Kyo Sa Rick Weston is the Instructor in the 

Trealaw Tang Soo Do School

Name: Rik Weston

 Rank: 2^nd Dan

 Position at School: Instructor and general children’s entertainer.

 Years in Martial Arts: 1983 – 1985 Wado Ru karate. I was in the RAF based at an Army support unit near Aldershot , home of the Army. It was learn to fight or run fast. I didn’t like running as it makes you spill your pint. 1985 – 1992 Shotokan Karate (pretty much on and off all of the time due to being in the RAF and forever moving or away from home). Joined Pencoed Tang Soo Do in 1999 and I’m still there and very happy. I did have a 7 year break between 1992 and 1999 due to health reasons but it basically adds up to about 17 years trying to brake my body.

 Accomplishments or Awards:  In my time with Tang Soo Do I have been extremely pleased and lucky to have won medals and trophies in all the competitions I have entered. These include gold, silver and bronze and they look good on top of the fridge. The one medal that I was really please to be awarded was in my last competition in sparring. I was in the semi finals and I managed to rip the ligaments out of my left calf but I managed to get up and still win the fight on one leg, real Karate Kid stuff. When I tried to hop into the ring for the final I was wrestled to the floor by my instructor Master Sian Humphries and was so happy to receive the silver medal. I have also been awarded student of the year twice and in such a close, friendly club as Pencoed this meant a lot to me. When younger I received my gold Duke of Edinburgh Award which was a real surprise when, for the hobby section I chose home brewing and when out on an expedition in Derby my team and I managed to blow one of our tents up whilst trying to cook in it and set fire to two more. We slept in a pub’s saloon bar that night. Every year I get an award from my children as best Dad so I can’t be that bad.

 Favourite Technique: Jump split kick but really anything with a jump in it as, just like tigger my bottom is made out of rubber and I’m bouncy, bouncy, bouncy.

 Favourite Form: Sip Soo. Suits the larger frame really well and I do tend to be a bear at times.

 Most Influential Martial Artist: Bruce Lee, back in the good old 70’s and in more recent times Jackie Chan. I know it’s all pretend and acted but the mix of humour and karate really hits the spot with me. Randall Scott (my Shotokan instructor), he was mad and made us road run bare footed every other class.  Master Sian Humphries and Master Wayne Humphries, a match made in heaven or maybe hell, if they are feeling mean in class and have just learnt a new warm up or stretch. Master TJ Trudgill, a really gifted instructor and Master W. Williams for his big heart and always a smile.

 Other Hobbies: Magic, magic and more magic. Oh and if I can find time, some more magic. I also enjoy reading, not just magic books and shooting anything that moves on my computer.

 Last Book Read: A Crown of Swords, book 7 of 11 in the wheel of time series by Robert Jordan, a very good fantasy writer.

 Favourite Book: The Belgariad and the Malloreon by David Eddings. These series of approximately 14 books are just one long fantasy story, full of magic and bad, nasty things that want to hurt you, just my sort of thing. Another favourite set of books was by Stephen Donaldson, The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. I also really rate Raymond. E. Feist and The Rift War Saga. I used to enjoy horror books by authors like Stephen King and James Herbert but fantasy is now my bag.

 Last Film Watched: My first 50 dates. Yes I am not the most up to date person when it comes to movies. I tend to wait until they are being repeated on Sky movies 8. I still have a DVD of Swordfish from about 5 years ago that I still haven’t watched. My first 50 dates was brill as it reminded me of myself. It would probably take me 50 attempts if I was ever going to try to chat someone up.  

 Favourite Movie: Apollo 13, I don’t know why but if I happen to be channel surfing and it’s on I have to watch it.  Star Wars, the original one because you cannot beat a girl with Danish pastries stuck on her head. I think its R2D2 and his back chat that I like the most.

Favourite Meal: A good old fashioned roast diner, preferably a full Christmas one with all the trimmings.

 Pets: 2 cockatiels one called Murdock and one called Woodstock . When I got them in Germany back in 1987 it seemed like a good idea. Nobody told me how long they live. It was also a great idea to teach them to whistle the theme to The A Team. However, now we are in the 21^st century, when they decide to whistle it at 5 O’clock in the morning it doesn’t seem that fun. I also have a cat that I rescued from the cat protection league about a year ago. Its name was Bee and it seemed very friendly until I got it home. They had not sold me a cat; I had bought the Beast of Bodmin Moor. Friends in Tang Soo Do always find it funny when I turn up for class with yet even more wounds. I have re-named the cat Beastie.