History

The basis of the Tae Shin Do Self Defence School first made its appearance back in 1995 when club founders, Brad Grant and Kim Bowman, began training with each other in preparation for their 1st Dan Grading. Both were Shodan Ho’s; Brad also had a Tae Kwan Do background where Kim also had a Judo background. After training for a short while, they both realised that a student trained with their combined skills would have the makings of a fairly potent self defence practitioner.

So the decision was made to develop a unique style of Ju Jitsu that also had elements of Tae Kwan Do and Judo. They set forward in documenting everything they could both do and taught each other what the other didn’t know. They then set about determining what should be taught first at a White Belt level and so on up to Black.

During this time, a 2nd Dan in Karate began working with Brad and Kim and he also began training with the pair, imparting his skills and knowledge in exchange for aspects of theirs. From this, more skills and philosophies were added to the TSD repertoire. It was at this time that Brad and Kim decided to gain as much knowledge from other styles as possible and add the aspects of these that they thought were worthy of gaining its place into their system. So from this point on, as handy and useful skills and techniques have been identified by not just the founders, but by new or existing students, these skills have also been accepted into the system and are now gradeable aspects of the style.

In 1996, the name "Tae Shin Do Self Defence School" was officially recognised by the World Ju Jitsu Federation as a new style. In December that year, Brad and Kim received their 1st Dan’s and have gone on to teach their style in various locations all over Australia, from full on JJ classes to Women’s Self Defence Courses, Children’s Self Defence Courses and private self defence lessons.

Brad and Kim are now both 3rd Dans. The style now boasts one 1st Dan David Graham - who has opened up a club of his own in Raymond Terrace, NSW, two Shodan Ho’s, four Brown Belts and a large number of senior and junior belts to the clubs successes. The style also plays an important role in developing strong characters and upstanding members of the community. It builds self confidence, teaches respect, improves fitness and gives an understanding into the workings of the human body. Tae Shin Do is not just a self defence skill; it is a skill for life!