When confirmation arrived last December that Grandmaster Kevin Jervis had officially passed his 9th Dan test at the Kukkiwon, it marked far more than a personal achievement. It was a history-making moment for British Taekwondo.
The monumental feat marked the first time a British Taekwondo member had been wholly trained in the UK to reach the very highest rank through the World Taekwondo Headquarters in Seoul, proving a powerful marker of how far the martial art has grown across a generation.
For Kevin, the moment was the culmination of more than five decades of dedication, sacrifice, discipline and belief, with his Taekwondo journey starting 52 years ago when his dad took him along to a local club for the first time.
Life, and Taekwondo in the UK, has changed an awful lot since then, and as Grand Master Jervis continued to climb the ranks, the elusive 9th Dan soon became something that was edging ever closer; the final goal in a lifelong frontier.
For the previous 18 months before his examination on 18th June 2025, reaching that zenith had become Kevin’s sole focus, with no stone left unturned ahead of his life’s efforts being put to the test during a four-hour test at the Kukkiwon.
“To be honest, preparing for it was the most difficult aspect,” he explains. “It involved travelling to a number of countries to train under some very respected high-ranking Grand Masters and training almost daily for over two years.
“From the beginning of January 2025, I trained four hours daily and only missed five days. I wanted to be prepared for the four-hour training session that is mandatory before the test.”
Alongside the physical demands, Kevin was required to submit an extensive record of his Taekwondo life, as well as a 17,000-word thesis entitled ‘My Taekwondo Life and Philosophical Values’ outlining his achievements, competition successes and contribution to promoting and developing Taekwondo in the UK.
Once in Seoul, Kevin trained intensively in the days leading up to the test, both at the Kukkiwon and elsewhere. With half a Century of training and dedication to the Martial Art hinging on the next 24 hours, it will come as little surprise that he barely slept a wink the night before.
Following an interview by Kukkiwon President Ung Suk Yun, Kevin began the examination alongside two other prospective 9th Dans from across the World; all three ready for the biggest moment in their Taekwondo journeys, with a four-hour physical examination of advanced Taekwondo techniques to start the day.
Kevin continued: “The other candidates were very good, and it was an honour to be on the floor training alongside them.”
“Straight after this four-hour session I was called onto the floor to perform the new 9th Dan basic movements routine followed by Ilyeo Poomsae, the 9th Dan Poomsae and another Poomsae, Chonkwon, which was randomly selected.”
Having received applause from other candidates following his Poomsae performances, Kevin had a feeling that things went well on the day, but as is the way in our Martial Art, it wasn’t until December that things became official.
“I received correspondence in December that I had passed which was a big relief,” Kevin said.
“I didn’t want to celebrate though until it was official. As soon as it was official I celebrated it with a group of members that had been training with me a long time, and I also celebrated it privately with family.”
Becoming the first UK-born 9th Dan was the culmination of a journey that started in 1973 for Kevin, when his father took him to a class run by Master Young Woo Kwon [pictured below], the first Korean to teach Olympic-style Taekwondo in the UK, and he was ‘hooked from day one.’
Norwich quickly became a national hub for Taekwondo, with instructors from across the country travelling there to train. Kevin became Master Kwon’s first black belt trained from beginner at the age of 14, with Master and pupil forming a bond that extended beyond the dojang.
Kevin reminisced: “The classes in those days were absolutely packed. Master Kwon turned up at my house after I had been training for a few months and asked for my parent’s permission to train me to become a champion.
“He thought I had the natural talent to go all the way, so I then began training six days a week under him. He used to pick me up in his Vauxhall Viva saloon car. It usually involved going the pub after the class and him hiding me in the corner with half a pint of beer!”
Master Kwon returned to Korea soon after Grand Master Jervis achieved his 1st Dan, with the two meeting up once again in Miryang in 1985 which involved the Norwich local training with the Korean National Kyorugi Team.
Back at home, and Master Kwon’s departure meant adjusting to life without the teacher who had been by his side during his fledgling Taekwondo journey. Using the self-belief that his early tutor engrained in him, Kevin founded his own club in 1983 to preserve pure WT Taekwondo, a decision that would shape generations of students.
Competition success also came in the shape of national titles in Kyorugi and Poomsae, before injuries took their toll. This led to a journey focused on the Martial Art side of Taekwondo, with 5th Dan the initial aim.
Despite severe injuries – including ruptured Achilles tendons, hip replacements and shoulder damage – Kevin never considered walking away. Instead, he embraced Taekwondo’s philosophical core.
He continued: “For me the martial art aspect of Taekwondo is very important. For many years I have concentrated my own training around developing techniques that are effective in a real situation.
“The philosophical values and tenets of Taekwondo are also very important to me. I particularly follow the belief that most things are possible with hard work, dedication, perseverance and a never give up attitude both inside the dojang and in daily life.”
Having run his own club for over 40 years, thousands of students will have learned under Grand Master Jervis at his UTF World Taekwondo club in Norwich, as well as in a recent role at The University of East Anglia, where he assists up and coming stars in preparation for competitions.
As well as pursuing his own aims, the selflessness to inspire others has been fundamental to his time in Taekwondo, as well as friendships that have blossomed across the World through a shared love of the Martial Art:
“In essence, I love all aspects of Taekwondo. It’s been my life and is very precious to me. It really helps you to believe in yourself.
“I have made many lifelong friends through Taekwondo both here in the UK and Internationally. There are not many sports that can give you that.
“Attending the Kukkiwon Master or Dan Examiner courses around the world, as I have done, brings you into contact with all these people and really opens the door to international friendships and communication in all aspects of Taekwondo.
“In respect of other achievements, I have taken great pride in changing people’s lives as an instructor at my club, I was also very proud when both my sons passed their black belts.
“I have helped members in various ways, particularly in their own self-belief both in and out of the club, and that is something that instructors are all in a position to do.”
Whether it’s becoming one of the highest ranked members of British Taekwondo, National Championship victories, or competing and training internationally (including representing Great Britain at the Belgian Kyorugi Championships in his younger years), Grand Master Jervis has one of the most impressive Taekwondo CVs in the UK, having also passed the Class 1 Kukkiwon International Master Course and the Class 1 Kukkiwon Dan Examiner Course.
That level of dedication to Taekwondo, and the self-belief and determination to work to the top is a rare trait, which is evident in the fact that Grand Master Jervis is one of only three current 9th Dans in British Taekwondo.
Grand Master Tong Wan Shin of Shin’s Academy in Manchester had long been the only member to reach that feat before GM Jervis joined him upon the highest step of the Taekwondo podium, while GM David Bailey of Central Taekwondo in Falkirk achieved 9th Dan later in 2025.
Sunday 8th February 2026 will mark a special day in British Taekwondo history, as the three highest ranked members of our organisation will come together for the first time to present a seminar at the British Taekwondo Club Development Summit, a moment GM Jervis is looking to savour.
“I feel very honoured to be one of these three 9th Dans,” he said. “I am hoping we can work together to help Taekwondo in the UK to be more inclusive.
“I hope that it puts us in a strong position to encourage others to follow the Kukkiwon path and believe that 9th Dan is obtainable for all British Taekwondo members. The Kukkiwon certificate is after all, the most prestigious Dan certificate in the world.”
Kukkiwon sincerely congratulated British Taekwondo on the upcoming seminar: “Kukkiwon hopes that this seminar will serve as an opportunity for our dedication and intentions to be more widely recognised throughout the UK, for the prestige and importance of Kukkiwon Dan certification to be further disseminated.”
Heading back to Norwich in the mid-1970s as Kevin Jervis rides round Norwich in Master Kwon’s Vauxhall Viva, the thought of a British-born 9th Dan was inconceivable. This was a time where protective equipment wasn’t a necessity, and those ranked at black belt were fewer and farther between.
But from breaking roof tiles at his 1st Dan grading to breaking down barriers by completing his 9th Dan, Grand Master Jervis has helped to redefine the Taekwondo journey in the UK, and has written himself into British Taekwondo history in doing so.
Travelling from his local community hall to the floors of the Kukkiwon itself, the Norwich local proves to us all that with dedication, belief and support, the very highest levels are within reach.
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