Accepting the challenge of running and coaching a Tae Kwon Do multicultural club in such a transient place as Brussels perhaps gives me more of an edge over instructors that reside in the UK for example, but I could be wrong, as dealing with people is always a challenge to one's own personal development but it is what keeps the adrenaline flowing and I have learned much about myself and others!!

I constantly try to create new concepts into my teaching to present the students with challenges and new things also, whether it be new techniques, new ways of thinking, or trying to get their support for raising money for charity by competing at tournaments, which we did this year, 2000. I organised a tournament between Wales, England, Holland and Brussels, I also organised a seminar at which Holland and Wales attended with Brussels in Mechelen, Belgium and it was very successful., we also have seminars in Holland on a regular basis.

I train with the United Tae Kwon Do International (UTI) Holland, headed by Karel van Orsouw, 8th Dan Grand Master who has a very high technical and mental standard. Karel is so good because he opted out of the commercial and political rat race within Tae Kwon Do, which is sad to say, but very much exists. If the student has the honour to train with Karel, his life will change and he will benefit considerably mentally as well as technically from his highly researched version of Tae Kwon Do.

Tae Kwon Do is a very explosive and intense martial art and that is the reason why the student has to learn strict control and achieve a calmness throughout his career. He does this by developing breathing techniques and the Chi in the body. The technical nature will challenge the student and the syllabus from white belt through to say 5th degree level is very vast and intellectual as regards remembering and performing the 24 forms within Tae Kwon Do, as well as the set sparring set down by the UTI, apart from stick and weapons patterns. However if the student does not work on his mind, for example, that he is flexible with others but a leader, that he listens to others as well as himself, that he respects himself and others, and that he questions his actions and develops harmony according to his ability, then he is incomplete.

The year 2000 has brought harmony and evolution within my club and for my students and I intend to continue in this vain. I have families and single people from various cultures training in my club, the transient nature does not help me develop an experienced front row to help me, very easily but all the members and parents are very supportive.

In relation to the concepts of self improvement and personal development plus spiritual enrichment, I can very much identify these aspects with as an instructor and in relation to everyday life. The simple tenets of Courtesy, Integrity, Self-Control, Indomitable Spirit, Perseverance and Patience should stay in the sub-conscious of all instructors and if they believe in them then they will have the power to help create a more peaceful world in trying to understand human nature better, thus gaining some spiritual enrichment. The latter is not quickly achieved and is like a journey with many paths that we have to choose from and sometimes we do not always choose the right one for us but eventually we succeed.

I believe that in modern day society or rather the information society era that leaves us very little time to relax, people search for spiritual harmony and there is a trend in new age groups that want to follow a more natural way, away from orthodox religion, perhaps joining Tai Chi courses or Reiki courses. Societies in touch with Internet facilities or media are also aware of how the other half lives and this has produced changes within religions globally and made people question ideologies more.

People join my club from all walks of life and they basically want to get fit and confident or perhaps parents want their children to develop discipline, confidence and self defence. Mums want to lose weight and learn Tae Kwon Do. In addition, in focussing on other things outside of work they find it a perfect therapy.

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