Martial arts: Taekwondo club receive visit from grandmaster

May 27 2009 by Colin Paterson, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

COATBRIDGE Taekwondo Club welcomed a very special visitor recently.

Grandmaster Park Hae Man, black belt 10th dan, honoured members while visiting Grandmaster T K Loh 8th dan, as part of his European tour.

Students enjoyed the privilege of training under the eminent grandmaster who is also high dan on the examination committee for the World Taekwondo Federation at the Kukkiwon in Seoul, Korea.

A club spokesperson said: “When Korea first became a republic, the then first president ordered all the top martial arts to send their best fighter to be his bodyguard.

“Grandmaster Park was chosen to represent Taekwondo. He was also one of the four grandmasters who designed the patterns that are practiced today.”

The club currently train under James Bertram 4th dan at the Charlotte Toal Centre in Dundyvan Road every Thursday between 7-8pm.

Classes are also held from Sunday to Wednesdays between 6.45-7.30pm at the Sir Matt Busby Sports Complex in Bellshill.