Testimonial by Mr. Nicholas Sheehan V 'OH' Dan B.U.T.F.

Firstly, my heartfelt congratulations to Master Choy on his long deserved promotion to Grandmaster status.

It took me a little while to create this message. This is because I was looking for an answer or an example that I could draw comparisons from. With the power of the internet, I was looking for a definition of what a Grandmaster should be. I should have known. I knew the answer all along. It's Master Choy. A Grandmaster should be not only someone who is an encyclopaedia of their art, but also someone who lives by it's teachings. That is exactly what Master Choy embodies, someone who lives by the tenets of their art and leads by his own example of those.  If only there were more people in the world who lived by that example.

My earliest memories of Master Choy date back to the early 1980's. In my opinion then he scared me a bit. Actually, I lie. He scared me a lot. I always remember him as a strict disciplinarian who demanded that everything be absolutely right and woe betide anyone who did not do it that way. Over the years I have learned that in fact he demands these standards because his heart wants people to fulfil their potential. (Although, I doubt that he would be so forthright in admitting that himself). I laugh now, but there have been times when given the choice of a telling off from Master Choy or the proverbial 'ton of bricks' I would have chosen the bricks!

Knowing what I know now I can see that he takes great pleasure in seeing people achieve and develop. He does not take payment for his time and efforts and as I can see now that his rewards are in seeing people come from nervous beginner to fully fledged competent Black Belts and then flourish as individuals. That is an integrity that is hard to find these days.

Interestingly those who do well in the Dojang also seem to be successful out of it as well in their personal lives and careers. So Master Choy’s instilment of the tenets into all of his students and members of the BUTF can only be seen as a positive for everyone. Even if like me in the early days, it felt like there was a mountain to climb every training session. Yet another Twigi Bandae Dollyo Chagi with "More Height"/"Sharpen that footsword"/"Straighten the Leg"/"Use the Dwitchchook properly" may seem like the bar is being pushed ever further away but it is all to make you better at what you do. And that is all Master Choy asks of you.

Today the BUTF should be proud to have a Grandmaster of such personal standing leading us forward. It should be motivation for every member to try harder, strive for better in their Taekwon Do and take inspiration from him. For nearly 2 decades Master Choy has devoted himself to furthering the BUTF and driving the standard of our art upwards. It has not always been easy. There have been setbacks along the way. But Master Choy has taken every barrier and knocked it down. Probably with a powerhouse of an Ap Cha Busigi with a perfectly formed Ap Kumchi no doubt. 

Even as an instructor we still get pushed by Master Choy. Because he wants us to be the best instructors we can be so that the students can have the best instruction they can receive. So next time you are training and it seems hard and as though you are being asked for the impossible, remember someone has been there before you, faced all that you face and more and has succeeded. You can too. (But I still cannot stretch as he can even practicing every day and I should have a distinct age advantage!)

It takes a certain type of character who can give so much to their art without demanding personal rewards and display such integrity. A certain kind of self-disciplined perseverance that drives them forward without compromising along the way. Someone who demands the best whilst remaining courteous. Someone who controls their emotions when all around others are losing theirs and still remaining true to their beliefs. Someone who refuses to give up. And someone who recognises the strengths of others and acknowledges their abilities in that field. That is why there is only one Grandmaster. That is why Master Choy is so deserving of the title.

Congratulations Grandmaster Choy.

PLEASE NOTE: Further testimonials or acknowledgments may be emailed to headoffice@butf.com with the subject line "Grandmaster Promotion". We will endeavour to publish all appropriate messages.

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