About Us
The Club
'Gajok' (가족) means family in Korean and that is exactly what we are. All the students at the club have a very strong bond, from the youngest junior grades through to the most experienced senior, all are friends as well as club members. We like to keep the club all-inclusive and affordable. Gajok doesn't go down the line of making a martial art a business. Gajok is a club, a passion and just a great place to be and to learn a martial art!
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The club started from humble beginnings back in 2003 with a handful of students and classes delivered out of parish halls and schools. Steady growth of the club and progression of our members saw the club go from strength to strength, moving into bigger and better venues as the club built its membership and began to gain a senior group to assist and mentor the new members coming through.
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It was very evident that we had a great deal of talent in the club and under the excellent tutelage of Claire and Adam, the club embarked on competition. We compete in both Kyorugi and Poomsae tournaments where we have been very successful, gaining National Champions in Poomsae, Freestyle, Para and Kyorugi, a European Champion in Poomsae and winning numerous medals in individual, pairs and teams along the way, regularly finishing in the best placed club positions at tournaments.
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We also have a number of club-mates who are proud members of the Great Britain Poomsae and Kyorugi National Teams.
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Gajok is an all-inclusive club, welcoming persons with physical and/or intellectual disabilities, with some of our club members competing regularly in the Para Taekwondo divisions at tournments around the country.
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In recent times, it was felt that we needed our own base. The move into our own dojang epitomised the ethos of the club with club members and parents pulling together to offer hours of help for fundraising and to assist in constructing and decorating the interior of the new dojang and we finally had our own home.
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It is not only at the club we meet. We have regular events and parties where we all meet up outside of Taekwondo with members (and parents) having some great times together!
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Gajok is family!
The Instructors
Claire Howard
Claire first started teaching Taekwondo in 2002. Currently a 5th Dan Master, Claire has progressed over 40 students to black-belt and above and is a current member of the GB Poomsae team, competing across the UK and Europe for club and country. Claire is widely known and respected within the Taekwondo circuit, regularly judges at Poomsae competitions nationwide and was voted Lancashire Sports Coach of the Year in 2017.
Adam Donley
After starting Taekwondo in 2002 Adam gained his black belt aged 17 and is currently a 4th Dan. He has been with the club for almost 20 years, as student and coach. Adam pays close attention to strength and fitness training and with an eye for detail, Adam also judges on the Poomsae competition circuit as well as mentoring and coaching at Koryugi competitions.