We are a university martial arts club that accepts adults of all backgrounds - student or not, from beginner to advanced.
If you have trained in another martial art or different taekwondo club, come along and give us a try! You will start with a white belt until your first grading when our experienced instructors will assess and put you at the rank they believe is right.
If you’re completely new, awesome! You’ll learn a set of new skills while improving your fitness and flexibility.
No matter who you are, come wearing exercise gear you can move in and bring a water bottle. The most important thing we can ask of you is that you try hard and are willing to learn.
What is this club like?
Established in 1971, we are the oldest martial arts club at UQ and have friendly, experienced instructors. We are an ITF club affiliated with the Sang Dan style of Tae Kwon Do.
Sang Dan Tae Kwon Do has evolved as an effective martial art. We concentrate on practical self-defence. Students are taught a broad range of techniques that actually work on the mats and on the street. In this spirit, we incorporate some boxing and grappling techniques into our style.
We place a firm emphasis on practising until pragmatic techniques can be executed powerfully and with fluid speed. We believe the mastery of patterns is essential if a student is to become a truly accomplished martial artist.
Our Instructors:
Daniel Wilson, Head/ Senior Instructor, 2nd Dan
Instructor Wilson began training at UQTKD in 1994. He attained his 1st Dan in 2000 and 2nd Dan in 2005. He has also trained in various styles of karate (mostly Kyokoshin) and kung fu. He has served on the club executive as President as recently as 2009. He is a master of the Special Technique section in the Club Tournament – tiles and pieces of pine quiver whenever he walks near them. He is a teacher by training and this shows in the clarity and humour he brings to the training hall.
Terry McGibbon, Instructor, 1st Dan
Instructor McGibbon is a Civil Engineer, a father of two, and a master of the art of unforgettable one-liners. Known for reminding us that “It’s just a kids’ game.” right before humbling us in sparring, he is the ever-present voice in our heads telling us to “get offline”. His trademark head taps have single-handedly improved the defense of every student in the club from white to black belts. He can count to 20 with ease (which is all you need for Taekwondo), but as him to do derivatives and you’ll see why he sticks to kicking instead.
Izak Devlin, Instructor, 1st Dan
Instructor Devlin grew up in a family with taekwondo running in their blood. With over 20 years of martial arts experience packed into his 22 years of life, has has studied not only taekwondo but also BJJ, MMA, Muay Thai, kickboxing, judo and some wrestling. He is currently an Engineering student at UQ. Known as the club’s buff teddy bear, he is loved by everyone for his warm but violent presence, technical mastery and the way he murders everyone with his drills.