Master Thompson will be visiting Montrose KKB on Sunday 13th December for a coloured belt grading. After that,  everyone is cordially invited to join us for a Chinese meal in the Shanghai Restaurant in Montrose Town Centre at 8pm. The cost per head is £15. No doubt the festivities will continue after the meal…we have some students who also fancy themselves as dancers!

The start time for the KKB grading is 6:30pm, so everyone please make sure you are down early at 6.00pm latest, get warmed up prior to the class and get off to a flying start. For those going out for a meal, make sure you bring your party togs with you so we can go out right after the grading to celebrate and make the most of it!

Forfar School of TKD will be hosting a TKD grading for both Montrose and Forfar coloured belt students on Monday 14th, starting at the normal time of 7pm. Montrose  Senior TKD, Junior TKD and Kickboxing classes will be on as normal.

The last night of TKD training will be on Wednesday 16th December. We plan to have some fun with the Junior Class (and maybe the Seniors?) so all are welcome to join in and have a laugh with the kids (and Big Kids).  KKB Students are invited to the TKD Senior Class for some extra training and we will put you through your paces before the holidays!

The last night of KKB training for 2009 will be Friday 18th December, so everyone make sure that you turn up for a last blast to see you through until the New Year. Training will re-start in January 2010, date still to be confirmed, but most likely Monday 4th.

Remember…….Stay off those Mince Pies!! Just keep repeating the mantra…”A moment on the lips…” You know what we mean!!

A MERRY XMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR FROM EVERYONE AT MONTROSE TKD AND KKB!!

Montrose Medal Winners

Last Sunday Montrose School Of Taekwon-do travelled to Glasgow to compete in the 2009 TKD Scotland Invitational Championships, held at Bellahouston Sports Centre. Taekwon-do schools from all over Scotland and England were present and the level of competition was very high. Montrose entered a small squad of competitors, but once again they were very successful and returned with a decent haul of medals.

Ross Leport defended his title and again won Gold in the 18+ Red Belt Category with an impressive performance, beating his team mate Stuart Hamilton into Silver position. Miss Brisco, Mike Hutchins and Dmitrijs Victorov also put in a great effort.

The overall results were:

Miss Colette Brisco -  Silver (18+  Black Belt L/weight Sparring)
Stuart Hamilton -       Silver - (18+  Red Belt H/weight Sparring)
                                  Silver  (18+  Red Belt Patterns)
                                  Bronze (18+  Coloured Belt Power Test)
Ross Leport               Gold (18+  Red Belt Patterns)
                                  Bronze (18+  Red Belt H/weight Sparring)
Dmitrijs Victorovs     Bronze (18+  White - Yellow Belt Sparring L/weight)
Mike Hutchins           Knocked out in 2nd Round (18+  White - Yellow Belt Sparring H/weight)

Mr McNairn would like to thank Master Wallace and Master Hutton for inviting Montrose students to the competition. The competition itself was very well run, and all of the Montrose students enjoyed the day.

Mr McNairn would also like to thank Master Wallace & Master Hutton for the award made to the Montrose school for supporting their event. This was totally unexpected, but very much appreciated. We all look forward to attending the next TKD Scotland event.

Mr Boydell has kindly extended an invitation to all Montrose Instructors and Students to join him at his School’s Xmas Night Out.  Anyone who attended last years event will remember having a great time, so please make the effort to come along. Details are below.

Taekwon-Do Christmas Night Out 2009

Saturday 5^th December at 7.30pm

Belvedere Hotel, 41 Evan Street, Stonehaven

Cost £23.50 per guest

Anyone who is interested, please contact Mikaela at mikaela.burnscakes@btinternet.com by 15 November with a deposit of £10 per person. Mikaela will also be able to provide menu options upon request.

Master Sutherland hosted a seminar on Sunday 18th October at her new Livingston Dojang. Mr Cheil Rombout Vl Degree, Dutch National Coach, was invited to take the seminar, focussing on dynamic sparring techniques, drills and exercises. Mr McNairn, Ms Brisco and Stuart Hamilton represented Montrose Academy and had a great time. Mr Rombout proved to be an excellent coach and worthy of his reputation, getting maximum effort out of everyone who attended. 

Many thanks to Master Sutherland for her hospitality, and Mr Rombout for his excellent seminar.

Master Hutton VII Deg (left)
pictured with Master Gordon Wallace VII Deg.

On behalf of Montrose School of TaeKwon-Do, I would like to warmly congratulate Master Mark Hutton, on his promotion to VIIth Degree Master, achieved at the recent International Instructors Course in Benidorm, Spain on Saturday 26th September 2009.

Master Hutton and I have a long history together, having started training in TaeKwon-Do at roughly the same time, in 1981/2, when we were part of the UKTA under Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha IX Degree. We were also both founder members of the UKTF back in 1987.

Since then we have both moved along our different paths in TaeKwon-Do, but have always keep up our contact and good friendship.  Mr Mark Boydell IV deg, Mr Gary Ingram II and I were privileged enough to attend a seminar on 1 March 2009, hosted by Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha IX deg OCM, at Master Hutton’s school in East Kilbride. More recently, on 23 March 2009, Montrose School was privileged to have (at that time) Mr Hutton VI deg attend an excellent seminar which also included Master Sutherland, Master Thompson and Master Wallace.

It is therefore with hand on heart and great fondness, that I congratulate my good friend on his promotion. It is thoroughly deserved, and considering the journey has taken the better part of 30 years to achieve, an inspiration to all (including myself) who train in TaeKwon-Do.

Congratulations also go to TKD Scotland, as the addition of another VII deg Master in their ranks can only enhance their standing, and add to the prestige of their association.

Mr David McNairn VI Degree

On Sunday 13th September Montrose TaeKwon-Do and Korean Kickboxing students travelled to Livingston to compete in the 2nd Coloured Belt Open Championship, hosted by Master Sutherland 7th Degree. The competition was open to junior and senior TKD and KKB students affiliated to the United Kingdom TKD Federation UKTF and is fast becoming an important event in the UKTF calendar.

The Montrose Squad comprised of four TKD and three KKB students, for most of them the first experience of being in a ring with an opponent in a competitive bout.  Considering that this was their baptism of fire they all did extremely well in their categories, with special mention going to Dmitrijs Viktorovs and Max Russell who won Silver and Bronze respectively in the Individual 18+  White to Green belt Sparring division. Mike Hutchins was narrowly beaten in his bout but showed great potential for future competitions.

In the 18+ Green to Red belt Patterns event, Ross Leport defended his title and won Gold for the 2nd time in a row,  with Stuart Hamilton and Johnnie Leslie coming joint 3rd.  In the 18+ Green to Red belt Sparring event Stuart Hamilton won Gold, with Johnny Leslie again taking Bronze. Andy Turner put in a great performance in his first competitive bout but unfortunately had to retire in the first round due to injury.

For the first time ever Montrose were able to field two teams in the Team Sparring event. The big surprise of the day was when Montrose B turned the tables on Montrose A, who were knocked out in the first round and went for an early shower. Team B fought on, only to be knocked out in the semi-final and taking joint 3rd Bronze. A great performance in their debut and giving Team Coach Colette Brisco some selection headaches for future competitions.

Montrose A
Stuart Hamilton (Captain) - Gold (18+ Green to Red belt Sparring) and Bronze (18+ Green to Red belt Patterns)
Ross Leport - Gold (18+ Green to Red belt Patterns)
Johnnie Leslie - Bronze (18+ Green to Red belt Sparring and Patterns)

Montrose B
Andy Turner (Captain) - Bronze (18+ Team Sparring)
Dmitrijs Viktorovs - Silver (18+ White to Green Belt Individual Sparring and 18+ Team Sparring)
Max Russell - Bronze (18+ White to Green Belt Sparring and 18+ Team Sparring)
Andy Turner - Bronze (18+ Team Sparring)
Mike Hutchins (Reserve) - Bronze (18+ Team Sparring)

Master Thompson 7th Degree, founder of Korean Kickboxing, was invited to grade Montrose KKB students on monday evening. After a punishing TKD class where Master Thompson put everyone through their paces, the survivors lined up for even more punishment. For three very nervous beginners this was their first experience of a formal martial arts grading, but they coped very well by all accounts.

It was also a special occasion for Stuart Hamilton who was promoted to 1st Degree KKB, making him Montrose Schools’ 3rd Black Belt along with Mr McNairn (2nd Degree KKB) and Miss Brisco (1st Degree KKB). (See Photo Gallery).

Congratulations to all that passed their grading, and a special thanks to Master Thompson for visiting Montrose again!!

Mr McNairn is representing the Montrose TKD School at the ITF Russia International Instructors Course (IIC) on September 4th - 6th. The IIC is being held in the region of Tambov and is being hosted by Mister Lazaros, President of ITF Russia. Also attending will be Master Bos and Grand Masters Marano and Trajtenberg. Mr McNairn will arrive in Moscow, then travel to Tambov which is approximately an 8 hour drive from the airport, which should be an adventure in itself. Any stories, photos and memories from Mr McNairn on his trip to follow on his return.

After training for so long and even having a public demonstration under their (white) belts, it was about time that the Juniors had a grading. The Junior grading syllabus was developed by Miss Brisco, Miss Mclaren and Ross Leport and was tailored to the youngsters skill levels and experience. Needless to say, all the students put in a great performance and all were successful in their promotion to 9th Kup. To mark the occasion special belts were awarded and presented by Chief Instructor Mr McNairn, hopefully the first of many!! (See Photos)

Congratulations to: Tim Brown; James Brown; Glen Fairlie; Scott Fairlie; Faith Mcleod

Master Thompson attended the Montrose KKB School and in conjunction with Mr McNairn and Miss Brisco carried out a grading exam for the KKB students. For several of the junior students, this was their first experience of a formal Martial Arts grading and as you can expect they were very nervous but enthusiastic. However, everyone put in maximum effort and all students who graded were successful. Our thanks go to Master Thompson for attending, and congratulations to all students who participated on their promotion. Well Done!!   (See photo in Gallery)

• Stuart     1st kup
• Ross      2nd Kup
• Johnnie  3rd Kup
• Andy     4th Kup
• Shabaz  8th Kup
• Angie    8th Kup
• Max      8th Kup