What is Taekwon-Do?
Taekwon-Do, which literally translates as "the art of hand and foot", is a Korean martial art known especially for its impressive kicks. Taking inspiration from Karate and traditional Korean martial arts like Taekkyon, Taekwon-Do was initially developed in the 1950s by General Choi Hong Hi (9th degree), known as the Father of Taekwon-Do, and the other pioneers. Since then, it has spread outward from Korea and is now taught across the globe.
Our Instructor
At the age of just 10, Daniel Beard (3rd degree) started his training under Grand Master Nardizzi (9th degree) at Taekwon-Do Impact's Kensington class. Taekwon-Do quickly became a central part of his life and since then, he has trained in the art continuously, throughout both school and university. After completing these, Daniel decided that Taekwon-Do was where his heart truly lay, which led him to founding Rise Taekwon-Do in 2024, to pass his love for the martial art on to others.
Since the pandemic, he has also become a regular member of the Impact Squad, attending numerous Taekwon-Do competitions each year across the country and in Europe. He is currently the adult England Champion for 3rd degree patterns, having won gold at the 2024 English National Championships.
Key Facts
About Taekwon-Do Impact
Rise Taekwon-Do is a proud member of Taekwon-Do Impact, a non-profit Taekwon-Do association founded by Grand Master Donato Nardizzi (9th degree) in 1996, which is dedicated to promoting and improving the teaching of Taekwon-Do in London. Impact provides resources to instuctors and students and centralises admin burdens, enabling its instructors to focus on the important things: providing students with a safe training environment and high-quality teaching.
There's more to Impact than just paperwork, though; we're a tight-knit community of Taekwon-Do practitioners brought together by a love of the art. You'll find any Impact school to be a warm and welcoming environment with supportive instructors and friendly peers. Our shared passion also leads us to host regular Taekwon-Do events throughout the year, which Rise Taekwon-Do students have access to:
These opportunities combined with our collaborative community atmosphere make Impact one of the best places to train in Taekwon-Do, full stop.
Visit the Taekwon-Do Impact website
About the ITF
Through Impact, Rise Taekwon-Do is affiliated with the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF). Founded in 1966 by Choi Hong-Hi, the ITF is the body responsible for overseeing the practice of Taekwon-Do worldwide. It sets and enforces the standards for teaching, training and competing, with the aim of ensuring consistency across the globe. The ITF provides advanced training courses for senior black belts, sets the competition rules that most tournaments adhere to and licenses its instructors to teach, but does not take a direct involvement in students' training.
Our local branch of the ITF, called ITF England, plays a larger role in the day-to-day lives of students. In addition to facilitating cooperation between Taekwon-Do clubs in England, ITF England hosts its own competitions and seminars. These are open to all members of affiliated associations, including Rise Taekwon-Do students. In addition, for those with ambitions in the competitive side of Taekwon-Do, ITF England is responsible for selecting athletes for the national squad, who represent England in the European and World Championships.
Visit the ITF website Visit the ITF England website