IMT biographies

Chief Instructor: Master Ron Claassens 6th Dan

Like many martial artists who started in the 70’s, I was influenced by the action of Bruce Lee’s “Enter the Dragon” and David Carridines “Kung Fu”. Starting my life long obsession with the Martial Arts training in GoJu Karate with Merv Oakley in Brookvale when I was 13 years old, then at 20 moved on to Tae Kwon do in 1981 with the AFTA at Macquarie University. Then in 1997 with a group of like-minded martial artists we started the IMT in NSW, we now manage 8 locations.

I've always been broad minded regarding my influences in the Martial arts its a bit like the who's who in the industry. The ones that stand out Benny "The Jet" Urquidez Multi stylist, Bill "Superfoot" Wallace Karate, Prof. Don Jacobs Jui Jutsu, Prof JihanJae Hapkido, Maurice Smith KickBoxing, Chai Sirusuite MuayThai , Grand Master Kwak Tae Kwon Do, Master Callagari Freestyle TKD and many others that I've met along the path we call the martial artists journey. I see myself as an innovator blending my years of experience in martial arts and yoga to develop and tune the body to the highest possible level. With this knowledge I help my students achieve their goals and never stop learning and improving my technique and understanding of the arts.

The history of Taekwondo

General Choi Hong Hi

The history of Taekwon-Do The modern day art of Taekwon-Do has had a long & turbulent history. The art that we practice today maybe a comparatively new innovation compared to some other styles of martial arts, as it's inception to the world was only in 1955, but the substance of this Korean fighting art was based on many years of refined fighting techniques, honed on the battlefields of the Korean peninsular.

Not only have the physical skills of fighting been passed down through the generations of martial arts masters, but so has a philosophical code, a way of life –the Do.

Man has always struggled to overcome his rivals since the dawn of time, whether to protect his family, his home or to seize power & land from others. This quest for domination sowed the seeds for the development of the fighting arts. Our ancestors, through trial & error, formulated scientific principles in an effort to subdue their enemies. This ultimately led to the development of these primitive fighting skills into refined martial arts complete with philosophical values. The purpose of this article is to give the reader an insight into the heritage of the modern art of Taekwon-Do, from both a physical & a philosophical point of view. From the early roots of Korean foot-fighting through to the development of modern Taekwon-Do in the 1940's by General Choi Hong Hi.

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