Martial Arts: Tom is making a grand return to his native roots

Jul 16 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

ALMOST four decades after helping form a Taekwon-Do club in Bathgate as a first Dan black belt, Tom MacCallum has returned to the area as a Grand Master of the International Taekwon-Do Federation.

McCallum brings a wealth of experience and prestige to West Lothian.

In fact he is one of only seven holders of the title worldwide and the only one in existence outside the Americas.

His promotion in April of this year is the culmination of a distinguished career in the martial art that is, for both him and Taekwon-Do practitioners everywhere, a way of life.

As well as his outstanding talent as an instructor and practitioner he was the first person in Britain to break three boards with reverse knifehand technique.

McCallum was also the British Champion in 1976 for his favourite technique, jumping turning kick.

His skills as an administrator led him to the post of Secretary General both in the United Kingdom and in the All Europe Taekwon-Do Federation.

In 1985 he was invited to the World Headquarters of the ITF as Under Secretary General for planning and then administration, before ultimately becoming Secretary General of the federation in 2002.

As a close aide to the legendary founder of Taekwon-Do and President of the ITF, General Choi Hong Hi, he travelled to over seventy countries throughout the world as well as building up the administration of the federation in Vienna to the high standards of today’s ITF.

Although now retired, he is still Treasurer of the ITF and active in Taekwon-Do events all over the world.

It was at the European Championships in Benidorm that he received his promotion and in November he will be in Argentina attending the World Championships.

He also attends Scottish seminars, championships and gradings and plans to carry on training .

However, he does admit to taking a bit of a back seat these days — enjoying a relaxing spot of gardening at his home in Stoneyburn as much as a trip to the dojang.