Dai Williams

3rd Dan Black Belt

​I started training in Tae Kwon Do on January 18th 2009 at the age of 55 and a half. My reasons for doing so were that I felt I needed something on which to focus, to maintain a modicum of fitness and to alleviate the stresses and strains of over 30 years of government service, both in and out of uniform. I enjoy the training and try to participate 3 times a week, though this isn’t always possible for one reason or another and I also enjoy the challenges presented by Tae Kwon Do, particularly when trying to learn new patterns or techniques!

The beginners class in which I started was quite a large one, at least by local standards, and consisted a wide mix of ages and abilities, and numbered around 12 people, if I remember correctly, of which I am the last one still in training, unfortunately.

I passed my first grading to 9th Kup on 29th March 2009, and further subsequent colour belt gradings since, until I qualified as a 1st Dan Black Belt on 21st October 2012. Since qualifying as a Black Belt I have completed the Umpires Course, Parts 1 and 2, and have since officiated in a number of competitions both national and regional. I have also attended and passed an Assistant Instructors course, which means that I can assist during training and pass on my knowledge to those lower grades in the class.

My only disappointment since starting training was failing my grading to 2nd Dan in October 2014, however this is only a minor setback and I hope to rectify it shortly. My only regret is that I’ve left it so late in starting Tae Kwon Do and wish that I had started it 20 years ago while much younger and fitter!