"Work together. Train together. Learn together."
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Dan Grading 07.12.2025
TCGB DAN GRADING – 07/12/2025
A huge congratulations to everyone who attended and took part in today’s official TCGB Dan Grading (7th December 2025).
Black tag (1st Kup) candidates and Dan grades from across Taekwondo Chungdokwan Great Britain came together at Tiffin School, Kingston upon Thames, for a full day of high-standard technical demonstrations, focus, and discipline.
The Dan Grading is one of the most important events in our calendar — the culmination of years of training, perseverance, and commitment. Candidates were assessed across a wide range of advanced requirements including:
• Kukkiwon poomsae
• One-step sparring & self-defence applications
• Basic and advanced kicking combinations
• Power tests & breaking
• Control, accuracy, and technical understanding
• Sparring & movement under pressure
The atmosphere was excellent throughout — strong focus, respectful etiquette, and great support from instructors, officials, and fellow TCGB members.
It was fantastic to see such high energy and determination from all candidates, whether attempting black belt for the first time or progressing to higher Dan levels.
To everyone who passed — well done on achieving this milestone in your Taekwondo journey. Your hard work, patience, and perseverance have truly paid off.
To those who didn’t quite make it this time — stay focused, keep training, and return stronger. A temporary setback often leads to even greater progress.
Thank you to all the examiners, helpers, and volunteers who gave up their Sunday to support the grading and uphold the high standards of TCGB.
WORK TOGETHER, TRAIN TOGETHER, LEARN TOGETHER
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Pre-Dan Grading Seminar 22.11.2025
TCGB PRE-DAN SEMINAR – 22/11/2025
A huge well done to everyone who made the effort and attended today’s Pre-Dan Grading Seminar (22nd November 2025).
Red belts and Dan grades were welcome from across TCGB and trained hard through a full afternoon of:
• Kukkiwon poomsae
• One-step sparring
• Self-defence
• Basic & advanced movements
• Dan-grading standards & expectations
Fantastic energy, strong focus, and a great turnout from across the association.
Next step:
The official TCGB Dan Grading takes place on Sunday 7th December 2025.
Taekwondo practitioners wear a uniform, known as a dobok and was developed during the 1940s and 1950s by Korean martial artists with experience in martial arts such as karate, Chinese martial arts, and indigenous Korean martial arts such as taekkyon, subak and gwonbeop.
The oldest governing body for taekwondo is the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA), formed in 1959 through a collaborative effort by representatives from the nine original kwans, or martial arts schools, in Korea.
In 1971, the South Korean government officially designated taekwondo as Korea’s national martial art.
In 1972, the KTA and the South Korean government’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism established the Kukkiwon as the new national academy for taekwondo. Kukkiwon now serves many of the functions previously served by the KTA, in terms of defining a government-sponsored unified style of taekwondo.
In 1973 the KTA and Kukkiwon supported the establishment of the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), which later changed its name to “World Taekwondo” (WT) in 2017. WT promotes the sport-nature of Kukki-Taekwondo and its competitions now employ Kukkiwon-style Taekwondo. For this reason, Kukkiwon-style Taekwondo is often referred to as WT-style Taekwondo, sport-style Taekwondo, or Olympic-style Taekwondo, though in reality the style is defined by the Kukkiwon, not the WT.
Kyorugi – full-contact sparring, has been an Olympic event since 2000. The governing body for taekwondo in both the Olympics and Paralympics is World Taekwondo.
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All Grades Seminar 02.11.2025
Taekwondo Chungdokwan Great Britain (TCGB) hosted its annual All Grades Seminar on Sunday 2nd November 2025, bringing together students and instructors from clubs across the association for a full day of high-quality Kukkiwon Taekwondo training.
The seminar delivered a comprehensive programme designed to support technical development for all Kup and Dan grades, with sessions led by senior TCGB instructors across a range of core disciplines.
Each session was tailored to ensure that all students, from beginners to senior practitioners, received training appropriate to their level.
A Strong Turnout and a Successful Day
The seminar was very well attended, demonstrating the commitment and enthusiasm of students across the association. The training atmosphere was positive, disciplined and supportive, reflecting the long-standing spirit of Chungdokwan Taekwondo.
TCGB extends its sincere thanks to:
All participating students.
The TCGB Committee for organising the event.
The senior instructors who generously contributed their time, knowledge and experience.
We look forward to welcoming everyone again at our next All Grades Seminar in 2026.
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Kukkiwon - International Master Qualification Course
Kukkiwon World Taekwondo Training Institute – International Taekwondo Masters Course:
117 people from 25 countries participated.
4-11th July 2025
We were fortunate to have Masters Luisa (7th Dan), Alice (4th Dan) and GM Biddlecombe (9th Dan) in attendance.
We hope to continue builing on this approach in future Chungdokwan seminars.
“Work together, train together, learn together.”
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TCGB - National Championships 2025
TCGB hosted their annual National Championships in Twickenham on Sat 8th-Sun 9th March, 2025. An amazing event with over 300 competitors. A huge thanks to all involved. You all did fabulous work.
Kyorugi Champions 2025
TCGB 2025 National Kyorugi Championships.
Congratulations to our team trophy winners:
– 1st place: LMC
– 2nd place: Wild Tiger TKD
– 3rd place: Ali’s Dojang
Poomsae Champions 2025
TCGB 2025 National Poomsae Championships.
Congratulations to our team trophy winners:
– 1st place: Phoenix Taekwondo
– 2nd place: TTKD
– 3rd place: UKMAAFA
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All Grades Seminar 03.11.2024
TCGB hosted their annual ‘All Grades Seminar’ in Kingston on Sunday 3rd November 2024. A fantastic four hours seminar was held covering aspects of Kukkiwon and Olympic Taekwondo including pad work, sparring (free/one-step), self-defence, breaking, basic/advanced techniques and a special 4th Dan and above only session was held by 8th Dan GM M. Biddlecombe.
A great day was had by all. A huge thanks to the TCGB committee for organising the event and to the senior instructors who freely gave their knowledge and time. Keep practicing.
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National Inclusion Week With Eleanor Warrington
In National Inclusion Week, British Taekwondo published an interview with Eleanor Warrington, a Para Poomsae Performance athlete, and her journey in Taekwondo.
Eleanor is now training 2-4 times a week which she splits across Aldis Taekwondo Oxford and her university Taekwondo club. Training with Aldis Taekwondo, a WT style club and member of British Taekwondo, has given her access to various development opportunities within Para Taekwondo.
To read about Eleanor’s experience, please visit here.
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TCGB - Korea Summer Training Camp 2024
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TCGB - Annual Seminar 2024
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TCGB - National Championships 2024
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Poomsae Referee Course 2024
Last weekend TCGB in conjunction with British Taekwondo Referee dept. hosted a Poomsae Referee Course in Welwyn Garden City. The event was in preparation for the Taekwondo Chungdokwan Nationals, which will take place on the weekend of 23-24th March, 2024.
The course was oversubscribed but the first 25 who applied (the majority from our own TCGB members) were treated to an intense but enjoyable day of all things competitive Poomsae, delivered by hugely experienced International Referee Master Glen Culbert.
Everyone who attended benefitted greatly from Master Glen’s knowledge and precision of technique and we look forward to seeing many of the newly qualified referees at our upcoming competition and many more going forward.
AGM 2024 - Message from GM Biddlecombe
Poomsae Referee Course 2024
Dear TCGB Instructors and Members
The events which TCGB have organised and participated in, at home and overseas, throughout 2023, have been very successful. Many of TCGB events have been fixed on the calendar, year after year and will continue for 2024. You can check out our events here.
Recently Grandmaster M. Biddlecombe, conducted a special training session for Master grades (4th Dan and above). GM Biddlecombe states that attendance at seminars is hugely important to improve our Taekwondo skills. He also states that some black belts attend Dan gradings, but miss out on the seminars. Likewise, some long-standing black belts have been putting off their chance of promotion, and are cruising along, becoming complacent, and losing out on becoming better performers. Gm Biddlecombe reminds us that there are opportunities in 2024 to train together. This is the challenge that we all must face, to become better. Training together, is vital, great fun and hugely important to become better.
Thank you for your continued support and thank you to the TCGB Committee, Kup grades and Black belts.
Enjoy 20024. Make the most of the opportunities, do not miss out.
Kind regards
President – Grandmaster Mark Biddlecombe (9th Dan)
– Kukkiwon 1st Class Masters
– Kukkiwon 1st Class Examiners
– Kukkiwon World Leaders Forum Representative
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All Grades Seminar 2023
TCGB’s All Grades Seminar was well attended this past weekend with club students and instructors from across the UK.
The seminar covered all aspects of Taekwondo including patterns, sparring, self defence, breaking, basic and advanced techniques.
The seminar also included updates from the Kukkiwon regarding the new Dan grade promotion testing requirements.
Grand Master Lindsey Lawrence and Grand Master Mark Biddlecombe were also honoured to receive their 9th Dan promotion certificate from Chungdokwan Korea.
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5th Ireland TKD Open 2023
Last weekend TCGB in conjunction with British Taekwondo Referee dept. hosted a Poomsae Referee Course in Welwyn Garden City. The event was in preparation for the Taekwondo Chungdokwan Nationals, which will take place on the weekend of 23-24th March, 2024.
The course was oversubscribed but the first 25 who applied (the majority from our own TCGB members) were treated to an intense but enjoyable day of all things competitive Poomsae, delivered by hugely experienced International Referee Master Glen Culbert.
Everyone who attended benefitted greatly from Master Glen’s knowledge and precision of technique and we look forward to seeing many of the newly qualified referees at our upcoming competition and many more going forward.
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Summer Camp Korea 2023
Clubs from T-TKD, Overton, CYTA and LLTKD attended the World Chungdokwan Federation summer camp in Asan, South Korea hosted by Grandmaster Byeonghyun Shin along with other athletes from France, Australia, New Zealand, America, Hong Kong, Singapore and many others.
Untimely Passing
Master Rastra Rai (pictured second from right).
It is with great sadness to announce the untimely passing of Master Rai.
A true inspiration, a respected and much loved martial artist.
Our thoughts are with his family, friends and students at this sad time.
Master Rai, a Gurkha with 18 years of exemplary service with the Queen’s Gurkha Engineers, was a highly experienced Class 1 Army Physical Training Instructor and also 5 times British Forces Hong Kong Taekwondo champion, 1988 UK mixed martial arts champion and veteran Bronze medallist in the 2008 ITF World Championships. Since joining TCGB in 2010, Sagarmatha Taekwondo Dojang has been taking part in the National Championships. They are now reigning 5 times consecutive champion club at the annual TCGB National Championships.
Untimely Passing
Master Rastra Rai
Sagarmatha Taekwondo Dojang
It is with great sadness to announce the untimely passing of Master Rai.
A true inspiration, a respected and much loved martial artist.
Our thoughts are with his family, friends and students at this sad time.
Master Rai, a Gurkha with 18 years of exemplary service with the Queen’s Gurkha Engineers, was a highly experienced Class 1 Army Physical Training Instructor and also 5 times British Forces Hong Kong Taekwondo champion, 1988 UK mixed martial arts champion and veteran Bronze medallist in the 2008 ITF World Championships. Since joining TCGB in 2010, Sagarmatha Taekwondo Dojang has been taking part in the National Championships. They are now reigning 5 times consecutive champion club at the annual TCGB National Championships.
In 1972, the KTA and the South Korean government’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism established the Kukkiwon as the new national academy for taekwondo.
Kukkiwon
World Taekwondo Headquarters
Kukkiwon is based at 635 Yeoksam-dong in the Gangnam-gu district of Seoul, South Korea.
Construction of the main building commenced on 19 November 1971 and was completed on 30 November 1972 with the organisation being officially named on 6 February 1973.
News
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. The meaning of the word ‘Taekwondo’ can be broken down into three parts. (1) ‘Tae’ – to strike or break with the foot, (2) ‘kwon’ – to strike or break with the hand and (3) ‘do’ – the art or the way. Therefore, Taekwondo can be loosely translated to ‘the art of the foot and hand‘.
Around the world, millions of people practice Taekwondo. There are two styles of Taekwondo, namely World Taekwondo (previously World Taekwondo Federation, or WTF) and the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF).
Chungdokwan
Chungdokwan was the first school (kwan) to teach what became known as Taekwondo in Korea, having been originally founded in 1944 by Grandmaster Won Kuk Lee.
The term Chungdokwan stands for ‘school of the blue wave’ or ‘blue wave school’. According to the President of the Chungdokwan, Grandmaster Park Hae Man, the Chungdokwan style of Taekwondo is the same as that promoted by the Kukkiwon – the World Taekwondo Headquarters and official governing organisation of Taekwondo in Seoul, South Korea.
Chung Do Kwan technique and philosophy centered on mastering basics, developing powerful technique, pinpoint accuracy in application, strong kicking and a deep appreciation for manners and etiquette.
Chungdokwan Great Britain
TCGB is a group member of British Taekwondo – the National Governing Body for Taekwondo in Great Britain. Over the years, numerous students have competed abroad in major competitions for TCGB in both poomsae and kyorugi – many of these students are now experienced instructors within our organisation passing on their knowledge to the next generation of Taekwondo practitioners.
All our instructors have undertaken an instructor’s course and are aware of the key issues surrounding instructing, including child protection and risk assessment. In addition, all TCGB instructors have full indemnity insurance and have passed an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
We can provide...
If you are looking to train in the World Taekwondo (Kukkiwon) style of Taekwondo, we can provide you with the training needed to develop to the best of your ability in basic and advanced techniques, sparring (full-contact World Taekwondo style), poomsae and self-defence. For more information about what TCGB can offer you check out our Join Us page or email the TCGB Secretary General for an information pack (sec@chungdokwan.org.uk).
Kyorugi competition.
Poomsae competition.
If you would like more information about your nearest club please check out our Find A Club page. If there are no Taekwondo clubs listed in your area, please get in contact with us about what TCGB still has to offer. Also, if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
What we provide
If you are looking to train in the World Taekwondo (Kukkiwon) style of Taekwondo, we can provide you with the training needed to develop to the best of your ability in basic and advanced techniques, sparring (full-contact World Taekwondo style), poomsae and self-defence. For more information about what TCGB can offer you check out our Join Us page or email the TCGB Secretary General for an information pack (sec@chungdokwan.org.uk).
If you would like more information about your nearest club please check out our Find A Club page. If there are no Taekwondo clubs listed in your area, please get in contact with us about what TCGB still has to offer. Also, if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask.