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Master Jeff Green 6th Dan

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I got involved in Martial arts for all the wrong reasons, got into a fight when I was 16 years old, ended up in hospital with a broken jaw for a month and vowed revenge.

About two months after getting out of hospital I decided to join a martial arts club and plot my revenge, I knew nothing about martial arts but was lucky that I picked Aikido.

Why was I lucky, well the instructor knew why I started but decided he was going to change my way of thinking, it took him a couple of years but I ended up learning a martial art for different reasons having decided that revenge was not a good thing and realising how good I felt about myself when I trained.

To this day I remember the great change that came about from such a violent episode in my life and my only thoughts today about that incident is that I would like to thank the person who put me in hospital because my life changed so much, the knowledge I gained, the many, many friends I know right around the world, students of Judo, Aikido, Hapkido, Tai Chi Chuan and of course Tang Soo Do.

I have also been extremely lucky because I have had three quality instructors in my life, most of us are lucky if we meet one, they are:-

• Sensei Phil Jackson who taught me Aikido and guided me onto the right path, I enjoyed every moment of my time in his class and the many techniques I learned there still benefit me today in my Tang Soo Do training.

• Master Tong Mun Kim, I started learning Tang Soo Do in my home town of Cwmbran on the second week of his beginner class, never looked back, found the training very hard but very rewarding, it was a sad moment when he left to go to America but I have maintained my respect for him and all he taught me.

• Master M Khan, when I found this gentleman I was amazed how quiet and polite this man was and the way he run the World Tang Soo Do Association in Great Britain, his technical ability was (and still is) outstanding, his commitment to the association and the support he gives his students is never ending, the humility he has demonstrated over the many years I have known him, all this is an example of how a true leader should be, and I believe this is because of the standards set by Jae Chul Shin Kwan Chang Nim.

Throughout my time in the WTSDA I have won many titles in National, European and World tournaments, I have gained many friends throughout the world, taught many good students and gained a great deal of knowledge about the many hyungs we teach, and after more than 35 years in martial arts I find I am STILL learning.

I look forward to our future within the World Tang Soo Do Association and to ALL Tang Soo Do student everywhere I hope you enjoy the art as much as I do.

TANG SOO