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A RETIRED ROOFER from Dublin has become the first European man – and only the eighth in the world – to be ranked as an international Taekwon-do grandmaster.
Robert Howard, 72, received his rank as ‘Saesong’ – the Korean word for grandmaster – at the 17th International Taekwon-do Federation world championships in Pyongyang, North Korea, last week.
His new rank is the equivalent of a ninth-degree black-belt – the uppermost of the nineteen different belt rankings. Grandmasters must hold a black belt for a minimum of 35 years – and in many cases for significantly longer – before being considered for the top ranking.
Howard has been a black-belt since 1971, and started his martial arts training in 1966. He was originally trained by another grandmaster, Rhee Ki Ha.
“I’m so honoured to be promoted to Grandmaster by the ITF,” Howard said.
“When I started in Taekwon-Do back in the sixties I never thought I’d be still training today, and still with my original instructor Grandmaster Rhee Ki Ha.
“Perseverance is one of [Taekwon-do founder] General Choi’s five tenets and I’ve always tried to live by them.”
Howard still trains and teaches at his own school in Cabra, and has trained hundreds of black-belt practitioners throughout his time training in Ireland.
Because of his prolific training career, many of the 10,000-or-so Taekwon-do students in Ireland can trace their training to Choi, considered by the ITF to be the founder of the art, and who died in 2002.
His trainer, Korean grandmaster Rhee Ki Ha, is 73 years old and is considered the father of the sport in Ireland, having brought the sport to Ireland and Britain in the 1960s.
The Dubliner – a retired roof-tiler – first came to fame in 1973, when he broke his hand live on national TV while trying to break tiles on the Late Late Show.
He told Morning Ireland this morning that while he would routinely be able to break 10 tiles at once in his younger days, he is still comfortably able to smash six.
You can write off any boost from china now. Leo the liar has spoken
Calling someone a liar in a public forum is a bold move Chris. It is especially troublesome when it is not bolstered with examples (facts). Perhaps you’re just a troll who wishes he were half the man Mr. Varadkar is.
Maybe it was a typo Aoife. Maybe Chris meant Leo the Lion. Then you’d have someone to share your “Leo” crush with. Cute!
Got your mojo back Réada? ;)
Chris McDonnell, well played sir!
Aoife McFadden, not awake yet are we?
Varadadadadadadadadadkar is an awful Liar!!! I personally can’t stand the guy!!! Not another cent he said!! Stinking Liar!!!
Ha! Impressed by people like Dec who are clearly envious of a man with power, good looks and brains.
@Aoife is that you Leo?
@Aoife WTF??? Shoulda went to Specsavers! Have some standards girl! :)
Shut up leo your full of sh1te!!
His latest plan is fir world cup in 2023 when he hopes to be taoisagh no doubt.
However he appears to have been reined in lately
Thank Gid they didn’t use our trains Leo. Talk about slow train to China – the mainline trains here are slower than 24 of the 28 European countries surveyed. Great job Leo. RESIGN. PLEASE.
Wow Frank, I never knew you could overhaul the entire railway system in less than 1 year.
varadker, hahahahaha
When ryanair start making noises about flying to china i will start believing it.
Well considering that Ryanair have expressed an interest in buying upto 400 Chinese manufactured Comac aircraft, I’m surprised that we haven’t heard from MOL over the past few days.
@aoife re Leo “not a cent more” quote is that enough to start with or Bombs going off in Dublin or the cost of Danish funding rose a comment he made that Vincent brown tore apart with a reply he got from Danish central bank.
Do these qualify as un truths ?
A calf, the Cliffs of Moher, Croke Park and a Riverdance concert. Auld Oireland…
Someone slap him please!!!
Oh ye Leo. Bite my bar.
Lucinda would not be happy bunny !!!!
I think Xi was on a shopping trip, dont be too surprised if he bought the cliffs of moher and they start moving them to China next week
Aoife just google any speech this man made before he was elected and compare with what he has done since.
The man does not tell the truth
did Leo Veruka tell the Chinese VP a bomb would go off in Beijing if they did not invest….? I think not.
I do believe the time has come to close this website down or put the contributors into the Central Mental Hospital. Apologies to the patients in this establishment.
We’re not in China yet Mark ;)
Disgusting show of ass kissing by politicians who obviously have no remorse for what’s happening to the people of Syria. Shame on you!!!
Place human rights before trade and money.
ibetans suufer greatly at the hands of China. ~It has to stop.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99oz6JeIFxY&feature=player_detailpage
Ah Leo about as bright as a dark hole !!! Must book that holiday he said I could go on
That’s just genius Leo.
10,000 Chinese visitors each year??? How much do we need to multiply that by to save our ass? 2,2million came in from the EU last year, exceeding the numbers from China every 2 days. And that’s excluding the UK.
Leo et al would serve us better if they could make a dent in the trade deficit we have with China rather than trying to get his name in the newspapers with the zero sum rubbish.
And the Chinese don’t eat much:)
have your say