Assistant Grand Master Craig Hesketh with his new embroidered black belt. Photos: Marguerite McKinnon.
Wagga Wagga is Australia’s fastest growing martial arts region for Shim Jang Taekwondo and this week respected instructor Craig Hesketh has been named Assistant Grand Master, a prestigious title that elevates him into the top five leaders of the martial art in the country.
“I’m very honoured,” Craig said.
“It’s increased my role in the organisation and now my responsibility has gone further than Wagga. I’ll be looking after the Newcastle region and other regions in NSW as the organisation moves to develop an assistant grand master to oversee every state.”
Taekwondo is the Korean self-defence martial art of hand and foot fighting, from tae ‘kick’ + kwon ‘fist’ + do ‘art, method.’
Master Craig told students at his Thursday night class of his new title, to applause.
“I didn’t know he was going for a grading but he deserves it absolutely,” student Heath Conroy said.
“He’s amazing. He’s a lot of fun. He’s very intelligent. He knows the style and the discipline and he’s a very good teacher.”
Shim Jang Taekwondo demonstration at Mater Dei School hall.
Heath Conroy and his three sons, Sebastian, Adrian and Nathaniel, aged 13 and under, started learning Shim Jang Taekwondo in 2023, with his eldest son starting last year.
“I was born here (Wagga) and grew up in Narrandera and I did it (Taekwondo) when I was a kid for about two years in Winton actually when I was in high school, and I really enjoyed it.”
“When my kids got to that age when we wanted them to do some sport, we looked around and tried a few different things but we all thought Taekwondo was the fun one.
“My kids are like me, they can be a bit of a handful, but (Craig’s) been very good for the last three years, especially with the younger two, and of all the things they’ve tried, and they have their moments, this is the one thing they keep going back to. They don’t want to quit and I think that is because he is such a good instructor,” Heath said.
Wagga’s new Assistant Grand Master of Shim Jang Taekwondo Craig Heaketh (centre) with students from his Thursday night class at Wagga’s Mater Dei School hall.
New recruit Sara Jones started taking her daughters Kalani, 15, and Summer, 7, to Taekwondo classes at the start of the year, before joining in.
“I got sick of watching them so I started myself,” Sara said.
“I like learning and it’s a very respectful environment. You do a bit of sparring and I like the workout.
Sara agreed that Master Craig’s promotion to Assistant Grand Master was well deserved.
I find him quite witty. He can be strict but in a good way, and he’s very respectful.”
Craig Hesketh started Shim Jang Taekwondo 20 years ago, when the martial art was just starting out in Wagga, with eight students. Like parents Heath and Sara, he joined with his son.
“We went for some time and then he got up to brown belt, and I just kept going,” Assistant Grand Master Craig said.
Assistant Grand Master Craig Hesketh is a 6th Dan black belt, while his wife Lee is a 3rd Dan black belt, and his daughter Dana, who retired from teaching, reached the level of 2nd Dan black belt.
Craig is now a 6th Dan black belt and the passion for Taekwondo extends to his family. His wife Lee is a 3rd Dan black belt, and daughter Dana, who has retired from teaching, reached the level of 2nd Dan black belt. The highest level one can reach is 9th or 10th Dan black belt (depending on the country) which usually is reserved for a Grand Master after decades of disciplined practice.
“We teach a lot of self-defence but we also teach how to avoid a situation and what to look for. We aim at families and we are a non-contact martial arts,” Craig said.
“We’re open to kids from five right up to adults.
“I think our oldest students have been in their 70s so you’re never too old to get involved with martial arts.”
The benefits of Shim Jang Taekwondo extend further than self-defence.
“I’ve had teachers turn up and tell me that children have completely changed their learning. Because we work on both sides of the left and right, just that coordination and dexterity has helped with their confidence, and learning and discipline.”
