Shilla Taekwondo

All set up for our formal gradings this Saturday, just need to mop down after tonight’s training session and we are all good to go.
We have a few coloured belts grading this term, Ninjas & Warriors.👌🏼
Two, Red 3’s grading for their Provisional Black Belts 👍 and four Provisional Black Belts grading for their full Black Belts 👍 which will be recognised world-wide through the Taekwondo Kukkiwon Headquarters in Korea, under myself and Shilla Taekwondo.
Good luck in advanced to all students that are eligible for grading this Saturday.
Red Belts and Provisional Black Belts, will be expecting an intense and hard 5 hour grading ahead, and all students to finish off smashing through their board breaks, I might even do 1 or 2!?
We have spares if any parent would to give it a go.

I sincerely thank 8 of our Shilla Black Belts that are free and able to assist with our formal gradings this Saturday, to help all students move to their next levels in Taekwondo, full Martial Arts Spirits right there!👊🏼
A later Black Belt lunch will be on me again as usual.

And off course all students even get a treat after their gradings 🍫 even me, lol..
Tea, coffee and biscuits will be supplied for all parents, grandparents and carers only while you enjoy the gradings.

Thanks to our Junior Black Belt Leadership Team for all their help during this term assisting me with students, and to my partner Leigh as well for a lot of admin work that gets done behind the scenes, she’s teaching me a lot on the computer as well, but it still does my head in…😜😂

Thanks again Raj for donating a circular saw to me to make my job easier to cut down all the boards.

And once again I’d like to thank the whole team from the Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre, for allowing me to have my full time Dojang set up in your premises. It’s such a pleasure.😊

See you all tonight, and on grading morning.

Take Care!
7th Dan Master Benny..👊🏼

Just like to say a ‘HUGE’ thank you to some of my Shilla Taekwondo Leadership team for stepping in and running 3 classes for me tonight, due to my absence for not feeling the best.
Diverticulitis flare up over the weekend.

A phone call this afternoon to cover classes, gave out instructions on what to run through and they all helped out each other.
I could tell by some videos that Raj sent me, you were all very well respected to our black belts.👌🏼
•Tylah Stockham
•Raynesh Sharma
•Joanna Schilling
•Caden Ritchie
Thank you black belts.

It’s very much appreciated, and great Martial Arts spirits right there.👌🏼
Thanks Raj and Joanna for being the adults to make sure everyone was ok, and I’m sure all the adults that were there watching would have been eyes as well.

Master Benny..👊🏼

Taekwondo Dan Post about myself, this is a long respectful post that I really would like to express myself and also thank a few people.

So despite I’m 7th Dan in Taekwondo under the Chung Do Kwan Federation, with Grand Master Wyllie and also with Jidokwan Ferderation under Grand Master Sung Soo Lee since I was 9 years old, recognised world wide through Korea, I have been so many years over due to get my 6th Dan Kukkiwon certificate, which is from the Taekwondo Kukkiwon Headquarters in Korea!

Last year on Tuesday, 23rd December 2025, I did a massive closed grading from afternoon into the early evening to achieve this HUGE 6th Dan Kukkiwon grading, under my 9th Dan Grandmaster Dr Bilal, who is also the NSW State President of Taekwondo, as it was a very long grading, every pattern from white belt through to my current rank, (15 patterns I needed to know) but I did 17 patterns and also being full technical, inline drills etc…

I’ve been training very hard for many years for this grade, even more so I trained very hard all year in 2025 for this grading, most of my spare time was fixing up all my techniques, as the whole lot now needed to be videoed and to be done in front of 3 Grandmasters here in Australia as a recommendation, and then sent to Korea for 3 Grandmasters from Kukkiwon to approve my 6th Dan application, which there was no room for error.
I even took it upon myself to have many hours of private lessons with an International Poomsae (pattern) referee, to refine all my moves, thank you Sanjila for all your knowledge, ensuring to get me through this very hard and difficult grading, and to Master Prakash for giving me her number for me to organise this.👌🏼Along with Master John from Red Dragon Taekwondo in his Dojang going through all the patterns, thank you it was such a great help, especially with Sipjin.

My grading was done in my Shilla Taekwondo Dojang in front of Grandmaster Bilal, Grandmaster Greg Wyllie, and Grandmaster Hassan who was on a video call throughout the whole grading.

I’m very proud of myself for achieving this massive goal.
I was told by Grandmaster Bilal on Wednesday night in front of my students, from over 2,000 applications for this 6th Dan grade, I was rated by the 3 Grandmasters in Korea, to be in the TOP 10 world for this grade! For my technique, sparring, patterns etc.
And also from my 3 Grandmasters that I did my grading in front of as well.

I could not be any more happier with myself, with this great achievement, and to hear and know these words is absolutely mind blowing, I’m soooooo happy and satisfied with myself.

I must say it was such an honour to have my 9th Dan Grandmaster Bilal, present my 6th Dan certificate to me on Wednesday night in front of some of my students and parents.
What a great and very meaningful speech!
This will be a grading and presentation night, with a beautiful memory I will hold close to my heart forever with great respect to all Grandmasters.

I would also like to thank, my Assistant Instructor Logan Grant, for coming in right at the end of my long grading to do my self defence, weapon stick attacks, knife attacks, and my sparring which was a friendly and respectful match, however sorry again Logan for a few kicks to your head and black eye, he can take it - plus just as well his also training Muay Thai.
Hence why I did my calorie deficit diet to strip off 20 kilos to do this grading, and now back on it again after a long splurge.

Also, I’d like to thank my partner Leigh, for supporting me with the love and passion I have with my Taekwondo, coming in to watch and support my grading on the day into the night, my 2 boys Jayden & Brandon for having such strong beliefs in me with my Taekwondo, my 2 brothers Tony & Pat and sister in-law Tania, my beautiful Mumma, my family and friends, and to ALL my Shilla Taekwondo family, for all your support with our family oriented club, and having confidence and faith in me to teach you or your children.
Also thanks to the Management from the Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre, and all workers there for all your support as well, in having my club in your premises.

This is a way of life for me, and always will be. I’ve been training Taekwondo and Martial Arts for 46 years now, and also under Grandmaster Andrew when I moved out west, until I opened up my own Taekwondo School in 2013, and I will continue to do so for the rest of my life, as much as my back will hold up, pain management.
Yes I’m living on painkillers every day.

9th Dan Chung Do Kwan, is only another 14-15 years away now from my 7th Dan to reach the top!

A few pics and videos I share of my 6th Dan grading and presentation.