News

This page shares the latest news from LCTKD, including news of recent events and celebrations. The most recent events are at the top, and you can scroll down to take you back through what's been happening in recent months.

For information about class changes contact your Instructor, whose e-mail is on the relevant class pageor see our Facebook page. TaeKwonDo students can also use our LC-TKD app to check for holidays and scheduled class changes.

The Bredon Hill Cup

What an incredible day for the finals of our multi-art, multi-age event. Find out about it, and see all the results, on our Bredon Hill Cup page by clicking on the photo above. And there's 75 photos from the event on our Facebook post, which you can see by clicking on it below, and you don't need a Facebook account to see it.

Senior Tai Chi Instructor

Many congratulations to Mrs Michelle Baker on becoming only our second ever Senior Instructor in Tai Chi. Michelle, who has studied Tai Chi for three decades and who was a Tai Chi teacher long before joining LCTKD, came to us to train with Neil R. Hall, and went on to qualify as an Instructor with LCTKD eight years ago. Since then, Michelle has taught popular classes for LCTKD at the Artrix in Bromsgrove and in Badsey, taught many workshops, produced teaching videos, taught on teacher training courses, and brought her own students through from beginner to Instructor. The picture shows her with some of her students from the Artrix, and you can find all our classes by clicking on the photo. Congratulations Michelle!

Ten Years of Tai Chi

It's great to have so many students who stay with us for more than a decade, and an increasing number of them are students of Tai Chi. Thanks, well done and congratulations to Sheena Howarth, Wendy Pollard, Roland Merrick and Sandra Weeks, receiving their 10 year certificates from Droitwich Instructor Sheriden Rollo, and Senior Instructor Louise Morey. We have Tai Chi in Bournheath, Bromsgrove, Droitwich, Peopleton, Coughton Court and Badsey. (You can click on the photo to look for a Tai Chi class near you.)

A New Goose Lake Gathering?

In 1175 there was a gathering of scholars at a place called the Goose Lake, which marked a pivotal point in Neo-Confucianism. We had our own gathering of scholars, also discussing Neo-Confucianism, this time considering its impact on martial arts with this fine group of philosophers. Gatherings like these are part of our Zendo work, which you can find out about by clicking on the photo.

Senior TaeKwonDo Instructor

Many congratulations to Mrs Rebecca Stanley on becoming a Senior Instructor, which only a few people ever achieve. It takes years of teaching and advanced training to get there. Here she is receiving her award from our Director of Education and Training, Mrs Helen M F Hall.

Rececca began her career as Instructor by teaching her own class in Chipping Campden, and supporting after school classes in the Cotswolds, then later took on the teenagers class in the Cotswolds village of Blockley, as well as supporting several other classes, studying Kickboxing as a second art, and helping in the training of Instructors. She is now also teaching a new class in Cheltenham, which you can find out about by clicking on the photo.

Eclipsed!

Solar eclipse happening during class time? No problem! Blockley's Mrs Rebecca Stanley bought eclipse glasses for all the students, teachers and parents coming to her own seniors class and Mrs Hall's juniors class, and both classes moved outside so that they could watch the eclipse. There was also birthday cake for everyone to celebrate Mrs Hall's birthday. What a nice memory that has given people.

Chinatown Instructor

Congratulations to Edward Sun on becoming our latest TKD Instructor in London Chinatown. Edward started his TaeKwonDo journey as a little one in an after school class with our Chief Instructor Neil R. Hall in 2008. Nobody but our Directors started with us before that. He continued in our Chinese Community Centre classes at our original venue before the Centre moved to its current home, and continued his journey under Mr Jon Alagoa from 2013. Well done Edward!

Tai Chi Picnic

Droitwich Tai Chi's ever popular summer event, at a new spot in the park this year, was blessed with glorious weather, great Tai Chi, a fabulous picnic and even the introduction of a new Tai Chi painting by Droitwich student Simon Holloway. So of course a wonderful time was had by all!

Wei Qi with Lighthouse Tai Chi

Our friends David Pelling and Helena Kean from Lighthouse Tai Chi were back with another great workshop, and as you can see a very happy group. Lots of our Instructors involved, and it's always teaching of the highest level with Lighthouse. We are looking forward to the next one!

Referees

Congratulations to the TKD students taking the sparring referees course, led by Mrs Rebecca Stanley. Thanks to Mr and Mrs Hall for their support, and to our wonderful junior sparring volunteers who fought so hard on a very hot day, allowing Mrs Stanley to include refereeing for younger students in the training. And thanks to the Jubilee Hall in the Cotswolds village of Blockley for switching the ceiling fans on for us! Click on the photo to see the full set of photos on our Facebook page, even if you don't have a Facebook account.

11 New Teaching Assistants

Congratulations to our latest intake of Teaching Assistants, who came from Tai Chi, Qigong, TaeKwonDo and Iaido. A special thank you to course leader Mrs Helen M.F. Hall to the course teachers Mrs Michelle Baker, Mrs Rebecca Stanley, and Miss Flora Hamilton-Jones, as well as to Chief Instructor Neil R. Hall who came along to help. Well done everyone! There's a full set of photos on our Facebook page, and you can see them all even if you don't have a Facebook account by just clicking on the group photo above.

10 Years

So many of our students over the past year who have passed the 10 year mark with us. Well done to you all! Here are Blockley TKD's Theo Fittes, who received his certificate from Mrs Rebecca Stanley, and just before him came Droitwich Tai Chi's Sue Field. Sue, who received her certificate from Droitwich Instructor Sheriden Rollo, is an Assistant Instructor herself, and also studies at Peopleton with Senior Instructor Louise Morey.

Swords in Northamptonshire

Lots of fun and plenty of cake when Iaido Tutor John Cartwright and Chief Instructor Neil R. Hall travelled to Higham Ferrers in Northamptonshire to meet up with Sensei Barry Jones's Rushden Iaido class for a kumitachi (sword fighting drills) workshop. A truly happy and welcoming group. You can find out about the class in Wellingborough by clicking on the photo above.

World Tai Chi Day 2026

Our ever popular free World Tai Chi Day event for everyone from tiny tots to nonogenerians has been running since 2013, and it was a glorious sunny day for the 2026 event, led by Sheriden Rollo. Thanks to her and all the teachers who helped, to Neil R. Hall for his technical workshop later, and to the sixty people who came along, some from a very long way, to make it so special. See you next year!

Samurai Talk

An truly interesting morning was had when Wellingborough Iaido's Sensei Barry Jones gave a talk to the Higham Ferrers Chichele Society, about the history of the Samurai, with a demonstration of Ikikai Iaido. A big thank you to Barry, and to the many people who came along.

Five Elements

A big thank you to Michelle Baker, who ran a free workshop for LCTKD teachers on Five Elements Qigong. No photographs! We understand too much tea was being taken in the breaks. Which reminds us also to thank the many teachers who attended, who enjoyed a very intersting afternoon, and who are looking forward to Michelle's next workshop.

Thank You to our Patron

After 30 years of incredible service to the community, our Patron Mrs Christine Yau MBE has stepped down as Chair of the London Chinese Community Centre, and she has taken up a new role as Honorary Cultural Ambassador to the Centre.

A big reception was held in honour of Christine, at the Hippodrome in Leicester Square. Our London Director Mr Jon Alagoa and his team represented LCTKD at the event, and the picture shows Christine, Jon, and Chinatown Instructor Miss Angela Sun. We owe so much to Christine, without whom LCTKD would not exist. A huge thank you to her and we wish her all the very best in her new role.

Two New Tai Chi Classes

It was great to open the year of the Fire Horse new Tai Chi classes focused on beginners, at the Artrix in Bromsgrove with Michelle Baker, and at Coughton Court with Louise Morey.

You can find out more about these classes with the links below.

Martial Applications

Well done to those who came and took part in a special workshop looking at the Martial Applications of Yang Style Tai Chi with multiple Black Belt and LCTKD Chief Instrucor, Neil R. Hall, ably assisted by double Black Belt, multi martial artist Lisa Williams, both of whom have long experience in Tai Chi alongside several other arts. They were caught here on a tea break!

Teaching Team

Well done to two key members of our teaching team. Dave Holmes, who has become an Assistant Instructor, helps to teach TaeKwonDo, Ensodo, and Iaido. John Cartwright, who has experience in many different martial arts, now teaches Iaido. Congratulations to them on taking another step up, and a big thank you to them both.

Black Belts

Broom in Warwickshire saw three Black Belt awards to local TaeKwonDo students after a fabulous final examination following months of preparation and assessment. Broom TKD's Instructor Mr Doug Knight became a 3rd Dan, with Tutor Miss Tilly Allen and Teaching Assistant Mr Theo Morgan both achieving their 1st Dan. Well done to all three on superb performances, and thanks to family and friends who came to share the day. Big thanks also to Chief Instructor Neil R. Hall, head of the panel, and to fellow panel members Mrs Helen M F Hall and Mrs Rebecca Stanley, who together also organised the whole event. A full set of photos are available on our Facebook page, even if you don't have a Facebook account, by clicking on the post below.

Special Guest: The TeapotmOnk

It was a laughter filled and insightful workshop when Paul Read, one of the country's foremost Tai Chi teachers, distinguished author, and founder of one of the world's best known on-line Tai Chi schools, came to visit. At the long ago sold out get together, those lucky enough to be there were treated to Paul opening everyone's eyes (sometimes by closing them!) to what Tai Chi is and how it can be practised and taught. What a great day.