Sport
6 June, 2025
Simpson earns Black Belt
Maryborough Martial Arts member Gemma Simpson has reached a significant milestone in her Taekwondo journey, recently awarded her Black Belt (1st DAN degree) and internationally recognised with a World Taekwondo certification.
Simpson started her Taekwondo journey as a teenager, joining with a friend as a fun activity.
After a 10-year break due to an unrelated injury when she was 16, Simpson moved to Maryborough four years ago and decided to join the club as a way of getting back into Taekwondo.
Now training with the club twice a week at the Maryborough Sports and Leisure Centre, Simpson said participating in Taekwondo has been a fantastic way to meet new people and learn new skills.
“The club has helped me find community but also to build my confidence, resilience, and to be more active,” she said.
“No matter what else is going on in my life, at Taekwondo training I can leave it all behind and just do my best.
“At times that has been a vital support for my mental health, to know that I have good people around me if I need them.
“Earning my black belt has been an incredibly humbling experience and it feels great to reach my goal, but I also know that I still have lots to learn from others and I can build my skills.”
Still craving the thirst to learn, Simpson has already started working on her 2nd DAN Black Belt grading, which focuses on further knowledge of the Taekwondo principles and being able to teach those principles to others.