David Carmichael established Tan'Gun Taekwondo in the March of 2006 and it is continuing to grow at an astonishing rate…

My first experience of any kind of martial arts involved being literally dragged along to the local Karate club at the age of 9 by my dad who was sick of hearing about me getting bullied at school. To be honest I was such a wimp that I was instantly intimidated by hearing the loud grunts and screams coming from the class. My first reaction? I burst into tears! But I soon took to it, and even began to enjoy it. I look back at that moment and smile to myself now.

Pauline Bindra was my first instructor (who taught with her husband, Lee), I loved it. It was all I knew until I found Taekwondo 16 years later. I still have a great respect and fondness for the founders of The Blitz Corporation.

I am truly honoured to have experienced all that I have in my martial arts career. I have been very lucky indeed to have trained under the best there is.
Now under the watchful gaze of The BTCB, I feel privileged to be surrounded by nothing but fantastic athletes.

Now a full time instructor, I started my working career with no intention of teaching any
kind of martial art. In fact I actually trained as an actor and went on to achieve some kind of modest success working heavily in theatre and physical work and in TV on
The Bill and appearing in several adverts on MTV and BBC On Digital.

What made me change? Well contrasting lifestyles really. I couldn't train in the evenings and  expect to work! So I took a break from it all, got a regular job and went on to gain my black belt and found that I actually enjoyed teaching. It gave and still gives me a certain sense of achievement and satisfaction, and my experience in the theatre has certainly helped with a huge element of teaching.
Maybe some day I'll tread the boards again...

 Best Achievements: 1998 Washington Invitational, GB Team Gold 
                                      Attaining GB Team status 1998-2000 
                                      2003 London Open Champion 
                                      2004 Massar’s/Livingwell/Jidokwan etc Interclub Champion

Personal Ambitions:
More competitions throughout 2006 and beyond.
Getting my students to achieve the best they can both personally and within the competition circuit....and who knows, maybe the Olympics, for my students of course?

More Stuff....

Wednesday June 8th 2005