Age Should Be No Barrier

TKD & Korean Martial Arts
May 2007

Whereas some martial arts schools frown upon taking on members of a more “mature age “Instructor Ralph Allison went out of his way to welcome Mr Evans to his CKD martial arts club. Celebrating his 60th birthday just a few days before his Black Belt test meant a great deal to Mr Derek Evans who graded together with business partner Stephanie Dale for “Il Dan” (1st Degree Black Belt) in October 2006 at the Sutton & Mitcham UK Choi Kwang Do Black Belt schools. Chief Instructor Ralph Allison believes that age should be no barrier as long as a student (of any age) believes in himself or herself and get that extra attention / the edge for them to succeed in the martial arts.

Ms Dale who trained previously to become a health and fitness instructor says: “I was opposed to aggressiveness and confrontation. This is why I hesitated joining the martial arts. I studied Reiki to 2nd degree and I volunteer my services to the Samaritans, helping people. With the encouragement from Derek I joined the Choi Kwang Do School under the guidance of Mr Ralph Allison and found a new lease of life. “

Mr Evans led a successful, sometimes dangerous and exciting life-style having worked for the Met. Police. His various prestigious assignments (national and international) in the Police included a major operation during which time he was in charge of the police technical deployment at the “Iranian Embassy Siege”, which made the international press.

Not “enough excitement” for Mr Evans though who was looking for a martial arts Instructor who would devote enough time on his training to pave his way for a Black Belt test. After evaluating their martial arts tuition Mr Allison gave the couple their second surprise by not only believing in them that they could “make it” as martial artists but also as Instructors in their own right.

Mr Allison said: “Your eagerness to help other people (to Stephanie Dale) and your street experience with the Police (to Derek Evans) would make you good Instructors being able to help your local community “.

When Mr Allison offered a Programme to train them as Instructors they both eagerly accepted this opportunity. Mr Evans said: “Mr Allison doesn’t give you a Black Belt on a `silver plate`. He makes sure you are worth it. We cannot believe the amount of work our Instructor put into our advancement as students and future Instructors that even included inviting us to his home and discussing all aspects of the martial arts. This included: Maximum appliance of power in technique, flexibility training and a complete Black Belt Syllabus. Despite us sometimes doubting if we could handle this amount of work our Instructor always reassured us saying ` I once started like you and - given the time - you WILL get there too `! “

“Mr Allison was right! After completing the preparations for our test we successfully graded for 1st Degree Black Belt. The year after that we decided to open up our own school and signed up 12 students in our first lesson.

We thank Mr Allison for believing in us and making it possible to become successful in the Martial Arts“.

Download TKD & Korean Martial Arts Article: Age Should Be No Barrier

Page 1

To view these files you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. Dowload Acrobat Reader for Free by clicking the link below.