Joey Sanchez 2nd Dan

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I have been doing Tae Kwon-Do for many years, my story started when I was around 7. I saw a young boy in a white Tae Kwon-Do uniform running to a church hall, I grabbed my mum and dragged her to the hall to see what it was. The hall was filled with people doing Tae Kwon-Do, I said to my mum “That’s what I want to do” her reply was, “If I get you the dobok (uniform) you’re not quitting.” I stuck by my agreement with my mum and I wanted to make her proud of me.

It would not have been possible to get to where I am without my mum’s support. She gave me all of her time and money to get me to classes, gradings and competitions – for that I owe her everything.

During my early years in Tae Kwon-Do I had many different instructors. On reflection, I have come further in my own TKD career than any of those instructors and fellow students who have come and gone over the years. Fortunately, Mr Pereira IVth Dan was the last Tae Kwon-Do instructor to teach my training classes and I have been under his instruction ever since. He is a great inspiration to my training and without him I would have stopped long before now. Mr Bertrand VIth Dan is our chief instructor, without his determination to build a great school of Tae Kwon-Do and martial artists, who knows what I would be doing?

The young man I am today is thanks to Tae Kwon-Do, it has given me something positive to focus my mind on. Training with and being taught by a fantastic group of people has taught me to how to help and support others in their training. Overall, Tae Kwon-Do makes you a better person in mind and body.

I am currently a 2nd Dan and I know there are many years ahead til grand master. Soon enough I hope to have a class and students of my own. I’m sure with the guidance and experience of my instructor I will be doing that in no time. Looking back, the journey it has been worth while and I wouldn’t change it for anything.

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