Martial Arts For Everyone

About the TAGB


The Tae Kwon-Do Association of Great Britain (TAGB) 
 
The Tae Kwon-Do Association of Great Britain (TAGB) is a nationally recognised Tae Kwon-Do organisation. 
 
It was formed in 1983 and has since become the founding member of the British Tae Kwon-Do Council (BTC) which is recognised by the United Kingdom Sports Council. 
 
TAGB instructors are highly qualified, accredited individuals with many years' experience in teaching mixed classes which often include young children and disability groups. 
 
Training in Tae Kwon-Do can start at any age. 
 
TAGB members start as young as five and recently one of our members gained his fifth dan black belt on his 70th birthday! 
 
Because of its high-kicking, fast-paced style Tae Kwon Do is a thoroughly modern way of getting fit. 
 
The TAGB is a great advocate of fun and fitness at an early age and TAGB instructors often work with local schools to teach self-defence. 
 
As the largest martial arts organisation in the world the TAGB has over 25,000 accredited members, 600 schools, and organises seminars with World Masters, demonstrations, and national, regional and international championships every month of the year. 
 
The TAGB is not just concerned with its own development, this is why it has played a leading role in the reunification of British Tae Kwon-Do into one body. In 1988, the TAGB helped found the British Tae Kwon-Do Council (BTC), this being the only governing body of Tae Kwon-Do to be recognised by the Sports Council. 
 
The TAGB also helped found Tae Kwon-Do International, the object of which is to bring together Tae Kwon-Do practioners throughout the World. 
 
Tae Kwon-Do International is non-political and it doesn't ttempt to dictate to member countries how they must run their affairs. 
 
Since its foundation in 1993, Tae Kwon-Do International has grown to become one of the biggest World Tae Kwon-Do bodies. 
 
Its World Championships are amongst the largest and best organised and it draws its participation from every contingent. 
 
Tae Kwon Do training is about learning to discipline your mind as well as your body and TAGB instructors always include elements in their teaching which help their students to develop mentally as well as physically. 
 
With schools throughout the country the TAGB is the ideal organisation for learning a martial art that has evolved through a 3,000 year history to become the newest Olympic Sport.  

About Cullompton TaeKwon-Do
Since 18 June 1987 
Cullompton TaeKwon-Do has been running for over 30 years.
Initially it was under the instruction of Mr Paul Smith, a 3rd degree black belt of the TAGB, and my first instructor. Paul returned back to his 'home' in the north of England in 1998 to be with his family, and Mr Daren Sainsbury (3rd degree at the time) took over. Daren gained his 4th degree soon after, and due to other teaching commitments in 1999, left the school in the capable hands of Mr Chris Clarke (2nd degree at the time). In 2001 Chris decided to join PUMA (Professional Unification of Martial Arts) which was formed on 1st September 2000. Most of his students joined PUMA alongside Chris, and some stayed with the TAGB.
Over the next 17 years, with the aid of assisstant instructor Adam Appleby, Chris taught over 200 students with 49 of them achieving a black belt (Including 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Degree).
Chris Clarke retired as a 4th degree, from TaeKwon-Do at the end of Sept 2017. And on 1st  October Adam, also a 4th degree, took over as instructor.
Adam Appleby started training in March 1996 . He graded for 1st degree black belt in 1999 with the TAGB in front of a panel of 6th degree black belts, headed by Master Michael Dew (Now 8th degree). In 2002 he graded with PUMA, again in front of a panel 6th degree black belts headed by Master Ray Gayle (Now also 8th degree). He graded for 3rd degree in October 2004 and 4th degree in October 2009 under the careful scrutiny of Senior Master Ray Gayle, senior Master Jonny Black (8th degree), Master Mark Ogborne (7th degree), and Mr Rob Tettmar (6th degree).
Adam has also trained under Grandmaster Choi Jung Hwa (9th degree and the son of the founder of TaeKwon-Do General Choi Hong Hi), Grandmaster Kwan Jang Nim Cariati (9th degree and ICTF president), Grandmaster Ray O'Neill (9th degree), and First Grandmaster Rhee Ki Ha (9th degree and the first grandmaster promoted by the the founder, General Choi).
In November 2023 after being diagnosed with a health issue, Adam reluctantly stopped teaching but a Knight in shining armour, (Shane Knight of the TAGB), stepped in to enable Adam's students to continue their Taekwon-Do journey.
I'm sure they will go from strength to strength.