About The Clubs
This site is for the Tae Kwon Do schools run by Mr. Alec Hay, based in the Somerset towns of Taunton, Wellington and Yeovil
Alec started Yeovil 1989, and has been in charge of the running of numerous schools in the area, gradually adding Wellington and Taunton to the list.
As well as the main classes in these towns, catering for Adults and juniors, there are there are also classes for the younger children (where they can start as young as four) called the “TAGB Tigers”. This is a popular and growing branch of the Association, where the younger ones are taught Tae Kwon Do mixed with exercise-based games, as it is recognised that the attention span of the children at that sort of age is too short to expect them to be able to concentrate as long as the Juniors. (See gallery photos And Tigers section)
The students take part in regular gradings, which are overseen by a visiting Senior Black Belt Master, and are held every three months. They are also encouraged to join in with competing in tournaments, which the TAGB hold regularly, and, as you might expect from such a large organisation are of a very high standard. Alec is very pleased that his students do well in supporting, and bringing home a good share of medals and trophies from these events. (See gallery photos).
Of course, one thing that anyone would like to aspire to is to gain a Black Belt. This is recognised as a serious level of achievement all over the world, and there is a really good track record of a steady stream of students every year who have reached this level under Mr. Hay’s guidance. With regular training of average two or three times a week, most people, if they show the required amount of dedication, find they can achieve this level in about four years. (See gallery photos).
Taunton TAGB School has two weekly venues: Monday at Bishop Fox School and Thursday at Blackbrook Pavilion Sports Centre.
Wellington is at Wellington Sports Centre,
and
Yeovil is at Buckler’s Mead Sports Centre (For details see Training times section)
The Instructors
Name: Alec Hay
Grade: 6th Dan
The chief Instructor of the Taunton, Wellington, Yeovil and Crewkerne clubs is Alec Hay, who is a 6th Dan Black Belt, and a former British and Regional Champion at power testing (board breaking). He is also a qualified senior Tournament Referee.
He has been training in Tae Kwon Do for over 25 years, and opened his first club in 1989.
He is a dedicated full-time professional instructor, with students up to 3rd Dan Black Belt, some of whom are qualified Instructors.
Name: Graham Pitkin
Grade: 3rd Dan
Graham Pitkin is the Assistant Instructor at Yeovil. He is a Third Dan Black Belt who has been training since 1989.He is also a qualified Referee.
Name: Ian Bazley
Grade: 3rd Dan
Ian Bazley is the Assistant Instructor at Wellington. He is a Third Dan Black Belt who has been training since 1989.He is also a qualified Referee. Ian is a popular and enthusiastic Team Leader on Junior Summer Camps.
Name: Leanda Gage
Grade: 3rd Dan
Leanda Gage is the Assistant Instructor at Taunton. She is a Third Dan Black Belt. Leanda is a tournament competitor with a great track record, including British and Welsh Gold medals. She is also a qualified Referee. Leanda is a popular and enthusiastic Team Leader on Junior Summer Camps. She also runs her own TAGB Tigers class at Bishop Henderson School, Taunton.
