A TAEKWONDO instructor is bracing himself for increased demand on his services due to what is happening this weekend.

Four-times British champion Jason Mayoh, a fifth dan black belt from Alderley Edge with more than 34 years experience in the sport, is expecting a snowball effect from the spotlight about to drop on the martial art.

Mayoh, whose club JM Taekwondo meets at Chorley Village Hall, Knutsford Road, Alderley Edge, is looking forward to the impact this weekend’s World Taekwondo Grand Prix Final at Manchester Regional Arena will have locally.

He said: “Off the back of these events I often end up doing extra coaching in schools, with extra clubs and outside people contacting me saying they’ve seen the Grand Prix and want to set something up.

“The word gets out there and the interest grows massively from these events, so it is brilliant to have these kinds of events in the local area.

“The Grand Prix is basically like a mini-Olympics, it is the best of the best and the peak of every weight class male and female.

“So, for local clubs, the community and the country to get together and see everyone on the stage it is just a phenomenal event to really showcase taekwondo.”

Mayoh, who has represented Great Britain at World and European championships, started teaching in 2000 and is a part-time coach for Manchester City Council Primary Schools.

Mayoh has increasingly been delivering coaching to participants with disabilities and as Great Britain’s best para taekwondo talent prepares to compete at the Manchester Grand Prix event he wants to use the power of this major occasion to drive a wider social impact.

He said: “I started doing the inclusive special needs sessions a year and a half ago, it was something I had never done before.

“It’s all about finding a way to do it that is fun and engaging.

“It is great that clubs and school and special needs places have the opportunity to have a martial arts session. The fact that they have a coach, going into their venues and giving them the chance to see taekwondo and see what it is about has been brilliant.

“I coached a young girl who has ADHD during one of my school visits, and she loved it from day one.

“After the six weeks course she contacted me, came down with her mum to my club and has loved it since. The long-term social impact is what makes major events special.”

To find out more about the World Taekwondo Grand Prix Final 2023 and get tickets, visit britishtaekwondo.org.uk/manchester-2023-world-taekwondo-grand-prix-final/