Coaching

Il GI Taekwondo Association has for a long time identified the necessity for best practice in coaching. We are also committed to the notion that governing bodies should be responsible for their own coach training programmes; after all, they are the experts

Il GI Taekwondo Association, through its links with local councils are working towards coach education since many of our clubs use council owned premises to run classes. All our instructors are qualified black belts, registered with the Kukkiwon world Taekwondo headquarters in Korea. Also our instructors have to pass British Taekwondo Council (BTC) instructor courses. Upon passing the course they are licenced and insured by the BTC and are CRB cleared by the criminal records bureau.

The Association insists that all our instructors attend the following courses:

  • BTC Instructors course
  • Emergency First Aid for Sport
  • Good Practice & Child Protection
  • Equity In Your Coaching

The above courses are recognised and conducted under the education programmes of Sport England and Sports Coach UK. Il GI Taekwondo Association is constantly reviewing its coaching structure to ensure that all its instructors are kept up to date with current coaching methods.

 

Master Waddington

Il Gi Chief Instructor:
Grandmaster Craig Waddington

Grade:
9th Dan & Head of the Il GI Taekwondo Association

Biography >>

Master Craig Waddington was born in Toronto, Canada in 1956 where he grew up. In 1964 he and his family emigrated to Detroit, Michigan, USA. He started his Taekwondo career in 1970 under the strict guidance of Master Sang Kyu Shin 8th Dan then one of the highest ranked instructors outside Korea.

Master Waddington attained 3rd Kup in the USA before his mother decided to return to England after the death of his father in 1972. With no clubs in the area he decided to open up the first club not only in the Fylde Coast but in the whole North West.

This club was opened in 1973 at Thornton Sports Centre. He then contacted the United Kingdom Taekwondo Association and was then able to continue his training under Master Rhee Ki Ha 7th Dan and the original founder of the International Taekwondo Federation in the whole of the United Kingdom.

Gaining his 1st Dan in 1975 his club began to gain popularity as Taekwondo was fairly rare in comparison to Karate clubs in the area.

In 1976 Master Waddington changed to the WTF (World Taekwondo Federation) and gained his 2nd Dan in 1977 then his 3rd Dan in 1981 and 4th Dan in 1984. In 1988 the BTF (British Taekwondo Federation) was founded under Grand Master Kim Yong Ho 9th Dan where the name of our organisation comes from (Il GI) meaning 'One Together' which was Master Kim's Club name when he trained in Korea.

Gaining his 5th Dan 'Master Rank' under Master Kim in 1989, Master Waddington was involved in the British Taekwondo Federation as a member of the Executive Committee and Tournament Director and has trained in Korea under many renowned Korean Masters.

In 2009 he passed the 16th International Foreign Instructors conducted by the Kukkiwon World Taekwondo Headquarters in Korea and is also Technical Director of the UKTDC.

Il GI continues to flourish and in 2012 Master Waddington was promoted to 8th Dan, the rank he currently holds. Although Taekwondo is somewhat oversubscribed in the Fylde Coast, Master Waddington is responsible for training either directly or indirectly every student in the area.

Master Waddington continues to teach Taekwondo at his Clubs at Blackpool Sports Centre and Palatine Leisure Centre.

 

- Tae Kwon Do -
The Korean Martial Art
of Self-Defence
Improve fitness & confidence.
Age 6 years and upwards.
Families can Train together.
Superb sports facilities.

Demonstrating a side kick
Technical Training
Seminar at Blackpool
Sports Centre


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British Taekwondo Council Logo

Kukkiwon Logo
 

www.ilgitaekwondo.org
Copyright Il Gi Taekwondo [2011]