Branch Instructor Peter Dunlop

Branch/Region

How long have you been training in Taekwondo? And what got you started?

I have been training in Taekwondo for about 13 years. I got interested in martial arts after watching my first Van Damme movie and was amazed to watch someone kick above their own head height.

Highlights of your Taekwondo success?

Other than gaining my 1st and 2nd degree black belts, I would have to say the highlight of my Taekwondo success was seeing one of my students, who started under me as a white belt, progress over the years and gain his black belt at an amazing grading where he jumped 5 students before breaking boards. A feat I have seen very few other students do at their black belt grading. I can’t help but wonder if it was the same feeling a proud parent would feel.

Describe your first black belt grading, and what it took to get you there?

I did what I thought was a great deal of training to get me to my first black belt grading, my weekly regime consisted of: several morning rowing sessions; 5 gym workouts; rock climbing; mountain biking on weekends; and doing 4 Taekwondo sessions with an additional garage session most weekends. Even with all this training I still felt unfit on the day, I really underestimated how hard a black belt grading could be. I had trained and practised all the board breaks before the grading however on the day I was told to do my spinning heel kick with my right leg, the opposite leg to which I had practiced this particular board break. After my initial shock to this instruction, I just remembered that my friends and parents were in the audience and I did not want to let them down. I then smashed that board first go. I will never forget that huge feeling of accomplishment when the master instructor announced my promotion, the hard training was definitely worth it.

How often do you train? In Taekwondo? Gym? etc

My training at the moment consists of 5 Taekwondo sessions a week either at the training centre or in our garage which has been fitted out for trainings. Outside of Taekwondo I try and do at least 50-100 push-ups and sit-ups every day. I also occasionally do sprint trainings up a large flight of stairs to improve my foot speed.

Favourite Taekwondo move or moves?

I am only happy if I am in the air! All my favourite kicks are off the ground with the current one I am working on involving breaking a board held about 8 feet off the ground (about the same height as the light bulb on your average ceiling). I have also jumped a piano while doing a flying sidekick.

What are your goals in Taekwondo for 2009?

I am training for my 3rd degree black belt at the moment which is scheduled for December. By this time I intend on demonstrating just how dynamic yet powerful Taekwondo can really be. I also want to help my students grow and develop as martial artists by offering them as much help as possible.

What would you like to see more of or less of in United Taekwondo that could benefit members?

I would like to see more families join. We have many kids training but rarely do they bring along their parents. In my opinion you are never too old to learn martial arts and in fact it is one of the best activities for joint flexibility and overall fitness.

Has Taekwondo benefited home life? If so in what way?

I met my wife through Taekwondo so home life is great. It does not matter if you are joining Taekwondo for fitness reasons or for social reasons, United Taekwondo has something to offer everyone. It is easily one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Your favourite saying and what this means?

“Its a funny thing about life, if you accept nothing less than the best, you very often get it.”
I like this quote because it reminds me that I should never just be happy with my technique, I should always strive to improve it.
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit”
This quote is a good reminder to all students that excellent technique, if practiced regularly, will over time become a habit.
“Eighty percent of success is showing up”
Well actually this is just a reminder to students who have not been to training in a few weeks.... you know who you are.
“Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there!”
Too often people do not push themselves hard enough and then wonder why those once junior to them are now senior.
“Pain is weakness leaving your body...”
I like this saying because every time I am in pain either from, or during hard trainings, I remind myself that it is just the weakness leaving.

Best advice you can give someone training and wishing to start training in Taekwondo?

Aim for the ceiling..... literally, and be the best that you can be.

What other activities apart from Taekwondo do you enjoy?

I enjoy anything that is fast and/or dangerous. I like riding my motorbike, rock climbing, caving free diving, and pretty much anything that gives you an adrenalin rush or could result in serious bodily harm.

Favourite movie(s) and why?

There are several really great movies that deserve mention and I have ranked them in order:

Ong Bak – Even though this movie is subtitled and in Thai, Tony Jaa is an amazing martial artist who does near impossible tricks without using stunt men or ropes.
Fists of Legend – Personally I think this is Jet Li’s finest piece of work, It is a remake of the early Bruce Lee movie Fist of Fury except Jet Li’s version is better.
Best of the Best A motivational movie which of course revolves around martial arts.
No Retreat No Surrender – the movie which started it all for me. Van Damme, although the bad guy, is awesome. The main character though shows that hard training and sheer determination will always win.

Favourite food?

Is beer a food group? Ok assuming it isn’t, I would have to say steak.

With regards to Taekwondo where do you see yourself in 5 years?, 10 years?

5 Years – 4th Dan with several of my students progressing to 2nd degree instructor and opening their own centres.

10 Years – A well respected senior instructor across the martial arts community.

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