MR. DAVID GRAHAM 2ND
DEGREE
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 My Tae Kwon Do
journey began 27 years ago in 1983 when I was 14 years old
training under Master
Teh in Scotland.
Master Teh’s organization diversified into Tukido, but my
instructor Mr Pat Mallon along with some of the other
instructors decided to return to their traditional Tae Kwon Do
roots. This is when we joined the TAGB (Tae Kwon Do Association
of Great Britain) which at this time was affiliated to AIMAA
lead by Master Hee IL Cho.
My instructor Mr Pat
Mallon was the driving force for the TAGB presence in Scotland
and was a formidable martial artist and an inspiration to me and
many like me. I can honestly say that I would not be the martial
artist and person I am today if it was not for his guidance and
friendship.
I always enjoyed my
Tae Kwon Do class training and would compliment this by
stretching every night at home before going out to the punch bag
in my garage where I would practice my kicks by swinging the bag
and trying to stop the bag with a reverse turning kick, side
kick or jumping back kick. I also used the punch bag to increase
agility by moving around it and performing various combination
techniques that I could then incorporate when sparring.
 I remember buying the
“Complete Martial Artist Vol 1 & 2” and using these books as my
ultimate reference guides for training and hitting the bag. My
kicks dramatically improved once I seriously started to stretch
and use a punch bag. Bag work allowed me to focus on improving
my hand & foot techniques which resulted in increased accuracy,
speed and power. Even now if a student asks me how to develop
their kicks or hand techniques I will always say stretch and
practice your techniques on a punch bag. If you don’t hit the
bag the correct way then you will soon know about it.
Grandmaster Hee ILCho
has always been an inspiration to me and through his teaching I
was able to develop as a martial artist and a person. I was
privileged to grade for my black belt in 1986 under this awesome
martial artist in Bristol, England. After achieving my black
belt I was honoured to be selected as part of the TAGB Scottish
National Team. I travelled and competed in numerous ITF, TAGB,
WTF & All Styles Open Karate competitions winning trophies for
my club and association.
 The most prominent
event was competing in the first Open World Tae Kwon Do
championships in England 1988. This was an awesome event and my
friend and now instructor Master Kirkwood was also in the
National squad competing. I remember as a young martial
artist being in awe of all the talented individuals competing
all under the same roof, which included a young Master Ameris
representing AIMAA USA.
I reached the quarter finals in my own
weight division where I came up against one of Master Hee IL
Cho’s top fighters and remember Master Hee IL Cho sitting with
his eyes fixed on the fight. I was eventually beaten in the
final round, and although I lost the fight I had learned so much
about challenging myself both physically and mentally.
In the late 1980’s I
became an instructor at the Parkhead, Kelvin Hall and Kingspark
clubs in Glasgow. I enjoyed teaching and always had great pride
& satisfaction from helping the student’s progress and achieving
their goals. My friend Mr Lawson now 5th degree in
AIMAA Scotland was one of the students at the Parkhead club
where I trained and taught during this period.
 I can remember the
training sessions were old style. I would be punching in sitting
stance as my instructor walked around the class occasionally
hitting me with a turning kick in the stomach to ensure I was
exhaling and tensing my muscles as I punched. In those days you
weren’t even allowed to look at your instructor directly in the
face.
I’ve been asked in
the past who has influenced me throughout my years of training.
I can answer honestly that everyone I’ve met in martial arts has
added to who I am today. From the instructors & students I
trained with to the inspirational martial artists I attended
seminars during the 1980’s like Grandmaster Hee IL Cho, Bill
“Superfoot” Wallace, Dave Oliver (TAGB), Hank Meyer (Dutch World
Champion) to name but a few..
 I remember attending
the seminar for Bill “Superfoot” Wallace in our now AIMAA
Scotland HQ in Blantye in the 1980’s. One comment from Bill
Wallace I have always remembered is as follows “You will always
find somebody who is stronger or faster than you. What you have
to be is more cunning”. That last comment rings true in how we
train and spar today. We utilise combination techniques to fake
one way and attack another. Find the combinations that work for
you and surprise your opponent, most of the time the simplest of
combinations are the best ones.
I left club training
in 1992 due to work and family commitments, but continued
incorporating the principles of Tae Kwon Do I had learned into
my daily life. I was also actively training and promoting Tae
Kwon Do to friends and colleagues throughout the years hoping
one day to have the opportunity to return to a club.
To me Tae Kwon Do has
always been a way of life not just the physical side but the
mental and spiritual aspects. I believe the values I learned as
a young boy training in Tae Kwon Do have remained with me into
my adult life. I eventually managed to
stabilise
my work life balance in 2008, which allowed me to return to club
training. This was fantastic as it allowed me to train with some
old friends like Master Kirkwood, Mr Lawson, Mr Walker & Miss
Mallon as well as a lot of new friends throughout AIMAA.
I enjoy training on a
weekly basis with Master Kirkwood and attend extra squad
training sessions whenever possible. I’ve known Master Kirkwood
for 25 years and he has never lost his passion, enthusiasm and
energy from when we used to train together. When an instructor
has these qualities it rubs off on his student with great
affect. Master Kirkwood inspires me to be the best I can be
through his training.
 I’m a Senior
Assistant instructor with Master Kirkwood at his school in
Blantyre which is a great honour & opportunity as it allows me
to pass on some of my experience to the students. It’s really
satisfying helping students develop their techniques and
knowledge of Tae Kwon Do.
After 20 years I got the
opportunity to grade again under Grandmaster Hee IL Cho for my 2nd
degree in Ireland 2009 which was a special event for me after so
long.
My love and thanks
always to my wife Christina and children Kyle & Natasha for
their constant support, encouragement and inspiration. I believe
you can achieve anything if you have a strong family behind you.
I am a modest person who believes that loyalty to his friends
and family is essential, and a trust that should never be
broken. I am very proud to be part of AIMAA and to be accepted
as part of the AIMAA family.
I personally believe
we are given physical, mental and spiritual challenges
throughout our life, and it’s how we react and deal with these
challenges that ultimately make us who we are, and how others
perceive us. I like to think that I approach my Tae Kwon Do
training with enthusiasm and respect to every student regardless
of grade. We can’t forget that the lower belt grades of today
are the black belts of tomorrow, and should be given all the
guidance, support and respect we can possibly provide.
I’ve met a lot of
inspirational people already throughout my life who have helped
me on my continual journey to becoming the best martial artist
and person I can be. I always see my training as a personal
journey in which I’m constantly learning and evolving as a
martial artist and human being.
There is a good
saying that I have always liked to quote “Life is a journey not
a destination”. If there’s any advice I would give it’s enjoy
life today and don’t rush to get to the end result as many of us
do, the journey is far more interesting.
Always endeavour to
be the best you can be, not what you think others expect of you.
I am very proud to be
part of an association lead by Grandmaster Hee IL Cho. We treat
all our students like family and refer to them as such. In
conjunction with the presence of Grandmaster Cho this is one of
the defining attributes of AIMAA. I intend to keep using my
knowledge to further support all our instructors and students
and expand AIMAA, as I truly believe that we are capable of
taking the association to a place that far exceeds our
expectations.
Yours in Tae Kwon Do
Mr. David Graham, 2nd Degree
A.I.M.A.A Scotland HQ, Scotland
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