Name , Carl Godden

Age, 50

Grade, 3rd Dan black belt

Club, Kenilworth club

Time Training, 13 years

Favourite colour, black

Favourite film, Ip Man

Favourite Technique, Axe kick / front leg side kick

Best achievement to date, sparring and training with multiple world champions and some of the best fighter in the TAGB, both past and present.  Absolute honour

Brief insight into your Tae Kwon Do.  I started with Mr Carter in my mid-thirties when bringing my eldest son to learn Tae Kwon Do for the first time.  I honestly had no intentions of starting TKD and only joined in to support my very nervous six year old son just go through a couple of things in his first class.  I guess I just kind of got dragged into it really after a “does dad fancy a go as well” moment from one of the instructors Karen Philips.   

The first few months of training as a yellow tag led to me having a go at the competition scene.  Competitions then became my main focus for many years, I got the bug massively.  At my second competition I got my first sparring win and from then on I gained further wins in regionals competitions in both sparring and patterns.  Performances started improving as the belts went by, this was helped massively by going to Mr Carters infamous Tuesday night pad sessions in Rugby where we would turn up and spar other competition fighters from both our club and other clubs around the area.  The early sessions involved getting a good hiding from most of the black belts including both Master Carter and Master White, very tough but I now look back on them fondly, really hard sessions and a fantastic experience.   The experiences gained week in week out at these sessions improved overall fitness significantly and eventually led to continuous sparring wins in the British, English , Welsh, Scottish and Midland championships all in one season for me.  

I’ve met some amazing people during the time I’ve been doing TKD, at competitions, seminars and in class making some friends for life. I was and still am very fortunate that down the road is one of the best TKD instructors in the country.  I will continue to put something back into a sport that has given me so much.

Cheers

Carl

World Master Carter.

Well what can I say about tiny LOL, When I first met carl those who know me need him to get in comps, tall leggy and skinny. Not now by the way!

Seriously Carl has been a fantastic asset to the club since he started, also his kids were great students as well. Also has respect for me and always supported anything we do at the club and the TAGB.

Thank you Carl for your continued support of P4TKD lets hurry up and get you your 4th Dan.

Thank you Carl for a brief history of your TKD journey.