In 2025, British Taekwondo celebrated a landmark moment in its history as Grandmaster David Bailey achieved 9th Dan. In doing so, he became just the third member of British Taekwondo to reach this extraordinary rank.
For many, 9th Dan represents the pinnacle of technical achievement. For Grandmaster Bailey, it represents something deeper: loyalty, perseverance and an unbreakable bond with the instructor who shaped his life.
Throughout that journey, GM Bailey has had a mentor, friend and role model guiding him to the highest echelon of our Martial Art – Grandmaster Tong Wan Shin – the original 9th Dan of British Taekwondo, a figure that has helped to shape Taekwondo in the UK over the past 50 years.
“I’ve had the same instructor for 46 years. I started with Grandmaster Shin. I’m still with Grandmaster Shin.”
That loyalty is rare in modern life, and rarer still in sport. It defines the man and his journey. As is ever the case, there were many chance-decisions which led to the two meeting for the first time, but their journeys have been intertwined ever since.
Growing up in Liverpool in the 1970s, David Bailey was one of thousands of teenagers leaving school and searching for a job. The docks were shutting, and employment was hard to come by.
“I didn’t have any confidence at all when I left school at 16. I left school with no prospects, it was Liverpool in 1977. I don’t think there was anyone that had a job.”
A failed move to London left him homesick. Unhappy. Searching for something. Stories about Kung Fu sparked an interest in Martial Arts, before becoming enraptured by Taekwondo and all that it offered. The dobok his costume. The dojang his stage.
A job in North Wales offered more home comforts while back at home with his parents in Runcorn, before another job relocation to Warrington proved to be a decision that changed his life forever.
After having a go at a few different martial arts, none of which seemed to satisfy, David walked into Grandmaster Shin’s club in 1980. The rest, as they say, is history.
“If I hadn’t done all that stuff, I wouldn’t have found Master Shin’s club. I never looked back from day one.”
At the time, Taekwondo in Britain was still in its infancy. It was not the established, structured sport it is today. It was unfamiliar and largely unknown outside small pockets of enthusiasts.
“When I started there were few people around who could even pronounce taekwondo, let alone knew what it was. There was hardly any around, hardly any in the country.
“Grandmaster Shin was instrumental in introducing taekwondo to the UK and it soon spread around the North West.”
Over time, that bond between mentor and student deepened into something closer to family, with his long-term mentor giving him the confidence to follow in his footsteps from day one.
“I was there five times a week when I was a coloured belt, training in Warrington and doing extra sessions in Manchester, travelling to classes by motorbike.
“He’s my Taekwondo dad, basically. When Grandmaster Shin was expanding and promoting Taekwondo, he started classes in Runcorn. After a couple of months, he said: ‘You do it.’ So I did and as a red belt, I was running my own club in 1982 as part of Shins Academy. And then I got my black belt in 1983, almost exactly three years after starting.
“And about six months later, I was fighting at the World Championships, and it was my first proper competition. I was fighting at the sixth World Championships alongside the likes of Lindsay Lawrence and Chris Sawyer, the legends of the game.”
Representing Great Britain in Kyorugi and Poomsae at international tournaments, David’s Taekwondo journey has seen him compete in countries such as Belarus and Pakistan, as well as featuring at Madison Square Garden for the 11th World Kyorugi Championships back in 1993.
Back at home, he continued to build Halton Taekwondo in Runcorn, turning it into a thriving club in the local area during his ten years in charge.
Grandmaster Shin was always there to offer help and support as the club grew. David would always refer to his senior when it came to taking Black Belt gradings, something that still occurs despite David’s move to Scotland in 1993.
Having met wife Angie – who herself is a 10-time National Poomsae Champion – David moved north of the border to set up a new life in Falkirk. Central Taekwondo was to be his new Taekwondo hub in Carronshore Community Centre, a place his club still calls home 33 years on.
His move north did not dilute his passion. It reignited it, promoting Taekwondo in the local area through demonstrations, leaflets, newspapers and sheer determination.
2,432 members have passed through his doors since – including each of his three daughters, two 3rd Dans and one 2nd Dan – with each receiving their own personal number upon joining, a personal touch that goes a long way.
Generations of families come together to train, with members currently ranging between four-years-old and 70. David has built a community in Carronshore, a group who embody his Taekwondo spirit and passion for the Martial Art.
“I’m at the hall Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays for three hours a night.
“I absolutely love coaching. My passion is actually coaching and seeing people engaging with what I’m saying. Seeing people improve, changing people’s lives.”
He speaks of his students with pride. Athletes who have risen through the British Taekwondo pathway from regional sessions to elite squads. Young practitioners who have gone on to represent Great Britain. Students who have flourished in ways that transcend medals.
“Taekwondo is brilliant because there are many different paths you can take. You can be a kyorugi player, a poomsae player, an international referee, an instructor, an event organiser or a coach. I have been lucky enough to represent the UK in all of these different roles”.
In terms of making the most of the opportunities that Taekwondo gives you, GM Bailey is living proof that you can be whatever you want to be within the Sport and Martial Art.
Kyorugi athlete. Kyorugi Coach. Poomsae athlete. Poomsae Coach. Club Instructor. 9th Dan. His Taekwondo bingo card is one that stands out. Few in British Taekwondo history can claim such breadth of experience.
While devoting his time to coaching and bringing out the best in others, David was also continuing his own personal journey, with the date with destiny edging ever closer into view over the past few years.
After first visiting the Kukkiwon in 1985, trips to Seoul have become a regular occurrence for one of British Taekwondo’s highest ranked members, but last November the flight to Korea was filled with even greater anticipation. His life’s work was about to be put to the test.
Having enrolled onto the Class 3 International Masters Course staged at the Kukkiwon prior to his grading, David had plenty of time to familiarise himself with his surroundings.
In the runup to his grading, he was also recognised for his incredible dedication to Taekwond. As he was presented with a Letter of Commendation signed by the new Kukkiwon President Ung Suk Yun.
“The training course was fantastic. Doing Taekwondo for eight hours a day was great preparation for my grading. I felt at home with the Kukkiwon and everything.”
Alongside the physical aspect of the examination, participants also have to submit a 9th Dan thesis: “My Taekwondo Life and Philosophical Value.”
For a person who embodies Taekwondo in every shape and form like Grandmaster Bailey, it was a fitting title.
Grading complete, David was back in the UK by the time he got the news that he had official been granted 9th Dan status, becoming part of an elite group of three British Taekwondo members to achieve such a feat.
There were celebrations at home of course, but for David there was only one person on his mind that he wanted to share the news with: “The first person I told, obviously, was Grandmaster Shin.
“I’m not the type of person to shout about my achievements, because Grandmaster Shin never did, and I have always tried to follow in his footsteps.
“I think he conducts himself really well. And the Korean culture comes across. He never boasts about anything, he just gets on with it.
“So I try my best to be like him. I’m nowhere near as good at it as he is but I always try to emulate him.”
Having reached the pantheon of Taekwondo in the UK, David’s attention has returned back to the members he teaches and continuing to promote the Martial Art across the UK.
It’s that selfless attitude that has seen him become a revered member of the British Taekwondo community over the past 46 years, whether that is in his Central Taekwondo Academy or as part of the national setup.
“People say when you get your black belts it’s just the beginning. Well, now I’m thinking getting your 9th Dan is the beginning.
“Now the challenge is to stay fit and healthy enough to be able to promote Taekwondo in the manner that I like to promote Taekwondo. I don’t want to be somebody who just talks about Taekwondo. I want to be able to do it the way I’ve been doing it.”
Riding from Runcorn to Warrington on his motorbike back in the 80s, the thought of performing alongside the man running his class would have been unfathomable for David Bailey.
Over the 46 years that followed, both have been on their own separate journeys to 9th Dan, all while promoting Taekwondo across the UK and beyond; whether that is through competing, coaching or through their philosophy and embodiment of Taekwondo spirit.
All that came to a head earlier this year, where Grandmaster Bailey stood alongside Grandmaster Shin and Grandmaster Kevin Jervis to conduct a seminar at the British Taekwondo Club Development Summit. The moment mentor and student stood side by side as 9th Dans for the first time.
“It was a celebration, as it was the first time we have taught together as 9th Dans, it was nice to be able to stand up front with him and with Grandmaster Jervis as well. It felt like a special occasion.
“I’ve followed Grandmaster Shin for years and he’s so revered and held in such high regard, as he should be. I’m pretty sure that everybody training has got some connection if you go back far enough.
“Either their instructor or their instructor’s instructor who was influenced or enthused by Grandmaster Shin at some point.”
From protégé to Grandmaster, David Bailey’s Taekwondo journey is one of respect. It is a story of devotion. It is a story of friendship.
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