From humble beginnings to our state of the art facility
Gwangjangnim Gary in 1993
The story so far…
On 23 May 1995 in the Gunnamatta Park pavilion at Cronulla, Taekwondo Cronulla, as we were then known first began teaching fitness, self defence and martial arts to boys, girls, men and women from all ages and walks of life.
In 1996 we moved to the Cronulla Girl Guides Hall on the corner of Gunnamatta Park. After Gary’s Gwangjangnim, Master Kim Chong Soo passed away in early 1998 Gary was fortunate enough to train under some of the top Korean Masters in Australia in preparing for his 4th Dan. In early 2000, Caringbah RSL club was undergoing some major redevelopment and they were kind enough to donate an area within their complex that was not being used for Gary and his Black belts to use as a training facility.
Then, after the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games where Gary was the Taekwondo Presentation Supervisor and Presentation Manager, Gary was invited to travel to Melbourne and grade for his 4th Dan Black belt with Gwangjangnim Martin Hall 7th Dan, who was the Australian Olympic Taekwondo Coach and instructor of Olympic Gold Medallist Lauren Burns - and who is also the Dad and instructor of ‘Angel’ from the Gladiator TV show. On 1 July 2001 after passing that gruelling 4th Dan test alongside Olympic athletes Carlo Massimino and Warren Hansen, Shire Martial Arts moved to Caringbah Nth Primary School Hall where we started the programs that we use today with three junior students and two adult students.
In 2003 we grew out of that hall and we then moved to the auditorium at Woolooware High School. That also got too small! So, on the 23 May 2005, ten years to the day after starting at Gunnamatta Park, we opened up our own full time centre on Taren Point Rd.
Unfortunately, in July 2006 it became apparent that the facility on Taren Point Rd had some major structural problems. After we reported our concerns to a structural engineer we were given 10 minutes notice to vacate the building!!
Twenty five hours later we moved into the Production Rd site! It was a desperate time for SMA as this drama was completely unexpected. In July 2006 the Production Rd facility was literally a concrete bunker with no paint, power points, telephone or carpet. Since then, the complex has filled up with cars as well as with noisy and smelly neighbours. Also in the two and a half years we have been at Production Rd we have had THREE costly break and enters. Production Rd has always been less than ideal parking wise as well. Also, in summer the setting sun blasts the training floor, while in winter the freezing westerly winds chill the place down. Due to the suddenness of moving to Production Rd we agreed to pay an exorbitant rent by only signing a two and a half year lease, which expired in October 2008.
With our lease coming to an end and with us paying such a high rent, we decided that it would be better if we could be in control of our own destiny and secure our OWN BUILDING. From January 2008 Christine and Gary scoured the shire looking for a place that Shire Martial Arts & Shire Yoga (SMASY) can call home…permanently.
At last we found THE place where we could start a whole new and exciting era where together we can take martial arts and Yoga in the Sutherland Shire to the next level when we commenced classes at our brand new training centre at 8/16-18 Northumberland Drive, Caringbah in October 2008.
The main floor size is around 140 sq meters. The roller door opens up onto a bike track and in summer is open to the cool sea breeze. In winter it is protected from the wind. We are currently installing air conditioning for maximum training comfort all year round.
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In 1996 Gwangjangnim Gary was invited to train at the AIS in Canberra for instructor training. Gary is pictured here with World Champion Min Lee from Korea (L) and the Sydney 2000 Head Australian Olympic Taekwondo Coach Jintae Jeong (R)
The ‘Good Old Days’
Before we embark on the ‘NEW’ Good Old Days it’s interesting to reflect on the past 15 years. In that time we’ve:
· Coached students to win regional, state and national Poomsei and sparring competitions as well as enter the world championships of sparring.
· Instructed the Sydney 2000 Taekwondo Demonstration Team.
· Help design the systems for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Taekwondo event and then manage them during the 2000 Olympic Games.
· Manage the 2002 Youth Olympic festival.
· Help organise the Athens 2004 Australian Taekwondo Olympic team.
· Supplied qualified referees to regional, state, national and international sparring events.
· Taught sport, human movement and self defence in Sydney’s High schools and TAFE.
· Presented original keynote speeches and training programs for schools, community groups and service clubs as well as for small business and major corporations all over Sydney.
· Published an acclaimed book about ‘non-violent’ self defence.
· Produced regular feature articles for an international martial arts magazine.
· Produced twenty five 1st Dans, eight 2nd Dans, five 3rd Dans and one 4th Dan.
· Won the ‘Fastest Growing Black Belt School in Australia’ award
· Become the largest and most successful martial arts school in the St George and Sutherland Shires in Sydney's South
. Participated in the Innaugral Australian Taekwondo Bongsul Championship at the AIS
Gary Simmons
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