News

We are currently working hard behind the scenes to reopen our classes as soon as safely possible, and are currently awaiting the green light from our governing body, NAKMAS. We are working towards a proposed start date of 17th April for outdoor classes for under 18s, and will give further updates as they are published.

When current restrictions are lifted, we will be opening a new club at Llanrumney Hall! Sessions at the new venue will be every Saturday morning, 10am - 11am. There will also be weekly squad training sessions. Those who are interested in starting should see the information provided here:
UTIW New Starter Info

For more information about the reopening of classes, please contact your instructor.

New students at the UTIW should see the information provided here:
UTIW New Starter Info

We are pleased to announce that our first squad training taster session will take place on Sunday 6th December at 5pm, via Zoom. This will be the first of four free taster sessions for new and existing competitors to get you back into the swing of squad training. For all sessions, you will be required to book in advance - please let your instructor know if you're interested. The sessions will be hosted by Richard Mason, 5th Degree, who has over 30 years of competition and squad training experience.

United Taekwondo International (Wales) are sad to announce the retirement of our Chief Instructor, Mrs Valerie Brady, 6th Degree, who has decided to call time on her Taekwondo career. Val was one of the founding members of the UTIW and was intrumental in setting the association up with the late Master Gary Brady in the 1990s. As well as a successful training career, Val has taught many students over the years in her clubs in the St Mellons and Llanrumney areas of Cardiff. Val has also been our grading examiner and headed our Black Belt pre-grading panel; her vast experience will be a loss to the association. We are sad to see Val go but look forward to seeing her when we catch up at future UTIW gradings and Black Belt grading weekends, where she will always be welcome. Val, you will truly be missed and we thank you for all you have done for us.

We will soon have to say goodbye to one of our instructors, Mr Robert Bolt, 5th Degree, who has decided to take the plunge and try something new. Rob will be leaving the UTIW to undertake his new Taekwondo venture, but we look forward to catching up with him and his students at the annual UTI training camp in the Netherlands.

Finally, the UTIW will continue with all classes, gradings and events as usual. We will now be headed by three Chief Instructors, the remaining 5th Degree Black Belts, Carina Glover, Craig Sysum and Richard Mason. It will still be business as usual, and Instructors Connor Davies and Jerome Jemmett will continue with their clubs under the UTIW. As we move through the current pandemic, we would assure our students we are committed to the safe return to training as soon as possible, and watch out for further announcements soon. Thanks Val for everything you've done over the years, and to our students for sticking by us in the most difficult of circumstances.

In light of the recent government press conference that recommended limiting non-essential gatherings, UTIW has made the difficult decision to close its classes for the time being. Please get in touch with your instructor for specific information pertaining to your class.

6 UTIW students competed at the MCHF Junior competition on 9th February. We took home 1 gold and 1 silver in patterns, and 3 silver and 2 bronze in sparring. Well done to everyone that entered!

As we did last year, UTIW will be heading to a competition in Scotland over the Easter weekend. Those taking part will leave on Friday 17th April and return on Monday 20th. We will be staying at Craig Tara caravan park in Ayrshire.

Please see your instructor for more details, and to express your interest! There is no obligation to take part in sparring at the competition, as there are also individual events. Booking forms will be made available at a later date. Please note that we don't need confirmed bookings at this stage; we just need to see interest to work out a price. Please let your instructor know by 5th February if you are interested.

The details of the UTIW West Wales training camp 2020 have been announced. It will be held on the weekend of Friday 11th to Monday 14th September 2020.

Again, training will take place on the Saturday and Sunday, but you are welcome to stay and use the facilities on the Friday. We are able to offer the choice of 8 berth or 6 berth caravans for the weekend. You can instead book individual places, but you will be put into caravans with other people taking individual places, according to suitability.

Please see your instructor for more details, and to request a booking form.

It is with great sadness and regret that we share the news that our Chairman, Chief Instructor and friend, Master Gary Brady, 7th Degree, has passed away. Master Brady had bravely fought illness before passing away peacefully at home surrounded by his family.

We politely ask that the family are given privacy at this time and we send them the thoughts of everyone involved in UTI Wales. The funeral service will be held at Thornhill Crematorium, Cardiff, on Wednesday 14th August at 9:15am. The family have asked for donations in lieu of flowers to City Hospice which can be made on the day.

Click here to be taken to the funeral notice and tribute page for Master Brady.

2019 sees the return of the popular UTIW West Wales training camp, which will be held on the weekend of Friday 13th to Monday 16th September 2019. Training will take place on the Saturday and Sunday. We are able to offer the choice of 8 berth or 6 berth caravans for the weekend. You can instead book individual places, but you will be put into caravans with other people taking individual places, according to suitability.

Please see your instructor for more details, and to request a booking form.

UTIW will be heading to a competition in Scotland over the Easter weekend. Good luck to all taking part!