GETTING beaten up 26 years ago was the inspiration behind learning the art of taekwondo for a black belt Australian champion.
Taekwondo is a form of exercise that is adaptable to many age groups and for Master Justin Warren it has been the vehicle for his whole life.
He has been the Australian team coach for international gold medal winners and runs his own taekwondo business in Bunbury – Taekwondo Central.
From teaching those with Down syndrome to helping the elderly maintain their fitness, Warren believes that taekwondo is a form of exercise that anyone can do to help look after their body.
“The pain of discipline is less than the pain of regret of not doing exercise,” he said.
“I am a mechanical fitter by trade but after I got really bad Asthma from the oil, I wanted to find something I could do for my whole life.”
Warren opened his taekwondo business in 1999 with just six members and today, 16 years later, he has over 200 students.
He teaches 18 classes a week, to varying ages with his youngest student just three years old and his oldest student at 70.
He holds black belts in Judo and Japanese Jujitsu in which he achieved his black belt in three gradings and has been graded to blue belt in Brazilian Juijitsu by legendary UFC hall of famer Royce Gracie.
He has taken his focus away from competitions in the hope of putting an emphasis on health and wellbeing and to help his students find their path to a healthy life.
For more information and class times visit tkdcentral.com
