Grandmaster Hee Il Cho's International Seminar, Scotland

This was the biggest event in the history of AIMAA Scotland!! Grandmaster Hee Il Cho, our President & Founder teaching a once in a lifetime seminar to AIMAA members from around Europe.

Master Kirkwood and AIMAA Scotland where immeasurably proud to host our Grandmaster during his European Tour. Tuesday 22nd September was the date that everyone in AIMAA Scotland had been looking forward to and it certainly lived up to everyone's expectations.

Over 200 Students and Instructors joined the AIMAA Masters at John Wright Sport Centre in East Kilbride to learn from the greatest martial artist of all time.

Grandmaster Cho entered the hall to rapturous applause after each of the AIMAA Master present at the event, Master D'arcy, Master Byrne and Master Kirkwood, had been introduced to equally enthusiastic rapture.

After welcoming everyone to the event, Grandmaster Cho lead everyone through a few quiet moments of relaxation/ meditation to calm everyone before training began. This certainly was the calm before the storm and gave everyone the chance to take a few deep breaths and clear their mind before the seminar truely kicked off.

The flexability shown by Grandmaster Cho at this seminar was at times, unbelievable and he began by taking the seminar participants through a full body stretching program in preperation for the punching and kicking that was to come.

After everyone was well warmed up and ready to go, Grandmaster Cho lead everyone through an array of basic techniques emphasising the need to deliver blocks and punches with 100% power. At nearly 70 years of age it was amazing to watch the Grandmaster show exactly how every technique should be delivered and to witness how perfect technique can generate immeasurable power!

Moving into the second hour of the seminar, Grandmaster Cho began to up the pace and lead everyone through an array of fighting techniques as well as footwork drills and avoidence techniques.

Grandmaster Cho also pushed everyone through some extensive and highly dynamic kicking drills. These involved doing multiple kicks before placing the leg down and some excellent combination kicking up and down the hall.

One of the most special parts of the seminar came when Grandmaster Cho took the time to teach and interact with the youngest members of AIMAA Scotland. Each of the young children were lead through some exciting and fun drills as Grandmaster Cho replaced the children's usual 'Kihap' with something a little different! As the kids punched and kicked Grandmaster Cho had them screaming at the tops of their voices "I love my mum", "I love my dad" and "I love Tae Kwon Do". These memories will surely live on with all of the children for many years to come.

This seminar was truely special for everyone in attendance. From the AIMAA Masters in attendence down through the ranks to the white belt children everyone was left spellbound by this wonderful martial artist.

It was not only the physical aspect of the seminar that will live with the participants but also the enlightening wisdom that Grandmaster Cho bestowed upon everyone.

It was truely an honour for everyone in attendance to be part of such a special occasion.

Belgacem's School of Cho's Tae Kwon Do would like to thank Master Kirkwood and Mrs Kirkwood for organising this event. It was an amazing night in the history of Scottish martial arts.