Mr. Gareth Curran 6th Degree Black Belt (VI)

Mr. Curran (VI) is the Chief Instructor and Examiner at Maynooth Taekwon-Do School. He began his Taekwon-Do career in October 1985 at Crumlin Taekwon-Do Club under the instruction of Mr. Val Douglas, 2nd degree, who is now Grand Master Douglas (IX). Throughout the next five years, Mr. Curran progressed through the colour belt ranks, grading under Mr. Brendan O’Toole (now Grand Master O’Toole). During this period, he competed at colour belt level both nationally and internationally and was very successful in patterns, sparring and power events, winning many national and international tournaments.

In 1990, at the age of twelve, Mr. Curran graded under Master Hee Il Cho (now Grand Master Cho) of the Action International Martial Arts Association (AIMMA) and was promoted to 1st degree black belt. He was the youngest ITF black belt in Ireland at that time. He continued to compete very successfully at black belt level and in 1992 was promoted to 2nd degree black belt at the age of fourteen.

Over next thirty years Mr. Curran continued to be involved in all aspects of Taekwon-Do. He was privileged to carry on training under Grand Master Douglas and continues to do so today. In 2007 he opened Maynooth Taekwon-Do School, which has gone from strength to strength and helped students of all backgrounds and abilities to achieve their goals. He continued to compete successfully and graded through the dan grades under Grand Master O’Toole, Grand Master Douglas and Master Martin. In June 2022 he was awarded his 6th degree black belt by Grand Master Douglas and two senior ITF Masters.

Mr. Curran has acted as Secretary General for a national association, been involved in organising events such as national and international tournaments, technical seminars and International Instructor Courses, and he has been a national chief umpire. He has been a participant in numerous events and seminars including one taught by General Choi Hong Hi, the founder of Taekwon-Do. He is involved in self-protection and awareness training and has completed courses on the Code of Practice and Ethics for Children in Sport.

Training

• Commenced Taekwon-Do under the instruction of Grandmaster Val Douglas at Crumlin Taekwon-Do School in 1985.

A Selection of Competition Wins

• TAI Open Championships
• AITA National Championships
• RDSKA Championships
• Dublin Taekwon-Do and MMA
• Annual Youth Championships
• Taekwon-Do Championships
• British Championships
• Cork Taekwon-Do Championships
• Dublin Taekwon-Do Championships
• Bushido Karate Kai
• South Eastern Championships
• TAI Spring Championships
• Celtic Taekwon-Do Open Championships
• Taekwon-Do Open Championships
• Taekwon-Do Sport Championships Scotland
• Taekwon-Do Sport Championships Scotland (Team)

Gradings

• Awarded 1st Degree Black Belt by Master Hee Il Cho (AIMAA) in 1990
• Awarded 2nd Degree Black Belt by Master Hee Il Cho (AIMAA) in 1992
• Awarded 2nd Degree Black Belt by the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) in 1993
• Awarded 3rd Degree Black Belt by the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) in 2009
• Awarded 4th Degree Black Belt by the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) in 2011
• Awarded 5th Degree Black Belt by the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) in 2016
• Awarded 6th Degree Black Belt by the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) in 2022

International Instructors Courses

• Completed an International Instructors Course in Dublin, Ireland
• Completed an International Instructors Course in Tralee, Ireland
• Completed an International Instructors Course in Riccione, Italy

Courses and Seminars

• Instructor Training Course
• National Technical Seminars
• Referee/Umpire Training Course
• Seminars under Grand Master Val Douglas
• Seminars under General Choi Hong Hi
• Seminars under Master Hee Il Cho
• Seminars under Master Henk Meijer
• Training in Close Quarter Combat
• Pressure Point Techniques with Master Willie Lim
• Self Defence and Awareness Courses

Courses Related to Child Protection

• Garda Vetted
• Code of Practice & Ethics for Children in Sport

Instructors

• Mr. Gareth Curran, IV Dan
  (Chief Instructor and Examiner)
• Mr. Sean Heneghan, IV Dan
• Mr. Jim Sheridan, IV Dan
• Mr. James Sheridan, IV Dan
• Mr. Jakub Agarski, I Dan
• Ms. Núla Curran, I Dan
• Mr. David Green, I Dan
• Mr. Saul Connolly, I Dan

Children's Officers

• Mr. Gareth Curran, IV Dan
  (Chief Instructor and Examiner)

Black Belts

• Mr. Gareth Curran, IV Dan
  (Chief Instructor and Examiner)
• Mr. Sean Heneghan, IV Dan
• Mr. Jim Sheridan, IV Dan
• Mr. James Sheridan, IV Dan
• Ms. Jessica Sheridan, IV Dan
• Mr. Jakub Agarski, I Dan
• Ms. Núla Curran, I Dan
• Mr. David Green, I Dan
• Mr. Martin Agarski, I Dan
• Mr. David Agarski, I Dan
• Mr. Saul Connolly, I Dan
• Mr. Cathal O'Carroll, I Dan
• Mr. Ben Cunningham, I Dan
• Mr. Matt Smith, I Dan
• Ms. Nikola Brady, I Dan
• Mr. Rodney Cassidy, I Dan
• Ms. Nuala O'Dea, I Dan
• Mr. Sam Burke, I Dan
• Mr. Adam Kiely, I Dan
• Ms. Hazel Kiely, I Dan
• Ms. Andzelika Seskute, I Dan
• Mr. Max Cunningham, I Dan
• Mr. Oisin Nolan, I Dan
• Ms. Molly Nolan, I Dan
• Ms. Matthew Carroll, I Dan
• Mr. Johan Van Vlaenderen, I Dan
• Mr. Liam Adams, I Dan