Dragon Tang Soo Do

An Interview with...Master White!

Gill Hampton has recently interviewed Master White, heres what he had to say!!

GH: Do you feel any pressure at taking over from Master Perks as President, and being at the forefront of DTSD?
MW: Without sounding too arrogant, not really. I have been near the forefront of Tang Soo Do in Bristol for many years and feel I have and still am an integral part DTSD.
GH: I don’t think so. Those of us who were in WTSDA (World Tang Soo Do Association) recall your dedication and support behind the scenes, being the driving force even then, in setting up championships. Also recalling the transition period to DTSD, with the current Masters making the change over as easy as it could be.

GH: How have things changed since leaving the World Tang Soo Do Association?
MW: There is now less pressure, especially financial pressure for the students and instructors.
GH: I agree, this means that we can concentrate on training and achieving excellence. Maybe I am biased, but I think our gradings have become more physically and mentally challenging.

GH: What has been your best times in Martial Arts, or most memorable?
MW: That’s a difficult question because there have been so many. Here are a few that springs to mind: Achieving my Masters rank. Winning 2nd place performing Bassai, at the 1988 World Championships in Philadelphia, USA. Winning British Grand Champion.

GH: What is your favourite Hyung and why?
MW: I love performing Sip Soo, because of the breathing, power and varying speeds; and I also won lots of competitions performing it, so much so that I was known as the Sip Soo Man.

GH: How did you feel when you got your 1st Dan?
MW: Tired, happy and eager to find a club to start teaching.

GH: When did you start training and at what age?
MW: May 1986 at the age of 12.

GH: Where did you train and with who?
MW: I started at Filton Recreation Centre, along with 4 friends from school. Master Evans (a 1st Dan at the time) took us for our very first lesson. I wore a pair of shorts (Big mistake) as we were sat on the floor stretching with our legs apart, it was then I realised I was displaying my underpants. Unfortunately my school friends stopped around green/brown belt level. I trained with lots of others, but many of them left 10 to 15 years ago. Master Ward, Master Thorne and Master Evans are the only active members left from when I first started.

GH: What different styles have you trained in?
MW: I have dabbled in Jujitsu, Judo and Haedong Kumdo (Korean Sword training).

GH: If you have trained in these styles, what is it about DTSD that you enjoy more?
MW: I love the variety that DTSD has to offer. I’m still training in Headong Kumdo, but if I had more time I would study Jujitsu, as I love the locks/restraining techniques.

GH: Who has been most influential in your training?
MW: Master David Perks, Master Jon Ward, Master Elaine Evans, Steve Chamberlain and Master Tim Butcher (World Tang Soo Do Association).

GH: Do you have any heroes or heroines outside of Martial Arts?
MW: No not really.

GH: What made you take up Martial Arts in the first place?
MW: A group of school friends asked me, so we all started together.

GH: Do you still see any of them?
MW: Yes, but not as often as I would like.

GH: For most people gradings are nerve wracking – how did you feel on your very first grading?
MW: Petrified, as I was asked to perform my one steps, but was unable to, as I hadn’t been taught them.

GH: How many competitions have you entered?
MW: I have competed in over 30, consisting of Bristol, British, European and World championships, plus open competitions prior to becoming a black belt.

GH: Any particular memories that stand out, either competing or anything interesting that happened on the trip?
MW: There are so many, but here’s a few. I remember going to my first World championship in 1988 to Philadelphia, USA. Another student and I bought Ninja suits from a local martial arts shop. We went back to the hotel, put on our Ninja outfits and then went up and down in the lift scaring the living daylights out of people as we jumped out when the doors opened. One year we went to Germany for a European championship. The night before the competition, Master Perks went out with Grandmaster Shin and a few others to a beer festival. Now those of you, who know Master Perks, know that he is not a big drinker. The following day, he performed the sword form in the competition with a serious hangover; he didn’t enjoy the roll very much.

 

GH: Is there anything you feel you could improve on?
MW: Yeh, everything!

GH: Who do you look up to and why?
MW: Master Perks, he has been like a second father figure to me. He has great life experience and wisdom.

GH: What do you look for in a student?
MW: Students should try to train on a regular basis, as this helps them to maintain a high level of fitness and most importantly, maintain the standard required for the purpose of grading. When students come to class, they must be prepared to give all their effort until the end of the lesson. This is not just physically, but also means to assist the instructor where possible.

GH: Is there anything you dislike to see?
MW: Students who are not respectful to other members of the class, especially senior grades and the Instructor.

GH: If you had to conduct a seminar – what would it be on?
MW: I would try and cover everything, especially the core syllabus and combinations, as some students struggle with combinations.

GH: What do you do for a living?
MW: I am currently working for my dad as a builder.

GH: Have you always been a builder? Given a free choice and nothing in your path, what would you like to do?
MW: No, I have only been a builder for 2 years. Prior to that, I worked in an accounts department for an insurance company. My first job was working in prisoner administration at Bristol Prison. If I had a free choice, I would teach martial arts full time.

GH: What sort of music do you like?
MW: I like Dance, Pop, Rock, R&B.

GH: Any particular favourite bands or artists and what is your favourite song and why?
MW: I don’t really have a favourite band/artist as I listen to so many various types. My favourite song at the moment is Rock Star by Nickleback.

GH: What is your favourite film, and why?
MW: All of the Star Wars films, as I love Sci-Fi and special effects.
GH: Yes, we gathered that from the creativity and demos you do.

GH: What’s your favourite food?
MW: I like lots of food, but if I had to choose, it would be Toffee flavoured Hagen Das ice cream.

GH: Do you have any pets, and if so what are their names?
MW: Yes, I have a Boxer dog called Zack; and my son has 2 rats called Ying and Yang.
GH: Are the rat’s one black and one white?
MW: They are both white, but one has black markings on his head.

GH: What are your future plans?
MW: To expand Dragon Tang Soo Do to other parts of the UK, and hopefully beyond. To make our Open Championships into a European Open, then a World Open. To have our own HQ/Dojang, where we can hold classes, gradings, seminars, meetings and social functions.

Tang Soo!

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