Aghalee kids queue round the block for Taekwondo

Earlier this year, saw the opening of Aghalee Junior Taekwondo Club, which is held at Aghalee Village Hall who were in receipt of a grant from CFNI. 

Aghalee Village Hall was set up in 1933 in Trust to manage a village hall and to provide social, educational and recreational course and classes for the local inhabitants of Aghalee and hinterland.

Back in May, the success of the opening night of the Junior Taekwondo club took everyone by surprise, with queues stretching out to the front gate of Aghalee Village Hall.

The club founder and instructor, Peter Wylie, is a BTCB recognised instructor and has over 3 years teaching experience at Maghaberry Taekwondo Club, Maghaberry.

Peter has taught children and adults of all ages in his time at Maghaberry and has decided to take the next logical step and help the Children of his local area, Aghalee.

In addition to Peter, a number of helpers will be involved, and one of these helpers is a 2nd Dan Black Belt Instructor who is also the owner and main instructor of Maghaberry Taekwondo Club.

All helpers will be trained in Child Protection Awareness and will be CBR checked and approved.

With the amazing popularity of the club, Peter and his team decided to divide the students into 2 age groups (6-7 year olds, and 8-12 year olds).

This has proved to be a very successful strategy as it gives almost everyone who wants to join the club, the opportunity to do so. This will also ensure that the children are training with their peers and those of a similar technical ability.

The main aim of the Club is to attract Children from ages 6-12 from all sections of the community, and to develop them from the ages of 6-12, and to achieve this through fun learning techniques.

Benefits from Taekwondo can be enormous for children, developing a child’s co-ordination, discipline, social interaction, awareness, concentration, and ability to take instruction.

The Junior Club members will partake in fund-raising ventures throughout the years to enable any shortfall in outgoing costs to be met, with any surplus being ploughed back into the club for replacement or additional equipment and to further personal development for the students.

If a slot becomes available in the Village hall Peter and his team would strongly consider opening another, 2 hour class for teenagers and adults (13+).

This will not require as much investment as some of the equipment purchased for the Junior class can also be used for the Senior class.

The costs involved with the running of this class should mean it is self sustaining and it is hoped that fund-raising ventures will be enough to raise money for more senior equipment.

If you are interested in joining the Aghalee Junior Taekwondo Club, please contact Peter Wylie on 078 0836 9389, or find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/aghaleetaekwondoclub