A YOUNG Lake Innes boy has achieved a sporting milestone – at the tender age of only 10.
Earlier this week Connor Bailey because the youngest black belt in Rhee Taekwondo between Newcastle and the Gold Coast.
“I was really excited – it was something I have been dreaming of since I started three years ago,” Connor said.
To win his black belt he had to perform a series of board breaks with both hands and feet, display of various grade patterns and spar with multiple black belts, all in front of six senior instructors and 25 of his peers.
Connor is also the first junior instructor to be appointed in the Port Macquarie area in more than four years.
His next goal is to get a first-degree black belt when he turns 16, like his father, Scott, who is an instructor at the Lake Innes Rhee Taekwondo club.
Connor’s eight-year-old brother, Matthew, also shares the family passion, having already achieved his brown belt, two levels below a black belt.
“It’s really a great sport – non-competitive with very little contact,” their father Scott said. “It’s all about self-control and self-discipline.”
There are four centres on the Mid North Coast, including Port Macquarie, Lake Cathie, Kempsey and the Lake Innes one.
Scott said the sport was open to male and female children aged five up as well as adults.
“It is a very affordable sport because we use school halls to keep costs low,” he said.
“We’re actually trying to get more people interested in the sport at the moment and build up numbers.
“The initial joining fee is $50 then $70 a month, but for that can train in any of the centres any night of the week, or any other centre around Australia or even in New Zealand. It’s also a great way to meet people when you are on travelling or on holiday.”
For more information on Rhee Taekwondo in Port Macquarie visit www.portrheetkd.com.au or email pmqrheetkd@live.com.au
