Starting in Taekwondo
Our Mission
To provide every one of our students with great knowledge, self-confidence, health and fitness, discipline, and the skills required to succeed in life through the Martial Arts.
Our goal is to create a solid foundation for children’s physical growth and psychological development through motivation and encouragement and to instil in all of our students values such as self control, discipline, self-respect, and respect for others.
We strive to keep the lines of communication open between Instructors, students and their families. Our commitment to bringing quality instruction and training to our students of all ages is what sets us apart from other Martial Arts schools.
Who We Are & What We Do
The Clubs
The Jason Rodd School of Taekwondo was established in West Kirby, wirral on March 2nd 2000. Taekwondo classes contain students of all ages and abilities and provide a great opportunity for individuals and families to exercise together.
Our adult and junior training programs are designed for beginners and advanced students to realise their full potential. Taekwondo is an excellent form of self- defence, improves flexibility and co-ordination, sport competition, personal development, combines fun and fitness and much more…
Our classes assist in helping students with their confidence, fitness, self-defence or attaining Black Belt Status. Our team of qualified instructors are always ready to help you. Classes are taken mostly by Head Instructor Jason Rodd, always being taught in a safe, friendly and professional manner.
Instructors and members of the Jason Rodd School of Taekwondo, encourage each student to be the best they can be, not only in martial arts, but at home and in the work place. So why not come a long to a class and see for yourself why thousands of students choose Taekwondo and have made the TAGB schools their first choice in associations.
Taekwondo Taster
Jason Rodd – Why I started TKD:
For most of my childhood and teenage years, I played football like most other boys / teenagers, right up to the age of 22 years. One night I was at football practice at the local sports centre when I stumbled across TKD. I’d seen a couple of old friends doing it and hadn’t heard of it before. So the next time I saw them, they suggested I should have ago, so I did. And as the saying goes “the rest is history”. I’ve never looked back since that first lesson I just couldn’t help it I was hooked. Although it was hard, and still is, something in my brain / body / heart said to me you must stick with this however hard it gets. 13yrs on and I still love every minute of practicing the art of TKD.
It is an excellent form of self-defence, with the added bonuses of flexibility, fitness, sport (competition), and above all… fun. Biggest achievement to date: Achieved international 5th degree status in October 2016 and running my own successful TKD Schools which I had established, March 2000 at West Kirby and Runcorn in 2005.
The Best Aspects of TKD:
Patterns, doing my up most in training and in everyday life to observe the Tenets of TKD, meeting new people, teaching and developing people skills within a safe environment, and most of all the feel good factor from doing it.
Favourite Technique:
Jumping reverse sidekick / back kick. The most influential individual I have trained with Master Willie Lim 8th degree Tae Kwon-do.
Lesson Information
Make sure you’re always arrive at the lesson 5 minutes early and be pre-pared for some hard work. Lessons always start with a line up in grade order senior grade always top right hand corner if viewed from the back. This is then followed by the Taekwondo oath. Following this is the warm up – a vital part of all physical sports. Without warming up properly you are much more likely to suffer serious muscle injuries. The rest of the lesson varies, but normally consists of some or all of: Basic movements, Patterns, 1-3 Step Sparring, Semi-Free Sparring, Free Sparring, Small and Large Focus Pad Work, Self defence etc. The lesson normally finishes with stretching and a warm-down.
Equipment
Students will require a number of items of equipment to aid them in training. For beginners, comfortable sports clothing is all that is required, bare feet and no jewellery (for safety reasons). Before a student takes their first grading, they will require the standard TAGB white Dobok.
They will also require a licence (shown below), which is renewable annually. Additional equipment is not required until Blue Tag, when sparring equipment is required to take the grading. However, students are encouraged to purchase equipment as soon as they can afford it, as it greatly improves their training, and loan equipment is not always available. Equipment that should be purchased through myself, can be viewed in the online catalogue, and the order placed with the instructor. It is always advisable to ask the instructors advice whether or not items are suitable for their training before ordering.
Grading Information
Grading’s take place four times a year at and is at the discretion of your instructor. Many things may affect the student’s chance of taking a grading, such as attendance, or the students ability to execute the required moves, but the final decision is with the instructor. All grading’s are usually overseen by Grand Master’s who are members of the TAGB committee and instructor, Mr Jason Rodd. Here, students are called up in front of the examiners and their skills tested relevant to their grade.
Belts and Grades
10th Kup to Yellow stripe (9th Kup) 3 months.- 9th Kup to Yellow belt (8th Kup) 3 months.
- 8th Kup to Green stripe belt (7thKup) 3months.
- 7th Kup to Green belt (6th Kup) 3 months.
- 6th Kup to Blue stripe (5th Kup) 3 months.
- 5th Kup to Blue belt (4th Kup) 3 months.
- 4th Kup to Red stripe (3rd Kup) 6 months.
- 3rd Kup to Red belt (2nd Kup) 6 months.
- 2nd Kup to Black stripe (1st Kup) 6 months.
- 1st Kup to Black belt (1st Dan) 6 months.
- Black belt to 2nd Degree 2 Years.
- 2nd Degree to 3rd Degree 3 Years.
- 3rd Degree to 4th Degree 4 Years.
- 4th Degree to 5th Degree 5 Years
If you are successful in your grading, you will be rewarded for all your hard work with your new belt and a grading certificate, signed by your instructor and the examiner.
Then the hard work begins again with only three or six months to your next grading!
T.A.G.B Syllabus Book
The TAGB have produced an excellent new book for you, the student, and gives all you need to know for your grading’s from White Belt to Black Belt (10th to 1st Kup). This book covers all the colour belt patterns, target areas, all set sparring etc. The book contains over 160 colour photographs and is a very good investment for all students.
If you would like a copy, they will be available from our shop at a cost of £12.95.
Taekwondo Oath
I shall observe the tenets of Taekwondo
I shall respect the instructor and seniors
I shall never misuse Taekwondo
I shall be a champion of freedom and justice
I shall build a more peaceful world
Organisations
Tae Kwon-Do was introduced into the UK during 1967, but owing to subsequent political differences arising in Korea, first two then several competing groups came into existence. A number of these were and are dominated by foreign nationals with financial & political interests in what they are doing. A group of the most senior British TKD instructors eventually became so disillusioned with the situation that in 1983 they joined together to form what is know the Biggest single martial Arts organisation in GB today called “The Tae Kwon-Do Association of Great Britain” T.A.G.B. Our Association has over 600 schools and over 23,000 members across the UK.
The T.A.G.B. also helped found T.K.D.I. Tae Kwon-Do International, the object of which is to bring together TKD practitioners throughout the world. T.K.D.I. is non-political and doesn’t attempt to dictate to member countries how they must run their affairs.
The T.A.G.B. is not just concerned with its own development. That’s why it helped play a leading role in the reunification of British TKD into one body called The B.T.C. The British Tae Kwon-Do Council in 1988.
This organisation is the only governing body of TKD to be recognised by the Sports Council.