Interview with Grand Master Val Douglas

Grand Master Douglas began his Taekwon-Do career in 1973 at Dublin’s number 2 club in Sean McDermott Street. Under Mr Robert Howard now (G.M Howard). In his 50 years of TaeKwon-Do, Grand Master Douglas has not only limited his skills to the physical side of TaeKwon-Do. He is also the organiser of many Courses, Seminars, National and International Tournaments; Grand Master Douglas has been on various committees to promote TaeKwon-Do around Ireland. He has been a highly regarded instructor for over 46 years. From 2002-2007 he coached the ITF Ireland National squad with distinction. From 2007 -2009 he was the Director of Coaching for the I.T.F. Ireland National squad. 1977 1st Degree Black Belt Under Grand Master Choi-Hong Hi 1977 Irish National Champion; Power 1st Place 1978 International Seminar under Grand Master Choi Hong Hi 1980 2nd Degree Black Belt under Master Rhee Ki Ha 1980 European Championships, London; Irish Team Member 1982 European Championships, Italy; Irish Team Member 1982 Irish National Champion; Special Technique. 1983 Irish National Champion; Special Technique. 1984 World Championships, Scotland Irish squad member 1985 3rd Degree Black Belt 1985 Waterford Championships, Ireland; Overall Champion 1986 Arklow Championships, Ireland; Patterns 1st Place 1986 Open TaeKwon-Do Championships, Dublin; Sparring 1st Place 1987 Open TaeKwon-Do Championships, Dublin; Patterns 1st Place 1987 British TaeKwon-Do Championship, U.K.; Patterns 2nd Place 1988 4th Degree Black Belt 1989 Coach for two Junior Teams for British TaeKwon-Do Championships; 1st and 2nd Place 1990 Tournament Director for 4 Nations Tournament (Ireland, England, Germany & Holland) 1993 Tournament Director for 12 Nations Tournament Including Russia & Australia 1991-94 Irish Team Manager 1994 5th Degree Black Belt 1994 International Instructors Certificate from I.T.F. Technical committee 1995 International Seminar under Grand Master Choi Hong Hi 1996 Class A International Umpire Certificate 1999 International Seminar under Grand Master Choi Hong Hi (Ireland) 1999 6th Degree Black Belt under Master Choi Jong-Hwa (Ireland) 2002 Irish National Coach for European Championships Squad, Czech Republic 2003 Irish National Coach to I.T.F. Ireland Squad for European Championships, Croatia; Gold Medal for Team Power 2003 Irish National Coach for World Championships Squad, Poland; Gold Medal for Team Power; Gold Medal for Team Pattern 2004 Irish National Coach for World Championships Squad, Finland; Bronze Medal for Team Pattern; Bronze Medal for Team Power; 6 Individual Medals 2004 Irish National Coach for the Junior World Championships Squad, Italy; Gold Medal for Individual Pattern; Bronze Medal for Individual Sparring 2004 International Instructors Course ( Belgium) under I.T.F. Technical Committee 2005 Head Coach, Irish National Team, European Championships, Terracina, Italy 1 Gold, 3 Silver, 3 Bronzes. 2005 7th Degree Black Belt under, Grand Master Van Bihn IX Degree, Master Pablo Trajtenberg VIII Degree, Master Hector Marano VIII Degree, and Master Trân Trieu Quân VIII Degree. (Ireland) 2005 International Instructors course( Ireland ) under I.T.F. Technical Committee 2005 Head coach for Irish National team, World Championships, Germany, 1 Gold, 2 Silver and 2 Bronze Medals 2006 International Instructor Course (Germany) I.T.F. Technical Committee and Master Trân Trieu Quân VIII Degree. 2007 Director of coaching ITF Ireland Squad 2008 Director of Coaching ITF Ireland Squad 2008 European Championships Wroclaw, Poland, Umpire 2008 International Instructors Course, (Ireland) I.T.F. Technical Committee 2009 Director of Coaching ITF Ireland Squad 2009 Tournament Organiser, INTA International ITF Open Championships 2010 Tournament Organiser, INTA International ITF Open Championships 2011 International Instructors course( Ireland ) under I.T.F. Technical Committee 2011 Tournament Organiser, INTA International ITF Open Championships 2012 International Instructors course( England ) under I.T.F. Technical Committee 2012 International Instructors Course (Scotland) Under I.T.F Technical Committee 2012 8th Degree Black Belt under Grand Master Marano, Grandmaster Ung Kim Lan, Grand Master Wim Bos. 2015 International Instructors Course (Scotland) under I.T.F. Technical Committee 2018 International Instructors Course (Ireland) under I.T.F. Technical Committee 2020 Promoted to 9th degree Grand Master by the I.T.F. Promotions committee 2022 International Instructors Course (Ireland) under I.T.F. Technical Committee