James Sheedy (2023)

Inducted into the A.M.A.H.O.F. (Inc) and W.K.U.H.O.F. for 2023

Continual Excellence and Service to the Australasian Martial Arts Community

James started with Rhee Tae Kwon Do in 1974 – 1975

He graded for 1^st Degree Blackbelt in 1979 under the Australian Tae Kwondo Institute (ATI).

Along with his instructor, John Callegari and 3 other martial artists they formed the Australian Freestyle Taekwondo Academy (AFTA) in 1984 which grew to over 90 training centres nationally along Australia’s east coast, including Tasmania. 

He personally established in 1981 Tae Kwondo at Sydney, NSW and Macquarie Universities and at ANU in Canberra and personally taught at these universities for over 18 years and  established 48 AFTA training centres between Newcastle, Sydney and the South Coast of which 8 of those centres have been held at the NSW Police Citizen Youth Clubs.  His 1^st centre in Sydney, headquartered at the Glebe Citizen’ Police Club. 

He has taught at the Reserve Commando Regiment at St Ives, the military barracks at 3RNR Holsworthy, naval personnel at HMAS Garden Island and air force personnel at Williamstown Air Base.  He has also conducted a number of training camps at HMAS Cresswell, Jervis Bay.

From 1988 to 1991 in conjunction with Master Glenn Coxon he hosted 3 major martial art events and world title fights at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre and Sydney Entertainment Centre.

He currently run his own full-time dojo / dojang in Taren Point, Sydney – James Sheedy Personal Defence Studio.

GRADING HISTORY

1^st Degree 1979 Australian Taekwondo Institute ATI
2^nd Degree 1981 Australian Taekwondo Institute ATI
3^rd Degree 1983 Australian Taekwondo Institute ATI (Kukkiwon Certificate, Korea)
4^th Degree 1986 Australian Freestyle Taekwondo Academy (AFTA)  (Kukkiwon Certificate, Korea)
5^th Degree 1991 Australian Freestyle Taekwondo Academy (AFTA) 
6^th Degree 2003 Mr Kim, WTF 7th Degree 2021 Reunite International Taekwondo Federation – G.M. Jamie Moore (9^th Degree)