

Well done to all who competed, results as follows:

GROUP 1 - Cameron Cregg 1st, Yirong Nicholson 2nd, Jessica Robinson 3rd
GROUP 2 - Celine Matibag 3rd
GROUP 3 - Emily Maguire 2nd
GROUP 4 - Rosie Walford 1st, Tyler Roberts 2nd, Ivan Villarino 3rd
GROUP 5 - Stephanie Robinson 1st
GROUP 6 - Katie Barratt 1st, Andrew Fish 3rd
GROUP 8 - Peter Cregg 1st, Caroline Walford 2nd
GROUP 9 - Ellie Thurlwell 1st
GROUP 10 - Mark Blydgen 1st
GROUP 11 - Chris Fish 2nd