Thanks To The South West Multi Cultural Festival & Shire Of Dardanup – Burekup Movie Night we got another chance, to punch, kick, flipping, flying and smashing things with different parts of our body. What a great way to spend a Saturday!!!

(L to R) Trinity Best, Eric Buhlmann, Master Justin Warren, Lucas Hitchens, Rebecca Collis, Rebecca Buhlmann, Annika Best, Kelly Platts, Nohea Leidermoy, Instructor John Crawford, Melanie Buhlmann, Degan McDonald, David Browne
Also Thank You To Brayden Nardone, Cheyanne Nardone, Madison Riches, Toby Edwards, Xander Webb who also were involved in The Multicultural Demo.
Thanks To Gary Veljacich For The Photos

If You have any photos to add, please send them to me kidshield@hotmail.com or 0407470964

 

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Combat Central Off To A Great Start – 16 Starters

Instructor John Crawford has put his hand up to lead a … [Read More…]

 

 

By Kristy Hitchens – Brown Mouse Communications

If you have ever wondered how dedication to the martial arts principles of discipline, respect and courage could benefit you or your children in the long term, you need look no further than the sparkling example set by our Taekwondo Central Head Instructor Ajana Plunkett…

This is a rare chance to hear her story, learn more about her taekwondo journey. It’s not an opportunity that comes along often because despite having accomplished so much, Ajana conducts herself with quiet confidence and humility.

She leads without the need – or desire – to command the spotlight. So buckle yourself in because once you learn more about Master Justin Warren’s Apprentice – our Ajana – your appreciation for all that she brings to her Club and to the character of her students will soar.

 

Ajana’s drive to achieve seems utterly limitless but it’s tempered by a deep care for others, which shines through in the devotion she shows to her teaching role

 

At just 19, Ajana is a 4th Dan Black Belt. She has competed on the international taekwondo stage several times, winning two gold and two bronze medals plus five national championships where she won two gold, two silvers and a bronze medal. In a week, Ajana trains around 200 students in group classes and some in private lessons, and regularly sits (often as the youngest member) on Black Belt grading panels.

Between training and classes, she has managed to complete TAFE studies in community services and disability and is also underway with studies in youth work and business.

Yes! That’s right….only 19!

Ajana’s taekwondo journey began at age 6 after Master Justin Warren visited her River Valley Primary School to present a talk on personal safety. Inspired, she joined his Burekup class with a few friends, and from that moment the spark was ignited. She set her dark eyes on a Black Belt goal and pity the obstacle that dared get in her way.

As a yellow belt Ajana started entering tournaments and by 10 years she had earned that Black Belt. She trained up to six times-a-week and admits to living and breathing all things taekwondo. She joined Central’s Leadership Team and even at this early age, had the confidence to lead a warm-up with Master Justin watching on. As her natural abilities combined with her dedication to training blossomed, she began climbing the competitive ranks, travelling to the eastern states and then overseas to Korea and Malaysia.

Money she saved working as a Club helper paid for her first flight to Korea but couldn’t cover the added costs of her mum coming too. During those overseas trips, Master Justin was both her coach and guardian. Not yet even in her teens, in a foreign country without her mum and competing in front of noisy crowds – a daunting experience to say the least! Still, Ajana found vast reserves of inner strength to not only compete, but win gold.

 

“You should never doubt what your body can do. But be patient with it because real progress takes time”
– Ajana Plunkett

 

Ask her about it now and with a tiny grin she’ll shyly admit it was at that point in Korea, she started to think she might be pretty good at this whole taekwondo caper! From there, Ajana’s confidence grew and more titles were won. At her last State-level competition, Ajana recalls her fight being called off because she was so far ahead on points, her competitor was left with no chance of winning.

By now she was 14 and her body was tired. Ajana’s competitive career came to an end and she instead began to concentrate on further studies, a more moderate level of training and teaching. When you add them all up, Ajana’s achievements alone are impressive enough. But when you also consider them in light of the obstacles she has overcome in her life to arrive where she stands today, you REALLY begin to appreciate the truly remarkable young woman she is.

Raised by her mum and an extended family, Ajana was born with problematic hip joints and suffered very early with chronic hip, back and leg issues that required ongoing therapy to manage. The strength and flexibility she later developed through her elite-level training almost certainly contributed to her full recovery. Thankfully, she was simply too strong in the fighting ring to suffer much injury through her taekwondo though she has come across some later.

Still, you won’t hear her complaining! Ajana just carries on with that same beaming smile and positive attitude. She says you should never doubt what your body can do. But be patient with it because real progress takes time. A perfectionist by nature, her taekwondo journey has created a person who understands that perfection is unattainable but chasing it in all you do, DOES develop excellence.

Ajana’s drive to achieve seems utterly limitless but it’s tempered by a deep care for others, which shines through in the devotion she shows to her teaching role. In the blink of an eye Ajana can fire off a long list of goals for the future – reaching 5th Dan Black Belt, travel, small business ventures with her partner and a career in social work. Maybe goal-setting was a skill she developed early while working her way through the taekwondo belt system?

In any case, her list of goals now might sound like a lot to pack into the next few years. But with everything you have come to learn about Ajana, you’re left in no doubt that whatever Ajana sets her mind to…

Ajana WILL ACHIEVE.

 

From Ajana:
I just want to say a BIG THANK YOU to my family, my Mum, Nan and Uncle for being my support and to Justin for being such a great a role model in taekwondo and life.

 

 

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Leadership Team Meeting – For Our Next Leaders – Term 4 – 2017

Want To Help Instruct? Leadership Team … [Read More…]

 

January Summer Holiday Taekwondo Training Program – Express Grading Chance 2018

SHP2018 BOOK NOW – LIMITED … [Read More…]

 

11 Of Our Taekwondo Central Members Pass Their Belt In 2018 Black Belt Dan Grading – We Got Some Great Photos Too

The End of year black belt grading is a … [Read More…]

 

FASTTRACK Term 4 grading numbers quadruple from Term 3

The FASTTRACK grading was designed for one thing. … [Read More…]

 

Taekwondo Central Instructors & Leaders Join ECU Nurses for Sports First Aid Course

Thanks to Bunbury St John Ambulance Centre & … [Read

 

Board Breaking Seminar Draws 20 Taekwondo Central Red & Black Belts

Taekwondo Centrals Board Breaking Seminar was a great … [Read More…]

 

Equipping Nurses With The Protection They Deserve – ECU Wellness Day Self Defence Workshop

—  By Kristy Hitchens – Brown Mouse … [Read More…]

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 By Kristy Hitchens – Brown Mouse Communications

Equipping Nurses With The Protection They Deserve

 

Nurses are so often the unsung heroes in our community.
And a selfless dedication to the care of others, often means putting their own personal safety at risk.

Confronted by a patient who has become violent or invades their personal space or even just walking to their car during a night-time shift change – it’s so important our nurses have the skills and confidence to protect themselves in a dangerous situation.

A group of nursing students studying at Edith Cowan University, South West Campus can now approach their future careers with greater peace of mind after this month participating in Master Justin Warren’s Introduction to Self Defence Workshop .

Master Justin – a 6^th Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo – presented two one-hour sessions during the university’s recent Wellness Days for staff and students.

While the sessions were open to all students, it was the nursing faculty which jumped at the opportunity to get involved. Learning how to block, escape particular holds plus complete Master Justin’s signature 5 Strike Combo left the students feeling energised and empowered.

Several were shocked by their ability to overcome an opponent without requiring great strength, fitness or power.

Here’s what some of the students had to say afterwards…

 

Thank you so much for organising the event for us we all had a blast and learnt a lot!
– Tayla, ECU nursing student

I enjoy the work out from martial arts and it makes you feel very empowered being able to defend yourself. I left the workshop pretty pumped and ready to take on anyone! I was almost waiting for some weirdo to jump out at me so I’d get to demo the ‘kick, flick, punch, knee- in-groin’ just to see if I had it!! The guy running the workshop was very knowledgeable too and seemed like a great teacher. The activities were really well pitched at our skill level. He provided a really good overview of what it is all about. It was a great idea to include it in wellness week and it is a shame that more people couldn’t come along – Kristy, ECU nursing student. Thank you so much for organising the event for us we all had a blast and learnt a lot!

– Tayla, ECU nursing student

What a great fun class that was and I did pick up many tips and tricks. I really appreciate you organising such a class and was grateful for the opportunity to attend. Justin is a great instructor and I hope tomorrow is well subscribed
– Heather, ECU nursing student

“Thank you so much for organising the workshop, was definitely worth the hour. Hope there will be more next year. I will definitely take it back up. Have missed it
– Nicola, ECU nursing Student

After the workshops, the nurses were able to return the favour by providing Master Justin and Assistant Instructor John Crawford with a health check pitstop.
Nursing Lecturer Melanie Buhlmann (and TKD Central Red Belt student) measured Master Justin’s oxygen levels, heart rate and blood pressure.

We’re happy to report, despite struggling with his seasonal asthma, Master Justin was in good health! And despite always insisting otherwise, it turns out John has a heart in there after all!

 

Here’s Some Of The Participants Feed Back We Received

“What a great fun class that was and I did pick up many tips and tricks. I really appreciate you organising such a class and was grateful for the opportunity to attend. Justin is a great instructor and I hope tomorrow is well subscribed. “The nursing students and lecturers who attended the self-defence workshops offered at ECU had a magnificent time. I am so grateful that they took up the challenge and experienced the confidence and empowerment that comes with learning skills for personal protection.  ”   Heather, ECU nursing student

The feedback I received from the participants and the spectators has been astounding.  I cannot thank Master Justin Warren and Instructor John Crawford enough for agreeing to provide these workshops on the South West campus despite many other competing commitments.” Melanie, ECU nursing lecturer

“Thank you so much for organising the workshop, was definitely worth the hour. Hope there will be more next year. I will definitely take it back up. Have missed it.“  Nicola, ECU nursing student

“Although a tad late, I am really glad that I did make it to the self-defence class. I totally enjoyed the instruction and found the moves that Justin taught were really beneficial. Justin and John were also very competent in ensuring we had the correct technique. I have just practiced a few moves on my husband and sons ????. They were all very impressed. I appreciate your efforts to promote such a great activity Mel and would definitely support future sessions”. Fiona, ECU nursing student

“The self-defence session was lots of fun! The instructor was engaging and the exercises were fun and well-paced.” Verity, ECU nursing student

“Thank you for organising the self-defence workshop on Wednesday. I had a great time and it was such a great way to de-stress, learn something new and interact with a new group of people. I also had a good laugh and felt muscles that I never knew existed. It was such a great activity and I would definitely encourage more to get involved if he ran it again.” Jodie, ECU nursing student

” Justin and John were both confident, attentive, supportive and engaging throughout the session and made us feel comfortable as we learned skills we were unfamiliar with. Especially noted was Justin’s ability to explain and demonstrate skills clearly and with efficiency, and took the time ensuring he gave each person equal attention while providing feedback on our technique, in order for us to get the most out of the session. This class was a great foundation for learning self-defence and is something I recommend to anyone, especially those who may often feel vulnerable or anxious as it is empowering and reassuring to know you have the ability to defend yourself in a dangerous situation. Thanks again for the great opportunity Mel! I felt so energised and focused that I went home and smashed out my assignment after a couple of days of feeling very low and uninspired.” Emily, ECU nursing student

“The self-defence workshop looked amazing yesterday. What a fantastic modality to bring onto campus.” ECU staff member, spectator

 

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It was a great year For Taekwondo Central in 2016

The expansion of the kids safety program
The inclusion of the Paragon Program
All Instructor Passing Their Dan Black Belt Level
9 Black Belts Graded At The End Of The Year

Now to top it up, Master Justin has now been recognised for his achievements by the Bunbury Mail

For The Paper Story

SPORT – 2016 IN REVIEW

For The Online Version

http://www.bunburymail.com.au/story/4369501/2016-was-a-big-year-for-sport-in-bunbury/?cs=280

 

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