The annual Student Awards for 2009 took place at the prestigious Banqueting Hall in Almada Street, Hamilton on Saturday the 27th of February 2010. The event was attended by 170 people, a combination of Masters, Instructors, Assistant Instructors, students, parents and family members.

Master John Darcy, who is the A.I.M.A.A European Director flew in for the occasion, as did International Instructor Mr Gerry Long and Mr Paul Healy. Both Instructors where accompanied by their partners Emma Healy and Mary Lunn. Although Grandmaster Hee Il Cho is far away in Hawaii, he is always in our thoughts as we are in his. He kindly took the time to write to the A.I.M.A.A Scotland students to wish them well on their special night, as did Master Phillip Ameris and Master John Darcy.

The award night is an accumulation of a years hard work by the students, in class, in competitions, in their training and their own personal attributes. From that hard work, Master Kirkwood then selects and honours those who have shown great determination, honour, commitment and above all, has shown the true tenets of Taekwondo throughout that year.

The night started with a special presentation, which was a compilation of video clips and photographs, taken from the various events throughout the world, whilst visited by Master & Mrs Kirkwood. These ranged from competitions, seminars, training camps and visits to A.I.M.A.A HQ in Hawaii. We also watched the testing of Master John Darcy, and training clips taken recently in Hawaii. The presentation showed A.I.M.A.A at its best, and was specially put together to show the students and parents that they are part of a Global family with the best Grandmaster, Masters and Instructors in the World.

The video presentation lasted just over 40 minutes and was fantastic to watch, it built the atmosphere up for the entry of the demonstration team, who where ready to show off their skills to the waiting parents and family members. The demonstration this year incorporated more of the lower grade adult and Jnr students, who are an integral part of our schools. The students involved where from  Blantyre and Lesmahagow. However the highlight this year was our "Little A.I.M.A.A Panthers" who joined us for the very first time at this event. Although aged 3 to 4 yrs old, they demonstrated various blocks, kicks, exercises and finished off with board breaking, much to the delight of the audience!

The first group on the floor was headed by Master John Kirkwood, who performed with his Black Belt students. The team of ten Black belts executed a complex and intricate mixture of patterns choreographed to music. It was a breathtaking deployment of traditional movements, skilfully put together to an up tempo beat!  The audience loved the opening of the demonstration show, and justly applauded in abundance!

Next up was our "Little Panthers" who just had the "awe" factor! These little students showed great determination and courage at such a young age, to come onto the floor in front of 170 peering eyes! Mrs Gough their Instructor, lined them all up, and then they went into their kicking and punching routine, shouting "I LOVE TKD".  The little group skilfully performed front rolls, which is very hard for a three year old! The youngest of the group was 2.5 yrs old, whilst the oldest was 4yrs old.  Some of the little panthers also broke some 1/2 inch boards, showing the audience front kicks! This performance was inspirational and a joy to watch, as these little ones are the future within the association.

From the panthers we moved onto a spectacular display of weaponry performed, executed and choreographed by Jack Reid. This was an exciting part of the demonstration in which we saw one of our leading young Black Belt students perform complex moves with his "BO". Jack has been rehearsing this demonstration for many months now, and has grown so much in confidence and ability over the last year. He has gained inspiration from Mr & Mrs Farrell, from A.I.M.A.A New Mexico, as they teach the BO, and Jack practised with them at last summer camp, and also bought their DVD to learn more! which has certainly paid off! The display was amazing to watch and everyone loved it!

Now it was time for some hilarious antics by the two old men. This demonstration came in three different parts and was a combination of theatre, acting and martial arts!  Everyone was transported to the seaside, whilst the song "I do like to be beside the seaside" was sounding around the venue! The two old men sat in the middle of the floor on a couple of deck chairs and were catching some sun rays, when they are bullied and mobbed by the local neds! (for those not Scottish, this is the local gang!) Poor old Jake and Bobby had a hard time as they where jostled and flung about the floor....so off to the local martial art school they went!! 

We now found ourselves in the local Dojang, and saw the Instructor teach old Jake and Bobby fighting techniques, which was absolutely hilarious to watch! Master Kirkwood and Billy (Jake and Bobby) were made for the part of the two old men and their antics and patter was great! The jumped, kicked and punched the Instructor as the song "Eye of the tiger" played. After the two old men had learnt their new skills, then we where transported back to the beach, and once again the audience saw the two old men sitting relaxing on their chairs.  Enter the Neds! and this is when the fun began as we watched the old men, defend themselves, using their walking sticks, chairs and of course their new self defence skills! The audience just loved it and it was a fantastic piece within the nights demonstration.

From the "Old Men" routine we now witnessed a large group of children perform a synchronised pattern to music, and once again this incorporated very technical moves and complex synchronisation, as one group disconnected from the main one and went onto a more advanced pattern! The group ranged from yellow belt to Black tags, from 6 years old up to 13 yrs old! It was a tremendous routine synced to a hip hop song, that had the audience spell bound!

Next on the floor were the ladies from the Blantyre and Lesmahagow schools, who had put together a series of pad work, and self defence! It was great to watch these ladies perform and although some were colour belt students, they have great determination, power and speed.  It was awesome to watch them do this routine, as they had worked very hard to master it!

Our next demonstration was one step, by Mr John Kirkwood and Mr Mark Russell. The one-step self defence was action packed, precise, powerful and with full force! You could actually hear the impact as each Black Belt hit their opponent, and Mr Russell threw Mr Kirkwood with such force, he disappeared under one of our tables! much to the delight if the audience.  As the two Black Belts left the floor the lights dimmed once more as the music played "Blade HQ". As the countdown from 10 to 1 bellowed in the venue, we saw Mr Billy Reid enter the floor with his weapon "Nunchuka" and undertook one of the highlight displays of the night.  Billy is amazing at this weapon and had it spinning and crossing over his body and in the air! The intricacy of this to weapon to music and technical martial art moves, is very powerful to watch and very inspiring

From Billy we moved onto Master Kirkwood and Mr Kirkwood, who showed the art and skills involved in sparring, at full speed and with accuracy! It was great to watch and this kids loved watching these two Instructors doing what they do best!  The last event of the evenings demonstration, was our destruction display.  We had the "Little Panthers" undertake some more breaking, as well as colour belt adult females and males. Most of the breaking as undertaken by students who had not done this before and it was tremendous to watch!

Adults broke 1 inch boards, whilst the children broke 1/2 inch boards. Some of the more advanced Black Belts undertook more complex breaks, such as Mark Russell and John Kirkwood Jnr.  Mark broke boards held high up on a chair, whilst Mr Kirkwood flew through a hoola hoop with a flying side kick, to break wood at the other end! The whole demonstration was to show the parents and families attending what students can do, and what can be achieved through hard work, discipline and belief!

The demonstration was followed by the annual awards, which honoured students from Blantyre and Lesmahagow. This year Master Kirkwood presented A.I.M.A.A European Director, Master John Darcy a handcrafted picture of his testing in Hawaii. This was to honour him for his leadership, friendship and his recent promotion to 7th Degree. Also honoured was our very own Mr James Lawson, who was also promoted to 5th Degree in 2009. Mr Lawson has been at Master Kirkwood's side for nearly 30 years and is the co-founder of our association. He honoured him for his dedication to AIMAA Scotland and his loyalty. Special presentations where also given to Mr Gerry Long and Mr Paul Healy for their commitment to A.I.M.A.A Scotland and Master Kirkwood. Both Instructors are truly dedicated to the growth and students within A.I.M.A.A. The night finished off with students and parents dancing the night away, with many families enjoying a relaxing evening.

Master Kirkwood, Mr Kirkwood Jnr and Mrs Kirkwood would like to thank everyone for their beautiful gifts presented to them on the night.  Your thoughtfulness is overpowering and we are all deeply humbled by your generosity.

Lastly we would like to especially thank everyone who helped with the set up on Saturday morning. A big thank you to all the Blantyre and Lesmahagow students who have given up endless hours of their own time to train each week at demonstration training. Your commitment and hard work paid off! as you where all awesome on the night! A big thank you to the students who travel 100 miles each week for this training, you are a credit to the association and you family!

DEMO TEAM 2009: Master John Kirkwood, Mr John Kirkwood Jnr, Miss Lisa Aitken, Mr David Graham, Mr Mark Russell, Miss Rachel Miller, Miss Kirsty Gough, Miss Tammy Sutherland, Miss Lauren Mulagthon, Mr Jack Reid, Billy Reid, Ashley Wilmot, Annmarie Desmond, Carole Campbell, Caroline Ventura, Scott Ritchie, Stewart Marshall, Martin Prempeh, Mary Prempeh, Molly Geddes, Declan McAlister, Luke Hitchen, Ronan Shields, Shannon Desmond, Cameron Dean, Adam Kerr, Rachel Mulaghton, Christie Mulaghton, James Cook.  A special thank you to Mrs Cecilia Gough and her A.I.M.A.A Panthers, Bailey Selby, Derry McGunnical, Taylor Sheppard, Eve Hunter, Luke Geraghty, Adam Walker, Kyle Nicol, Beth Leggate and Aine Shields.

The hunt is now on for the next students to receive awards in 2011, so keep up the good work, you never know you may get that special nomination letter in November.

TO VIEW THE A.I.M.A.A SCOTLAND STUDENT AWARDS 2009 GALLERY CLICK HERE.......