Poomsae Advisory Group 1

British Taekwondo is pleased to announce the confirmation of members to the newly established National Poomsae Championships Advisory Group (PCAG), a dedicated panel formed to support and strengthen the planning of a high-quality National Poomsae Championships in 2025.

Having listened to the feedback from last year’s event in Kettering, we felt it as important that members of the Poomsae community are involved in the planning process for this year’s Championships, set to be staged at the David Ross Sports Village, in the University of Nottingham on 1st-2nd November.

The group is made up of six members of the Poomsae community who come from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, from referees and coaches to technical experts and athletes. Together, they bring a wealth of knowledge, passion, and a shared vision for raising the standard and visibility of poomsae nationwide.

The PCAG will play a key role in providing expert insights into sport-specific needs for Poomsae athletes, as well as ensuring this year’s event is delivered in a way that aligns with British Taekwondo’s values.

Meet the National Poomsae Championships Advisory Group

Jenny Furness (PremierKi)

Jenny Furness is a 5th Dan who has been training in Taekwondo for over 27 years. Jenny has competed in Poomsae for 10 years and is a member of the Great Britain Elite Poomsae squad, as well as a Class 2 Referee. She has competed not only in the UK, but also at a number of international competitions, including twice at the European Championships, and also at the World Championships in 2024.

Olivia McGeoch (Gajok Taekwondo)

Olivia McGeoch is an active referee and a competitor for the Great Britain Poomsae squad. As an athlete, Olivia has attended many high-level competitions, including World and European championships, and G1 and G2 events. Olivia is also part of the organising committee the for Gajok Taekwondo Open which has been running since 2022.

Chris Pearson (Phoenix Taekwondo)

Chris Pearson from Phoenix Taekwondo is a 6th Dan Kukkiwon Master, training in Taekwondo for almost 40 years. His club brings some of the largest teams to many Poomsae competitions each year, providing a broad perspective on the competition experience. Chris is also a GB Regional Poomsae Coach and a qualified and very active Class 1 National Poomsae Referee, offering a valuable alternative perspective to competitions from the Referees Table.

Gerry Reilly (Bluewave Korean Martial Arts)

Gerry Reilly has extensive experience of delivering high quality events including being part of the organising committee for the annual Bluewave Open Poomsae Championship which is the largest club run Poomsae Championships in Europe.  Gerry is also a Class 3 International Referee with extensive experience of refereeing at both domestic and international events, as well as an active athlete and member of the GB Elite Squad representing GB at all levels including the 2024 World Championships and the 2025 European Championships

Reza Saberi (Ali's Dojang)

Reza Saberi has over 25 years involvement in Taekwondo, starting in Kyorugi before moving into Poomsae as coach, referee, committee member, event organiser and high-level athlete.  Reza has represented Great Britain internationally at European and World level and is currently competition manager for the Ali’s Dojang Open, one of the largest Open event events in the UK covering Poomsae and Kyorugi.

Chan Sau (Loughton Taekwondo)

Chan Sau is a 6th Dan Kukkiwon Master with 33 years Taekwondo experience from local level to World Championship level including as Technical Lead at various national Poomsae Championships in the UK as well as supporting many other domestic and international championships.

Chan is a World Taekwondo Class 1 International Poomsae Coach with extensive coaching experience as part of the British Taekwondo Poomse Performance Programme, and a record of international success as an athlete representing Great Britain at 6 World Poomsae Championships, a 3-time Commonwealth Poomsae Champion and 12-time British National (Individual) Champion.

Upon the naming of the members of the group, British Taekwondo CEO Ian Leafe said: “I’m delighted that we have been able to welcome such an experienced group of people to the Poomsae Championships Advisory Group.

“As we continue to work closely with the Poomsae community to make significant improvements to our National Poomsae Championships this group will play a critical role; providing check and challenge, and advocating on behalf of the community to ensure British Taekwondo delivers on our commitments.”

Our Vision for the Future

The National Poomsae Championships Advisory Group has already begun to consult over this year’s competition, with the focus on making the 2025 National Poomsae Championships a high-quality event for all participants.

With the guidance of this group, British Taekwondo aims to ensure that Poomsae continues to thrive – not just as a competition format, but as a central part of our martial arts identity.

The National Poomsae Championships Advisory Group is committed to being transparent, inclusive, and accessible, giving members the chance to have their say and make their mark on British Taekwondo’s flagships event of the calendar.

Let’s elevate poomsae together – and ensure it continues to grow, evolve, and inspire.