Sipjin Taekwondo is a club new to New Zealand after being a successful club in Australia run by Head Instructor Grand Master (GM) Craig Barrett who is a 7th Dan Black Belt. GM Barrett has been an international gold medalist, ten-time Australian Representative as Athlete, Captain, Coach and International Referee at international competitions including the World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships (Turkey, Egypt, Russia, Uzbekistan, Mexico, and Indonesia) and Oceania Championships (New Caledonia and Australia). The club also has another experienced Instructor Master Vivienne Barrett, 5th Dan, who is a former New Zealand representative and international medalist. She has medaled at multiple Oceania Championships and has experience in competing internationally at events such as in South Korea at the World Poomsae Championships and World Taekwondo Hamnadang (festival). She additionally was ranked 1st in her division when competing at the New South Wales State Championships and was a NSW Poomsae Representative and medalist at the Australian National Championships. Taekwondo is both an effective Martial Art and a modern-day Olympic Sport. At Sipjin Taekwondo we specialise in Traditional Taekwondo and self-defence. Our classes provide the opportunity for parents and children to train together and do a martial art as a family in the same class rather than having separate classes. Sipjin Taekwondo is one of the few places where whole families can learn, develop and train together, with classes being available for all ages, from 7yrs and up. The word ‘Sipjin’ comes from a traditional Taekwondo ideal meaning “endless development and growth, which are always affected by a systemic and orderly rule”. At Sipjin Taekwondo we believe in continual learning and striving to reach personal goals, two mantras that this club is based around and promotes within its teachings.
