Maltese martial arts instructor inducted in US Hall of Fame

A Maltese taekwondo instructor received one of the highest accolades in martial arts when he was inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame in America.

Adrian Aquilina-StJohn, 4th degree Dan and chief instructor of International Taekwondo (Malta), now has his commemorative plaque hanging alongside such martial arts greats as the late Bruce Lee and actor Chuck Norris.

Mr Aquilina-StJohn, 44, of Swieqi, has also been voted International Martial Arts Instructor of the Year for the third time. He won the award two years running in the UK before moving to Malta in 2000 where, apart from teaching taekwondo, is also in demand as a fully-qualified personal trainer and runs the only "real alternative" shop in Malta - XEN in Bay Street - with his partner Sophie Dickson.

It has taken him 14 years of training under Master Hiron John (7th Dan), president of International Linked Taekwondo for Europe and the UK, and setting himself the highest standards in instruction, to achieve such a high accolade from his peers.

Mr Aquilina-StJohn says he teaches the ITF style of martial arts, the original taekwondo as developed by its founder, Grandmaster General Choi Hong Hi for the Korean army. It is primarily a self-defence system, and a scientific martial art that is best for fitness, health, strength and discipline and is equally suitable for children and adults alike, he explains.

It is an art form which has been gaining popularity with European schools.

In December, Mr Aquilina-StJohn will be hosting another of his martial arts seminars with Master Hiron John as main guest speaker.

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