Our Club
About Us
A welcoming community club on the Isle of Man, proud to be ITF Union accredited.
A welcoming community club on the Isle of Man, proud to be ITF Union accredited.
Manx Taekwon-Do has been serving the Isle of Man community for years, providing ITF-style Taekwon-Do training in the south of the island. Based at the Royal British Legion Hall in Port Erin, we are proud to be the island's premier ITF Union accredited club.
We are a family club in every sense of the word. Parents train alongside children, complete beginners train alongside experienced students, and everyone is welcomed and supported regardless of age, fitness level or background.
Our affiliation with the ITFU means our gradings are internationally recognised and our instructors are trained to the highest standards.
Respect for instructors, fellow students, and the art itself is the foundation of everything we do. It begins with the bow and runs through every class.
Structured training builds self-discipline that students carry far beyond the dojang. We set high standards — and help every student reach them.
We are more than a club. Students support each other through gradings, celebrate each other's achievements, and build genuine friendships that last.
Richard began his Taekwon-Do journey in Dublin in 1989, earning his 1st Dan Black Belt in September 2001. With over 30 years of continuous training and teaching, he now holds the rank of V Dan — a senior grade representing decades of dedicated practice.
A multiple British Champion at both ITF and Open Taekwon-Do championships, and a European Gold and Silver medallist, Richard has competed at the highest level the sport offers. He has trained extensively across North America and EMEA alongside Grand Masters and Masters, attended numerous International Instructors Courses and squad training sessions, and brings a passion for the more dynamic, flamboyant side of Taekwon-Do to every class.
Away from the dojang, Richard is a registered, actively serving Paramedic, a certified Tactical Edge unarmed combatives instructor for situational self-defence, a dad of four, and a committed motorbike enthusiast.
Catherine began her Taekwon-Do journey in October 2013 and has made every year count. A 3rd Dan Black Belt, she has competed at the highest national and international levels - earning double silver at the British Championships, silver at the BUTL World Championships, and bronze at the British Championships. A competition record that speaks for itself.
In the dojang, she brings that same precision and dedication to teaching - ensuring students are technically grounded and progressing the right way. Where Richard brings the flamboyance, Catherine brings the detail. Together they make a formidable instructing partnership - and she has also, through years of experience, become a better-than-average team dodgeball player during warm-ups.
Club Examiner & Senior Advisor
Master Chris Beanland began his Taekwon-Do journey in 1983, earning his 1st Dan in 1987 under Grand Master Hee Il Cho. Over the following decades he built an exceptional competition record — including a Gold and three Silver medals at World Championship level, his first at the 1994 World Championships in Miami — alongside numerous national and European titles.
Now holding the rank of VIII Dan, Master Beanland serves as President of ITFU-England and is the instructor and examiner for both Richard and Catherine. He visits the Isle of Man three to four times a year to conduct club gradings and seminars, bringing world-class technical knowledge and decades of competitive experience directly to our students.
A founding figure of the ITFU-England, Master Beanland is committed to a non-political, inclusive approach to Taekwon-Do — focused on the art as it was always meant to be taught. His visits are a highlight of the club calendar.
Manx Taekwon-Do is affiliated and governed by the International Taekwon-Do Federation Union. Our gradings are internationally recognised worldwide.
All instructors and helpers hold current DBS Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service clearance. Your child's safety is our highest priority.
We operate a comprehensive safeguarding policy in line with ITFU guidelines. All concerns are taken seriously and handled promptly and professionally.
DSL
Designated Safeguarding Lead
ITF Union England — Designated Safeguarding Lead
To report a safeguarding concern or access our full safeguarding policies, please contact Ms Lewis directly or visit the ITFU England safeguarding pages. All concerns are treated in strict confidence.
No obligation. Come along, watch from the side, meet the instructor and see if Taekwon-Do is right for you.
