Congratulations to Miss Katie Stansfield II Dan & Adam Silvers I Dan who both attended a small area National Instructors Course conducted by Grand Master O’Neill on the 15th February 2025 in the Stonehenge Area.

Both qualified to become National ‘C’-Class Instructors, special mention to Katie who scored a whopping 97.9% out of the Written test exam, just half a point off a perfect 100%

Congratulations to Logan Clark for obtaining GOLD Medal in Sparring at the Open Championships on the 26th April 2025 in Thornbury at the EMAP Open Championships

Logan fought hard through several rounds to obtain the GOLD

Stonehenge School hosted a 70th Taekwon-Do Anniversary Seminar on Sunday 29th June 2025 in Amesbury, Conducted by hosting Instructor Grand Master O’Neill IX Dan,  a fantastic hot day of training was had by all who could attend.

We also had some VIP guests attending :- Master Ian Britton VII Dan, our own Mr. Robert Mockridge V Dan, Mr. Patrick Lee V Dan & Mrs Katherine Britton V Dan.

After the Grading several students took a promotion

Congratulations to the Following students who successfully achieved Promotion at the grading which followed the seminar

Mike Bennett 1st Kup - Black Tips

Logan Clark 1st Kup - Black Tips

Bryony Silvers 5th Kup - Blue Tips

Lachie Smith 5th Kup - Blue Stripe

Lucas Silvers 7th Kup - Green Stripe

Dorothy Branfoot 8th Kup Yellow Belt

Grace Picknett-Powell 9th Kup - Yellow Tips

Alisa Smaga 9th Kup - Yellow Tips

Pictured Right :- Grand Master O’Neill presented a farewell gift to Lachie Smith 5th Kup, who’s sadly leaving us shortly as his family are moving back to New Zealand for good.

Lachie was also presented with a Grand Master O’Neill Blackbelt Lapel Badge which Lachie will hopefully one day wear if he’s able to continue Taekwon-Do in New Zealand.

Congratulations to Grace Picknett-Powell who received that Grading award on the day for 9th Kup,  chosen by visiting Guest Master Ian Britton VII Dan

Several students from The school travelled to Ross-On-Wye on Saturday 12th April to participate in a celebration seminar to mark the 70th Anniversary of the founding of Taekwon-Do by General Choi Hong Hi.

A fantastic day was by all, 3 Students from the School also applied to take their Red belt grading, and after a gruelling grading exam all three were successfully promoted to Red Belt.

Pictured Left to right successful promotions to RED belt:-

Paul Haskins - LeilaniRitchie & David Lumsden

Marc Buckingham a former & original Student from the Stonehenge Taekwon-Do School and an Honarary Life Member of the School has recently been promoted 5th Degree (Dan) Blackbelt at the A.C.E. Blackbelt Course & Grading conducted by Grand Master Ray O’Neill IX Dan in Dundee Scotland on the 6th & 7th  September 2025.

Marc underwent a two day training course which ended in a tough grading exam.

Marc becomes the 4th  V Dan that the Stonehenge School has produced since it started in 1974.

Marc himself is an International Instructor and runs a successful School in Essex called Olympus Taekwon-Do.

CONGRATULATIONS MARC

Sunday 28th September we hosted another of our 70th Anniversary Seminars; on this occasion we invited Miss Jemma Wells VI Dan from ACE Manchester to conduct our seminar and grading as part of her ongoing training and development to hopefully become a future Master.

Miss Wells was presented with a special gift souvenir from the School as a memento of the day, one of our junior grade students Alisa was chosen to present it to her.

Other presentations on the day were from Much Dewchurch Instructor Mr. Patrick Lee V Dan who presented Grand Master O’Neill & Miss Wells with a special Photo of Pioneer Rhee Ki Ha which was taken on the 2nd July 2025 when Pioneer Rhee Ki Ha celebrated 58 years since he introduced Taekwon-Do to the UK.

Mr. Marc Buckingham being an honorary life member of Stonehenge School received a ‘Stonehenge Taekwon-Do’ Blackbelt certificate from Grand Master O’Neill in recognition of his recent promotion to V Dan

After the Seminar a small grading took for a few junior grade students, all of which were successfully promoted. Special mention to Alisa Smaga who received the ‘Grading Award’ for her performance for her Yellow belt.

A great day was had by all; after which the Instructors and invited guests went for a well earned meal at a local Restaurant.

(A small selection of Photos from the Day)

Photos:-

Top:- Group Photo of Seminar Attendees

Middle Top: - Miss Wells was presented with a lovely souvenir from GM O’Neill to mark the occasion, it was presented to her by one of our Junior grade students Alisa . Also Mr. Marc Buckingham Receiving a Stonehenge TKD Blackbelt Certificate in recognition of his recent promotion to V Dan Blackbelt

Middle Middle:- Visiting Instructor Mr. Patrick Lee V Dan presented Grand Master O’Neill & Miss Wells with a photo of Pioneer Rhee Ki Ha in a sparring pose which was taken on the 2nd July 2025 when Pioneer Rhee Ki Ha marked 58 years to the day he brought Taekwon-Do to the UK

Middle Bottom:- Congratulations to Alisa Smaga who was awarded the Stonehenge Grading Award for for 8th Kup Grading performance.

Bottom Group:-   Students who graded

Three  Students represented the School on the 4th October 2025  at the Sovereign English Open Championships in Swindon,  between them they brought home six Medals :-

Congratulations to David and Alisa for represented A.C.E. Taekwon-Do and Stonehenge School at the UK Open Championships in Guildford on Sunday 9th November hosted by the U.K.T.A.

The event was held on the 107th Anniversary of the birth of Taekwon-Do’s Founder Gen Choi Hong Hi.

After busy day David Lumsden 2nd Kup won Silver for Patterns and Bronze for Sparring, whilst Alisa Smaga 8th Kup won Bronze for Patterns.  

Congratulations for representing and winning for A.C.E & Stonehenge.

Alisa joined the school in April 2025 and has already reached the grade of 7th Kup, she has shown an incredible aptitude towards her training and has eagerly strived for improvement.

In the short time at the school Alisa has represented the school at TWO major tournaments and obtained TWO Silver medals, one such event after an awkward fall she injured her knee with a torn Ligament (which she is currently waiting Surgery for), however not put off  her keenness to overcome this has not stopped her from attending virtually all classes (sometimes even limping into class).

Her attitude towards her training is refreshing to see, her keenness to learn and develop is refreshing, also her personal drive in progressing in Taekwon-Do is noticeably infectious.

Dave has shown true commitment to his training and development, he has travelled quite significantly supporting and representing the School at many National Championships of which he’s won many medals, he’s also travelled around the UK a bit attending the special 70th Anniversary seminars this year, and getting his face known as a keen and consistent player in Taekwon-Do.

Dave always presents himself in a very tidy professional & smart way at events and in a manner very fitting with the pedigree of the school.

Dave is known for being extremely enthusiastic which is sometimes an understatement, he always puts in 100% into his training, and is keen to get involved with all aspects of Taekwon-Do.

With the likelihood of Blackbelt next September opening a door to a whole new range of achievements and opportunities