Fact-finding visit from international visitor packs-a-punch
Huddersfield student Kambiz Ali (left) invited South Korean martial arts legend Ik Pil Kang (centre) to see his place of study and meet his tutor Dr Gareth Parkes (right).
Mon, 08 Jun 2015 13:12:00 BST
Taekwondo instructor and student Kambiz Ali invited South Korean Grandmaster Ik Pil Kang 8th Dan to meet his tutor Dr Gareth Parkes
Pictured right: Alex Kim, President of the University’s South Korean Student Society (left), greeted Ik Pil Kang (centre) and Kambiz Ali (right) at their arrival.
Special links were forged between the University and South Korea when Huddersfield student Kambiz Ali invited South Korean martial arts legend Ik Pil Kang to see his place of study and meet his tutor.
Kambiz works full time as a scientist whilst studying for a Master’s degree in Analytical Science, supervised by module leader Dr Gareth Parkes. The degree is providing him with a comprehensive overview of the most recent technological developments and applications in analytical science. He is due to graduate later this year.
Also an award-winning taekwondo Master 6th Dan, Kambiz is the founder and instructor of the K.R.Ali Tae Kwon Do Academy (K.T.A) in Harrogate, which he opened in 2005 after he moved to Harrogate and saw the lack of taekwondo training centres.
In tandem with celebrating the K.T.A academy’s 10th anniversary, Kambiz invited taekwondo Grandmaster Ik Pil Kang 8th Dan to the University and introduced him to his academic supervisor Dr Parkes who consequently showed the Grandmaster around the campus and its facilities within the School of Applied Sciences.
Also there to greet the visiting party was Alex Kim who is the President of the University’s South Korean Student Society. The visit was said to be enjoyed by all.
Grandmaster Kang also came to the UK as Kambiz Ali’s guest of honour to the Harrogate K.T.A Seminar. This event was organised by Kambiz and was the first of its kind in the local area. The seminar was a chance for UK taekwondo students to spend time training with the Grandmaster and to learn from his wide expertise.
Kambiz is contemplating setting up a taekwondo club here on campus in a bid to make his hobby more accessible to the University and its students.
Taekwondo success
With over 25 years of experience in the art of taekwondo, Kambiz has won many awards including a World Taekwondo Hanmadang Bronze medal for fistbreaking in 2014 (pictured left) and a bronze medal in the 2015 British Taekwondo National Poomsae competition. He is also a member of GB’s National Training Squad and has been selected to represent British Taekwondo and join the National Poomsae Squad for 2015 in the U50’s Male Division.
The sport is claimed to be one of the most systematic and scientific Korean traditional martial arts, that teaches more than physical fighting skills and Kambiz has no doubt of its benefits.
“If you believe in yourself you can achieve many things in life and gaining self-confidence is one of Taekwondo’s biggest attributes,” said Kambiz. “Fitness is greatly improved and being part of a team brings people together so they make new friends,” he added.
Further links were made between South Korea and Kambiz’s hometown of Harrogate when the South Korean Government decided to name a city street in Duong-Gu after the North Yorkshire town. They called it Harrogate Road.
Kambiz travelled to the opening ceremony of the street to act as the Mayor of Harrogate’s representative in an event that attracted local interest.
