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Phillip Payne

Chief and Club Instructor
Head Sparring Coach
Marketing Co-ordinator

4th Dan

30-11-1973

What made you choose Taekwondo over other martial arts and sports?

I have always been interested in contact sports since a relatively early age. In my teen years I used to play Ice hockey for a local junior team and then I took up Ju Jitsu at Richard Dunns Sports Centre in Bradford. My instructor was Peter Jackson and Robert Ashworth used to take some classes and run our gradings. Robert was originally trained by Soke James Blundell of Liverpool, who was one of the early Ju Jitsu pioneers. After a while I found that the style of Ju Jitsu I was practicing was centred around being reactive instead of proactive, so I started looking around to see what other martial arts where being taught in the local area. This is when I came across Mike McKenzie and Quest Taekwondo.

When and where did you start training and how old were you?

I had just turned seventeen when I started my Taekwondo training at the North Bridge Leisure Centre, Halifax in 1990. I had seen a poster in the Sports Centre for new Taekwondo classes so I though I would give it a go.

What are your favourite aspects of Taekwondo?

I like all aspects but my favourites are self defence and sport Taekwondo. My interest in the sports side of Taekwondo takes me all over the world. I was a spectator at the Athens Olympics in 2004 and both the European and world Championships in 2005. This year I am already planning for the Dutch Open and European Championship in Germany. I also enjoy sport Taekwondo training and I have trained with both past and present international players and coaches.
My interest in self defence has encouraged me take a closer look at the basic techniques performed in Taekwondo classes under the banner of self defence. I am putting together a self defence system for Taekwondo practitioners so they can defend against most common attacks not usually covered by Taekwondo training. Though many of the defences in the system have been taught to me by instructors outside of Taekwondo, most include common Taekwondo techniques.

What are your favourite techniques?

Most people that have trained with me know that my favourite kicking technique is counter back kick. I think the secret of a good back kick is timing.

My favourite hand technique has to be the left lead round elbow. I always find I can generate a massive amount of power with this technique.

Who have been the most influential people in your life?

My mother and farther are the most influential people in my life. My mum has provided me with a logical outlook on life and my father gives me the grit and determination I need to get a job done. I must also give a mention of the following people
Mike McKenzie - My first Taekwondo instructor of 16 years was very motivated and always strived to improve both his Taekwondo and his teaching methods.
Jason Harris - My old Ju Jitsu instructor and friend that reignited my interest in Ju Jitsu with his no messing approach to training.
Ronnie Green - One of my Thai boxing instructors. A five times World Champion that has done so much for Thai Boxing worldwide.

What have been the most memorable moments in you martial arts career and why?

Passing my 4th Dan in Taekwondo felt like I had achieved something that %99.9 of Taekwondo practitioners will never achieve.
Being present at the Olympics in Athens when Dae Sung Moon of Korea knocked out Alexandros Nikolaidis of Greece in the final has been the most memorable moment at a Taekwondo event, the Greek crowd went wild.
In January of 2005 myself and my wife Amy went on went on a three week holiday around the world. During our travels we stayed in Bangkok for four days so we could visit the historic Thai Boxing stadiums Lumpini and Ratchadamnoen. It was surreal to be sitting ringside watching live Thai Boxing in the stadiums I used to watch on Eurosport in the late 80s and early 90s.
Passing my Black Belt in Ju Jitsu fifteen years after my first Ju Jitsu class was a long time coming and just goes to show that if you set yourself goals and train hard, you will get there in the end.

What are your martial art goals and ambitions?

I try to set myself both short term and long term goals. This years short term goals are:-
Improve my leg strength and flexibility.
Hit a target weight of 12 ½ stone
My longer term goals are:-
To be highly skilled in Taekwondo, Ju Jitsu and Thai Boxing.
To open my own full time Martial Arts venues.

Do you have any other interests or hobbies out side of Taekwondo?

As my wife Amy will tell you, I am a martial arts nut. I am currently a 4th Dan in Taekwondo, a 1st Dan in Ju Jitsu and an active member of the International Muay Thai Federation. As you can imagine, my training and teaching schedule does not leave me with much spare time. With the little time I have left in the week, I look after the Full Contact Taekwondo and Team Taekwondo web sites. I also support my home Rugby League team the Bradford Bulls when ever I get chance.

What advise would you give new Taekwondo students?

Always set new goals when you reach old ones and train hard but consistently.

Favourite five

What's your favourite film?
At the moment, Ong-Bak

Who is your favourite band?
I don't have a particular band but I like most trance music and some rock.

What?s your favourite food?
Anything spicy.

What is your favourite drink?
Officially, freshly squeezed orange juice, unofficially, larger :)

What is your favourite holiday destination?
Any of the Greek Islands.
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Amy Payne

Referee coordinator

2nd Dan

05-05-1981

What made you choose Taekwondo over other martial arts and sports?

I originally chose to train in taekwondo because the working men?s club in Flockton where I lived started a class. I joined with a few friends but I was the only one who stuck at it. After my first grading, I wanted to get my black belt more than ever! Unfortunately the class had to close, so until I joined Phil?s class in Huddersfield I had no knowledge of other martial arts. I did try Jujitsu for about 6 months with Phill, I really enjoyed throwing big men around but I struggled on the wrist and arm locks as I have dodgy joints!

When and where did you start training and how old were you?

The class in Flockton started in about summer 1996 just after my 15th birthday.

What are your favourite aspects of Taekwondo?

Travelling to international competitions to take photos of the British team compete, seeing Sarah Stevenson getting gold in Latvia last year and at the Dutch open in March was cool.
I really enjoy the destruction part of taekwondo as well! I feel a wonderful release of power when I break the wood using either hand or foot techniques. Maintaining the technique and power I use for breaking needs to be practised regularly in class.

What are your favourite techniques?

Although turning kick is one of the basic kicks in taekwondo, it is the one I perform best from a technical point of view, especially at head height. My favourite kick has to be reverse turning although technically it doesn't always look that good!

Who have been the most influential people in your life?

I have to say my husband Phill. His enthusiasm towards martial arts, in particular taekwondo is amazing! He gives me the kick I need (pardon the pun!) to give my full enthusiasm in class and to achieve my goals, such as the next grading for my 3rd dan.

I also love watching action movies; at the moment my favourite is Blade Trinity. The actress Jessica Biel is awesome! I love seeing women in action movies kicking ass!

What have been the most memorable moments in you martial arts career and why?

My first memorable moment was winning gold at a local competition when I was 16. I had previously won a couple of silvers but winning the gold was such an achievement. Other than that, getting my first Dan was an immense achievement. I had trained so hard for it and the grading seemed so much more intense that any of the kup gradings. We visited the famous Lumpini Thai boxing arena in Bangkok during our honeymoon. It was awesome seeing such skilled fighters compete and our seats were ringside!

What are your martial art goals and ambitions?

Although I'm still a 2nd Dan, id like to think ill be able to train up to maybe a 4th Dan in the coming years. Even though getting my 1st dan was a huge achievement, I don?t think taekwondo should stop there.

Do you have any other interests or hobbies out side of Taekwondo? SHOPPING! I LOVE shopping. At the moment I have about 27 pairs of various footwear and the collection is growing!
I also enjoy extreme sports. In 1998 I did a static line parachute jump from 3,500 feet in aid of cancer research. I have also done the original Kawarau Bridge Bungee, Queenstown in New Zealand, white water rafting also in New Zealand and a reverse bungee in Faliraki. I would really like to go wing walking, where you are strapped to the top of a small aeroplane! What a buzz, I'm such an adrenalin junkie!

What advise would you give new Taekwondo students?

Push yourself a little more each time you train, stretch a bit further, kick a little higher, punch a little harder. Train to your full potential. Don?t put yourself down if you don?t get it right the first time, nobody is perfect 100% of the time!!

Favourite five

What's your favourite film?
Ice Age

Who is your favourite band?
I prefer dance and trance music, not a particular band.

What's your favourite food?
Curry, anything spicy.

What is your favourite drink?
Martini and lemonade.

What is your favourite holiday destination?
New Zealand.
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Jackie Wood

2nd Kup

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