ABOUT ASTKD
Welcome to the Australian School of Taekwon-Do (ASTKD), where our club is built around youth with the focus on delivering quality martial art training taught by passionate instructors and fellow students. We teach kindness, physical fitness, and confidence through Taekwon-Do.
We do everything in our power to provide a safe and supportive environment for our students to learn the art and sport of Taekwon-Do. All instructors are police checked, hold blue cards and attend seminars to maintain the standards that are set by the International Taekwon-Do Federation.
We offer a range of programs from students aged 3 ½ to adult, and welcome both beginners and experienced martial artists. Our classes are based on three core aspects of Taekwon-Do: self-defence, competition, and the preservation of the art.
It is our aim teach internationally-recognised Taekwon-Do classes built around integrity, leadership, and professionalism, and to nurture students on their martial arts journey while creating role models and future leaders of the community.
We are committed to ensuring all of our students develop:
- Respect. Develop respect for country, instructors, seniors, juniors, peer and the broader community through martial arts.
- Discipline. Build the ability to commit to a goal and persevere through challenges.
- Persistence. Learn the value of time management, goal setting and character development to push forward in the face of adversity.
- Leadership. Create strong role models and future leaders of our school and community through traditional martial arts values.
The Australian School of Taekwon-Do is a member of the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) Australia, a national body representing Taekwon-Do schools around Australia.
Exceptional standards
Passionate and professional instructors
Community-focused and student-driven
Our Instructors
Passionate and professional
Tom Foggo – 5th Degree Black Belt
Chief Instructor & Founder
My Taekwon-Do journey started as a 22-year-old; I always enjoyed watching martial art movies but had never tried it before. A family friend was a local Taekwon-Do teacher, and from my very first lesson as an unfit and undisciplined young man… I was hooked!
I trained with my original Taekwon-Do club for 14 years. Over this time, I worked my way through the ranks to achieve my black belt, instructor, senior instructor and then became a Chief Instructor. I was now 28, and my life was not heading where I wanted it to… I needed a life challenge. In 2008, I decided to move from my birthplace of Adelaide to Brisbane to start a new Taekwon-Do school from the ground up. For half a year, I would place my dobok [uniform] on, open the doors to the local community hall, and wait for my first student. After six months of waiting, my first little student walked in the door!
I worked six days a week over the next few years and started to gain momentum with student numbers until my school suddenly burst open, and I had 200 students training under me after 5 years of my initial move to Brisbane. At this time, I gave up my day job and became a full-time Taekwon-Do Instructor.
In 2018, I decided that I wanted to allow my students the opportunity to compete so I rebranded my Taekwon-Do school to become the Australian School of Taekwon-Do (ASTKD). Our new focus was to learn self-defence-based Taekwon-Do, but to also offer the competitive aspects of Taekwon-Do, and for my students to have the opportunity to represent their club in local, state and international competitions.
2021 was a milestone year for ASTKD as we joined the ITF Taekwon-Do Australia, the national association for Taekwon-Do in Australia. This allowed ASTKD to join not only a family of clubs in Australia, but around the world. This allowed our student to gain qualifications and certificates with the ITF. We have gained new friends through this affiliation, learnt from world champions, found a mentor and teacher in Grand Master Daher, and one of our young students even had the honour to represent Australia against the world’s best.
As a young country boy growing up with four brothers, I never thought I would grow to be a leader. It wasn’t until my late 30s that I realised what the students see in me as their leader and role model. I open my eyes each day, blessed that I get to play my part in helping people to grow. The art of Taekwon-Do can be practised in so many forms, but for me, it has never let me down and has always been the constant in understanding my purpose in life.
Personally, my greatest attribute is that I love connecting and helping with all ages and types of people. A typical day might see me teaching four-year-olds, school-aged children, to teenage students and adults. If I can be that one person who makes my students smile each day when they enter my class, I know that I am playing my part to make the future happier.
Alon Yadin – 2nd Degree Black Belt
High Performance Coach
My journey with Taekwon-Do has been life-changing. I first met Instructor Tom when my kids wanted to join the TKD club at their school. It wasn’t long after they both joined Tom that I started to think about joining myself. I had never done martial arts and was physically in bad shape so I approached Tom and asked if he could see me becoming a black belt in the future…. his reply was ‘Yes, so let’s do it!’.
I became obsessed with my mental and physical state and after receiving my black belt and becoming an instructor, I started to focus on the performance of myself and other students. A gift I have been given is to motivate others and always lead by example.
Being able to see my son achieve his black belt and follow closely his progression to becoming a man and watching my young daughter work her way up through the colour belt ranks towards a black belt is special. After achieving my 2nd degree, I decided to focus my energy on the club and placed my training on hold to become our club’s High Performance Coach.
Whatever I have always done, my Chief Instructor has always had to do more. I have transformed my health and physical capabilities to an elite level and once I start to challenge Tom, he steps up his performance to always hold the top spot and to keep pushing me to aim higher.
That’s the definition of ongoing strength and what I love about our family at the Australian School of Taekwon-Do.
Testimonials
What our instructors and students are saying
Taekwon-Do under the guidance of my Chief instructor Tom Foggo has moulded me into the young adult I am today.
His dedication to every student is unrivalled and he continues to push me to be a better man and martial artist each day.
Taekwon-Do is a daily reminder to learn, have fun, appreciate and respect those you believe in and constantly strive to be the best person you can be.
I enjoy the variety of Tom’s TKD sessions that he provides in a safe training environment with minimal risk of injuries…particularly important when you are not the youngest in the club.
The support from my fellow students to push me towards achieving my 2nd degree black belt aged 60 is what makes my club so special. I am proud to be able to prove that anything is possible when you have a good support cast and the will to achieve your goals regardless of age.
Taekwon-Do has affected my life in many positive ways… It has increased my health and confidence significantly.
My determination and persistence to achieve has become stronger. My parents have both achieved their black belts with Tom and I am proud that our family has joined the ASTKD family.
Taekwon-Do and Chief Instructor Tom Foggo have done a lot for me, most importantly they have given me the mindset to push on for that extra 30 seconds when challenged.
My Taekwon-Do training has improved my life as it has made me physically and mentally stronger.
TKD has been an important part of my life and it always will be!
I see it as a second family and it has helped me grow up and to mature in my many years of training.
I feel as though I have been Taekwon-Do for most of my life. I enjoy being healthy physically and mentally every day that I wake up and do not take this for granted.
I would highly recommend anyone to join our TKD family.
For me, the biggest reason is that it has helped me become more disciplined in my life. I have been studying TKD since such a young age and it has given me the place to grow and mature as a person.
Under Chief Instructor Tom’s guidance I have learnt what it means to be a young adult.
Throughout my Taekwon-Do journey, I have faced many challenges, but I have found that my confidence has helped me to overcome all obstacles.
When I started at ASTKD, I never thought that I would be capable of achieving the things I have, but I soon learnt that you can do anything if you are determined and have the right support to guide you.
My favourite part about my Taekwon-Do club is how fun and enjoyable every class is.
Each week there is something new and unique to learn.
What is the single best attribute that I have learnt with Chief Instructor Tom Foggo? While it’s hard to select one, I would say that it has been the ability to adapt to change. Whether big or small, as I have matured as a student I have grown to appreciate that even the smallest change can impact my life greatly.
The most valuable lessons that Taekwon-Do has taught me is to believe in and have confidence in myself, and to always persevere no matter what.
Joining Taekwon-Do has helped me come out of my shell and to better understand myself as a person.
The greatest attribute that I have gained under Chief Instructor Tom’s care is discipline.
The ability to work hard and put effort into the things I love to improve at them!
I would recommend joining the ASTKD family as there is so much to learn!
You get to learn self defence whilst having fun and gain life skills whilst improving your fitness and health.
I have loved Taekwon-Do since I started as a 6 year old. I just love the community that I am a part of and the lessons have always been exciting and challenging.
Instructor Tom puts his heart and soul into teaching Taekwon-Do. I believe in Tom because he has always supported me throughout my journey.
Becoming a black belt in my 40’s seemed unattainable, but I have learnt to train with consistency and there is now no limit to how far I can go in my Taekwon-Do.
At the time of writing this my Taekwon-Do journey with Tom as my Instructor has been 11 years.
Over this time my life has changed in so many ways and the art of Taekwon-Do has helped me to conquer all challenges that I previously thought wasn’t inside me.
Chief Instructor Tom Foggo has guided me from my white belt to 2nd degree black belt with his exciting training regime and his undeniable dedication towards me and all fellow students.
Being a member of our Taekwon-Do family is a great experience. There are lots of kind people to talk to when you need someone to talk to. ASTKD has played a key part in my life.
My Father has become an Instructor and role model to so many and my sister has joined me on the journey to achieving a black belt.
Tom Foggo has given me the opportunity to broaden my horizons in my Taekwon-Do, fitness and outlook on life.
I am grateful for all of the help from my fellow students and Instructors as their help has assisted in me becoming the martial artist that I am proud to be.
Taekwon-Do is more than a sport… it’s belonging to a family!
Its shared goals, hopes and dreams and believing in each other… All under the guidance of the most inspirational instructor. I have been a part of this family for 8 years now and I wouldn’t be who I am without it!
My favourite part of Taekwon-Do is the confidence I have gained to be me!
The greatest attribute I have gained in my years practising Taekwon-Do is being able to persevere when things get hard… especially when I am physically and mentally exhausted.
My brothers and I have been a part of Toms Taekwon-Do school since very young. I am approaching 10 years in my training and enjoy how fun the classes still are and how strong I have become.