Focus on Taekwondo Podcast

Today's interview is with Alex Gillis about his book, “A killing art: The untold history of Taekwondo” Firstly we chat about what motivated Alex to undergo such a comprehensive study into the unknown history of Taekwondo? Within the book Alex talks about the KCIA quite a lot I ask him was he worried about the consequences exposing such secrets could cause? ……and did any harm come to him? We both chat about doing a follow-up book? After all, he must know enough new secrets to compel him to write part 2…… I always wondered and was happy to ask Alex if he knew back in the day when he started Taekwondo what he knows about Taekwondo from his investigations does he think he would still have chosen Taekwondo to practice and develop himself with or has it all spoilt the respect he had for the art/organisation? People can get in touch with Alex on the links listed below, I also asked Alex can people still buy the book and if so where is the book available to buy? See below for the answer. This last question I asked Alex what is it that makes Taekwondo different to other martial arts and lastly what does it take to be a black belt- I'm interested to hear what the listeners think of his answer please comment on facebook your thoughts. Facebook: Alex Gillis Twitter: @AlexBGillis Instagram: alexgillis.tkd Amazon: A KILLING ART: THE UNTOLD HISTORY OF TAEKWONDO Website: akillingart.com

Today's interview is with Adam Corrigan - From Team GB to Team Alpha Male. Adam has competed for three different National Teams in Taekwondo on three different continents and now is an MMA athlete under the famous Team Alpha Male. We discuss his Taekwondo history and how his journey has taken him to different corners of the earth. So we move onto MMA and how he finds training with one of the top UFC teams and about how easy was it to transition from Taekwondo to MMA. We also discuss how different it is fighting in the cage than in the Taekwondo ring. Up next we talk about the new style Taekwondo and if he thinks the transition is harder now for athletes as the game has changed so much since he competed. We move onto what’s next for Adam as he’s also a highly respected fitness instructor where he’s based, and we chat about his 4 weeks 2 failure. Hear Adams views on what makes Taekwondo different from other martial arts and what he believes it takes to be a black belt. Get in touch with Adam at the following links; Facebook: @corriganfitness Twitter: @Adam_Corrigan Instagram: @adam_corrigan Website: www.corriganfitness.com Website: www.4weeks2failure.com Email: [email protected]

So today's interview is with Carl Evans he is the Sports Science Support Officer and Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at Liverpool John Moores University. We chat about his current job and his PhD which is to do with weight making for Taekwondo athletes. We also cover physiology of a Taekwondo athlete and S&C thoughts. Next, we talk about the new 5% rule in World Taekwondo. Carl still coaches and has worked with various national team members from various national teams and is now working with India. Carl explains the best place for athletes to go to is a university with a sports science lab and to work together to improve body composition etc. Carl is happy to answer questions and looks forward to hearing from everyone get in touch using the links below. And finally the one last question - what is it that makes Taekwondo different to other martial arts and how would he describe what it takes to be a black belt. It's an interesting answer so don't miss it. How can people get in touch with Carl? See links below... Facebook: Carl Evans Twitter: @CoachCarlEtkd LinkedIn: Carl Langan-Evans

So today's interview is with Paul Green and Gareth Brown from Todays Taekwondo. Firstly I had to congratulate them on their achievements to date 300k followers on Facebook, the YouTube channel, the website, the downloadable tutorials, and obviously for all the medals that the athletes they’ve coached within team GB have achieved. We chat about at the numbers 2 golds from the Olympics, 4 world champions, 8 Grand Prix golds, and those are just the ones within the top competitions, we discuss how it must have been great to be a part of those athletes achievements. Todays Taekwondo mission statement says both Paul & Gareth want to continue developing innovative methods to produce world-class athletes and coaches. I ask them when did they both sit down and decide to share their knowledge on a global scale? Did they realise how big it would become and eventually where it would take them both? The BBC sports website it states one month after resigning from team GB they had both been recruited by USA Taekwondo...... They tell our listeners exactly where they are going, doing, and more importantly if Todays Taekwondo will still be continuing its goal to help others? Next is a chat about the YouTube channel, I've watched them all......the content is impressive, I like how they hold nothing back, demonstrate it, explain it to great detail and show elite athletes also training it. it’s a great way to be, to improve as coaches by giving out everything, ..... we chat about how it must keep them evolving and improving. Both Gareth & Paul must have seen so many changes in the sport of Taekwondo I ask them both if they still use methods learned back when they were competing or has it evolved so much it’s a completely new set of skills and drills. We take a walk back down memory lane and I ask them if we can look back at both their lives so far, where did Taekwondo start for them both and why did they decide to take up a martial art. GB Taekwondo has been a major part of both their lives competing and coaching, they’ve both competed and coached at a high level. Which made them most nervous, anxious, or determined, competing or coaching? I ask them a little about Team GB here as I know after speaking to some of the GB Taekwondo guys they are missed, they have both been a major part of the success GB has had and is continuing to have so don’t miss their answers. I ask them both, looking into the future where do they think GB Taekwondo will be in the tables and what do they think needs to happen to keep the standards they have both helped to achieve. What is the long-term goal for Paul Green and Gareth Brown? where do they see themselves in 5-10 yrs, does their own training centre come into it or do they want to be the coaches the countries come running to when medal counts get low......? I ask them what is each of their proudest moments. What advice do they have for up and coming athletes and also coaches looking to make a difference? And finally the one last question from me, what is it that makes Taekwondo different to other martial arts and how would they describe what it takes to be a black belt? How can you get in touch with them? See links below. Email: [email protected] Facebook: @todaystaekwondo YouTube: Todays Taekwondo Website: www.todaystaekwondo.com It was an enjoyable interview and I look forward to interviewing them both once they settle into America.

Master Rondy is the owner of White Tiger Taekwondo & Martial Arts - known as the world’s largest superschool located in Cary, NC, USA. The 24,000 sq. ft. school just celebrated its 22nd anniversary and enrolled its 12 thousandth student. Master Rondy lived in Korea from ‘94-’96 as a member of the Korean Tigers Professional Demonstration Team. Today she is the Program Director and instructs at White Tiger, is a columnist for Taekwondo Times Magazine, serves on the Kukkiwon Advisory Board and the US Taekwondo Committee. Master Rondy also travels the world to share her marketing and PR background to help other school owners “achieve their dream”. So today's interview with Master Rondy McKee we will be discussing the Business side of running a martial art school and a few other questions on Taekwondo. I first met Master Rondy with my instructor Master Andrew Brown from Glasgow, he had met Master Rondy over in Korea and was invited to come over to White Tiger Tkd Headquarters in Cary, North Carolina maybe 1997/8. We chat about how amazing White Tiger is and how her profile has grown since those days. We hear about her background and how she came to get where she is today. Master Rondy is running business seminars all over the world, with her most recent in Spain. I ask Master Rondy if she could tell us about the kinda things she teaches at these seminars. Next, I ask Master Rondy what would she say is the biggest problems facing independent martial arts schools and also what kind of things keep coming up in her seminars from other school owners......... is this why she has set up the White Tiger Global Alliance? I ask her to tell us a little more about this alliance and how can people get involved. Two of GB’s National coaches, (Paul Green & Gareth Brown) have both picked up coaching director jobs within the US taekwondo coaching team - I ask Master Rondy if she has much experience of The National team set up? And if she has any advice or warnings for them. Next, I ask if Master Rondy would you like to get more involved within the World Taekwondo set up, if so what would she like to do and see happen. The Kukkiwon is still responsible for Taekwondo black belt certification and Master training, I ask Master Rondy if she thinks there’s something more the Kukkiwon could do to promote and spread the knowledge some of these high ranking masters have? I've seen on a few occasions Master Rondy also practices Wing Chun with Samuel Kwok we chat about cross training - one last question from me- the usual one... what is it that makes Taekwondo different to other martial arts and how would she describe what it takes to be a black belt. And finally we ask her how can people get in touch with her and we’ve shared her answers below; Master Rondy Email: [email protected] Facebook: @masterrondy White Tiger TKD Facebook: @WhiteTigerTKD Website: www.whitetigertkd.com 919-469-3553 office 919-208-3912 cell White Tiger Global Alliance Facebook: @GrandmasterRondy Website: www.whitetigergloballiance.com

This week it is an Honor to talk to Rui Braganca, Olympian and Portuguese National Team Player. We chat about how Rui is ranked 10th in the Olympic Ranking, and 7th in the world both for - 58kg and how it must be tough now to stay in the top 10 - with all the Grand Prix and grand slams etc it must mean lots of travelling! Then we discuss world and Olympic No.1 Tae Hun Kim from Korea and how he is lots of points ahead of everyone else. I discover Rui fought Tae Hun Kim back in 2015. Rui has also been world No.1 and we chat about when this was and how that’s such a great achievement. Anyone who knows Rui knows he has the biggest smile of any Taekwondo player, always happy and cheerful, Rui tells us about why he’s a very positive person and how he thinks this is the reason why he is so successful. We then move onto his training structure, he trains every day. Next, we chat about how most national team players travel with a Physio, Dr, video analysis guys etc and he tells us how it is in Portugal. We look back at Rui's life growing up in Portugal, and at what age he decided to try Taekwondo. Rui's main profession is a medical Dr and somehow he still competes against full time paid athletes! I ask him how he finds this extraordinary feat possible? We chat about how easy it was to balance studying and competing? We discuss the possibility of becoming a paid athlete in Portugal, would he, or has he considered it? When we’ve met in the past there are normally two more people with Rui, Nuno and Hugo he tells us when he first meets up with Nuno Costa and Hugo Serrao. Rui participated in one Olympics already, Rio 2016. We discuss how Rio was, the experience of the Olympics, and which parts he enjoyed the most? Tokyo 2020 must be on his sights? What does he personally feel it will take for him to become the Olympic champion at Taekwondo in -58kg in 2020. Looking back at Rui’s achievements some of these include gold at the European games in Baku 2015, silver at the worlds championships (2011) and also gold at the European championships (2014). We ask Rui where is his next competition after this one? And if the Europeans are his main comp this year or is it the Grand Prix which gives more ranking points? I ask him when he finally decides to stop competing, what will his life look like, and will Taekwondo still be a part of it or will medicine take over? Find out his excellent answer to our regular question “what makes Taekwondo different to other martial arts and what do you feel it takes to be a black belt?” Lastly, we chat about how our listeners can find out more about Rui Braganca and possibly get in touch with him. See the links below for more details. Facebook: @ruibraganca58 Instagram: @ruibraganca Twitter: @ruibraganca Website: ruibraganca.com

In this podcast, we interview the “Double Olympic Champion” Jade Jones MBE. Firstly we talk about where she came from and if she could have ever believed she would one day become double Olympic champion. We then chat about her first Olympic gold, the one from the youth Olympics. Then we chat about where her Taekwondo journey began and a look into how she got to where she has today. The World Championship Gold is something that's slipped away to date but we speak about how the next worlds will be in Manchester and how the home crowd will spur her to finally get that Gold. If we follow Jade on Instagram her story shows celebrity dating, spa days and lots of Taekwondo - we chat about what a typical day in the life of Jade Jones is actually like. Then we discuss her TV appearances and what's next on her list to tick off…… I'm a celeb get me out of here??? With so many athletes now coming out with their own equipment and clothing range, we talk about if this is something she's already looking at doing. The pressures of competitions are up next, how Jade deals with it, and what motivates her to keep winning. looking to the future we ask what life will look like after she hangs up her head guard. Paul Green leaving GB is a massive deal right now, we speak to Jade about who will now coach her and her thoughts on Paul leaving GB. Next, we discuss how Taekwondo is right now, and if she has any suggestions to improve it. Advice from Jade on how to be the next Jade Jones is our next discussion - how someone currently competing can get to her level. The next few questions are from you guys, our listeners. The first one was if Jade had any advice for parents on how to motivate and keep the interest of a young athlete. Next, we ask the question at what age did she start Taekwondo and what made her choose Taekwondo. Does Jade need to be strict with what she eats? What is her favourite food? Who or what inspires her to keep going, what is her motivation to stay at Olympic standard? How has what she has achieved changed her life, and what dreams has it helped her follow? And the final listener question, what strength and conditioning do you do leading up to the Olympics? As we ask all our listeners the same final question, we ask Jade what she thinks makes Taekwondo different to other martial arts and what she feels it takes to be a black belt. If you want to get in touch or learn more about Jade, see the links below. Facebook: @jadejonestkd Instagram: @jadejonestkd Twitter: @jadejonestkd YouTube: jade jones Find us on Facebook and instagram or go to our contact page form more options. We would love to hear what you thought about the interview with Jade Jones, tell us here or on iTunes, Instagram or Facebook.

This week's Interview is with none other than 2 x World Champion and Grand Slam Champion, the amazing Queen B, Bianca Walkden. Our chat starts off with what every athlete should be thinking about, Hopes and Goals for 2018. Bianca has had a great year in 2017, I ask how she finds competing so often and does she peak for certain events or just try to maintain a high level of conditioning all year round. Then it's onto what point in her life she decided to become number one in the world of taekwondo. Hobbies, does Bianca have time for anything other than Taekwondo? What motivates Queen B is it standing on the podium or are the cash prizes up for grabs the driving force to keep her winning- I'm sure we can all guess the answer but let's hear what Bianca has to say, what truly motivates her. The next question is about social media, her youtube videos, Instagram stories etc. With the brand Queen B out there on hoodies, kick pads, t-shirts and also splashed all over social media is this what she does to relax or does she enjoy getting her brand to the followers. We chat next about SPOTY (Sports Personality of the Year) and who she was sitting next to did she enjoy the experience, and how does she feel knowing she is inspiring the next generation. As a successful player for Team GB, we chat about who we should be watching coming up through the ranks from children up to juniors and if the future looks bright for GB. 2020 was next on the questions to be answered- has she been to Tokyo before and importantly does she hope to represent GB and take some Gold home? We ask Bianca what a regular day in her life is like, then onto rules in tkd is there any she’d love to change and why. What's after competing for Bianca, some of the old fighters now coach on GB, will she coach or maybe open a performance centre??? We all have good luck charms, things we do at competitions, what’s Bianca's take on the whole “good luck charms” does she have one and if so what is it and why. We chat about the love of her life Aaron Cook and how she felt when she first met Aaron and also what they chat about after training- is taekwondo off the agenda or is it what they eat sleep and chat about. Lastly, we asked Bianca the same question we ask all our guests…. what makes taekwondo different, and also what it takes to be a black belt. I hope you fun listening to the podcast with the Queen B of taekwondo Bianca Walkden. remember if you like this podcast please subscribe, like and leave a comment on iTunes. If you want to connect with Bianca here are her social media and website links below. Facebook: @biancawalkdentkd Instagram: @biancaw_tkd Twitter: @BiancaW_tkd YouTube: Bianca Walkden Website: biancawalkden.co.uk www.focusontaekwondo.com/bianca-walkden

Today's interview is with the legend that is Aaron Cook, Aaron talks about his journey from competing as a child right up to his current competitions and how he's looking to the future 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Then its a chat about his eventual book, the biography of his ups and downs twists and turns and what the title of the book will be called and why. As Aaron is still competing at elite level, training is a big part of his life we discuss his new training facility and how he welcomes other elite fighters to come stay with him and work out together. Next on the list is competitions, which events he will be attending to gain those all-important ranking points. Support is a big thing for any elite athlete, Aaron has none of the normal extras a national team player normally expects, now self-funding his seminars around the world he teaches have been a big part in helping him financially, book one now!!! Aaron has many tkd memories, find out in this episode what his fondest memory is. The Grand Prix events are next on the conversation, how easy is it for an up and coming athlete to break into these elite series of competitions and what does it take. We move swiftly onto Tokyo 2020 and about the qualification to ensure we have team Cook at the Olympics once again. Then it's onto the subject of “Love” Bianca Walkden his girlfriend also an elite tkd fighter of the highest level, how does it work, when did it happen and was it love at first sight! Then finally what makes Taekwondo different to other martial arts and what does it take to be a black belt. If your interested in seeing more about Aaron, we have included his social media links below, be sure to check them out as you will find some great content. Facebook: @AaronCooktkd Instagram: @ac.network Twitter: @AaronCooktkd YouTube: Aaron Cook www.focusontaekwondo.com/aaron-cook-legend Please leave us a rating and review

Master Yang has his own school in Korea teaching Tricking, he was fortunate at a young age to become a member of the Korean national Demonstration Team travelling all over the world - in this interview we will speak to Master Yang about his history, his goals moving forward and his thoughts on beach taekwondo and the world of tricking. www.focusontaekwondo.com/master-taekyung-yang Please leave us a rating and review