Photo of Cockburn students engaging in a hand pushing balance drill. These balance warm up drills are a fundamental component of our First TaeKwonDo training as they cultivate a nuanced blend of strength, stability, and spatial awareness crucial for effective combat. These drills, often emphasizing the intricate interplay between the upper body and core, enhance a practitioner’s ability to maintain equilibrium during dynamic movements and resist external forces. By repeatedly engaging in hand pushing exercises, martial artists develop not only physical strength in the arms and shoulders but also a heightened sensitivity to weight distribution and subtle shifts in body positioning. This heightened proprioception translates into improved overall balance, enabling martial artists to execute techniques with precision, respond swiftly to opponents’ actions, and establish a solid foundation for more advanced martial arts skills.

Thanks to SI Mischa for this image.

Master Vernon Low arrived in Australia in the late 1960’s after earning his Black Belt in Singapore. During Master Low’s university studies he commenced teaching TaeKwonDo at the Adelaide Y.M.C.A. centre. He was the first TaeKwonDo instructor to introduce the Korean martial art to the South Australian public; hence our schools name FIRST TaeKwonDo. When one of Master Low’s Adelaide student’s, Dane Meade later moved to Perth, the First TaeKwonDo organisation expanded into Western Australia and the Academy now has over 40 training centre locations in SA & WA.

Master Low is dedicated to all his students continued TaeKwonDo development and committed in ensuring the traditional martial arts standards of the school are preserved. As such he travels to Perth every 3 month to personally conduct very comprehensive grading tests for all his students (White Belt beginners to 5 Dan Black Belt) that have been assessed by their Instructors as ready to apply for their next belt promotion. Not all students are ready to grade every 3 months as most senior coloured belt ranks only grading every 6 to 12 months. This way Master Low ensures the First TaeKwonDo School remains true to its traditional but progressive core values.

First Tae Kwon Do (WA) is particularly proud to announce the promotions of the following Instructors by Master Instructor Vernon Low on Sunday 19th March, 2023.

* SI Amie (Churchlands) 2nd Dan to 3rd Dan Black Belt

* Ins Trent (Armadale) 1st Dan to 2nd Dan Black Belt

* Ins Terry (Greenmount) 1st Dan to 2nd Dan Black Belt

* Ins Jeff (Woodvale) 1st Dan to 2nd Dan Black Belt

* Ins Tristan (Beechboro) 1st Dan to 2nd Dan Black Belt

* Ins Tavish (Beechboro) 1st Dan to 2nd Dan Black Belt

* Ins Jack (Beechboro) 1st Dan to 2nd Dan Black Belt

Master Low advised he was extremely pleased with the high standard displayed by all seven (7) candidates at last Sunday’s Black Belt Exam and the coordinated approach with the tile destructions was an exceptional display of skill, focus, determination and power.

These exams were the result of approximately 20+ years of continuously training for all 7 candidates and the skill level on display for the all those in attendance was outstanding – a true sign of the dedication and commitment to their training regimes. Our ACTA NON VERBA motto was certainly in the spotlight at Sunday’s Exam.

Congratulations to our 1x newly promoted First TaeKwonDo WA 3rd Dan Black Belt and 6x newly promoted 2nd Dan Black Belts on your incredibly successful Grading Exams. New hyungs await at the next Quarterly Black Belt Training under CI Dane and the next Grading Day with Master Instructor, Vernon Low.