| The Instructor at Upton is Mrs Laura McEwan-Hill, 3rd Dan. Mrs Hill started training in '84 at a TAGB club in Bristol with Mr Michael Dew, 7th Dan, and took both her 1st & 2nd dan black belts under Master Cho in '88 & '90 respectively. There was a huge explosion of interest in Tae Kwon-Do in the eighties and the Bristol Academy became home from home as Mrs Hill trained, taught, competed and took part in demonstrations as part of the Bristol squad in all of her spare time. Many of the students Mrs Hill trained with have since gone on to form their own network of clubs either in or outside the TAGB structure. In '95 Mrs Hill moved to Worcestershire and tried out a variety of different styles of TKD, later joining Turners Tae Kwon-Do, an AIMAA affiliated club based in Upton-upon-Severn, taught by Mr Ray Turner, 3rd Dan. This club was attractive since it followed a training ethos that had a foundation in the ITF style and was affiliated to Master Cho, to whom Mrs Hill has always had a great deal of respect and loyalty. From here Mrs Hill was introduced to the WMST network of clubs and in 2006 gained her third Dan under Master Amrit Kalcutt, 6th Dan. Mrs Hill took over the Upton club as head instructor in January '09 and brought it into the WMST association, which gives it a full support network and access to other experienced instructors. The Upton club is small and friendly with a full range of grades, both junior and adult members. Training takes place in a fully matted hall and concentrates on teaching the spirit of traditional Tae Kwon-Do whilst giving students valuable skills in self-defence. There is an important discipline element to the classes and this is vital for the safety of the students and in order that they learn the value of self-discipline. However, the classes are full of fun and the aim is to enjoy training whilst learning the very special art of Tae Kwon-Do. Mrs Hill is a qualified Instructor and Referee, insured with MADEC and is fully CRB checked. |
