Back from crash to pass blackbelt exam (From Wirral Globe)

Back from crash to pass blackbelt exam

9:53am Wednesday 24th June 2009

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A FORMER Wirral taekwondo champion who was told he would never fight again after damaging his spine in a motorbike accident has passed his blackbelt exam.

Andrew Newton, 44, and his son Henry from Saughall, were among eight members of Wirral Taekwondo school who took their grading in front of five 8th Degree Taekwondo Master at the Taekwondo Association of Great Britain headquarters in Bristol.

During the early 1980s Andrew was one belt away from achieving black belt status and won a raft of championship titles including the English Championship, Central Championship, British Championship and Welsh Open Championship.

However after a driver pulled out in front of him on a busy road, his motorcycle crashed into the side of the vehicle and he ended up in hospital.

Although the spinal injury did not surface until seven years later, he never returned to the sport.

But when Henry, 11, showed an interest in the sport Andrew started training with him at the Taekwondo Centre in Eastham.

"Henry had seen my medals and wanted to try Taekwondo so we took him along to a class," said Andrew, who runs his own building company.

He continued: "I was sitting on the sidelines watching him do it and thought I can do this again.

"I had a kink in my spine but it didn’t come to light until years later when I suddenly deteriorated.

"I had to have quite a serious operation on my spine and afterwards the specialist said there was no way I’d be able to do taekwondo again."

Andrew then waited until Henry was a few grades away from his black belt and then joined the class and found all the flexibility programmes help him with his recovery and was especially pleased when he received his black belt from Mr Saunders.

The students took their grading in front of five 8th Degree Taekwondo Master at the Taekwondo Association of Great Britain headquarters in Bristol.

The successful 1st degree black belts were awarded to juniors students Lewis Jones, Helen Willimas, Henry Newton, Sam Reilly, Jessica Ferrington, Cary Cottier and seniors students Wayne Doherty, Mike Bowen, Andrew Newton and Clare Burgess. Third degree success went to Club instructors Graham Rowe and Alex Stear.

Wirral Taekwondo coach Mr Richard Saunders, 5th Dan, said: "Once again students from our schools showed how good the standard is from this area and they all did very well showing the panel of five 8th Degree Taekwondo Masters their discipline skills, co-ordination drills, confidence training and general martial arts skills.

"I am proud of their achievement and it is once again good to have more people from our schools successfully obtained black belt status.

"It shows through hard work and commitment people from all different ages and abilities in life can enjoy what Taekwondo has to offer and obtain a black belt status with it."

Anyone wishing to know more about Taekwondo or a club near you can contact Richard on 0151 512 6521 or visit the club web site www.wirraltkd.co.uk

Pictured, back row left to right are Andrew Newton, Alex Stear, Graham Rowe, Wayne Doherty, Mike Bowen, Clare Burgess.

Front row Left to right Nicola Rowe ( instructor), Henry Newton, Jessica Ferrington, Sam Reilly, Lewis Jones, Richard Saunders (instructor).

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