About Us
Wessex Taekwondo Association was established in Dorset over 30 years ago. In that time the club has grown into one of the region’s most respected taekwondo communities, producing Black Belts, British Champions, and European medallists, with students representing their country at national and international level.
Today the club welcomes members of all ages, from four year olds taking their first steps on the mat to adults in their fifties training alongside their families. Whatever your age, background, or ability, you will find a place here.
Wessex Elite Taekwondo CIC
Wessex Elite Taekwondo Performance Sports Centre operates a Community Interest Company. This means the club exists to benefit its members and the wider community, not to generate profit. Every decision we make is guided by what is best for our athletes, our families, and the sport we love.
Our Instructors
Our coaching team brings together decades of competitive experience, technical expertise, and a genuine commitment to developing every student who walks through the door.
Master John Harrison
7th Dan
Wessex Taekwondo Association was founded over 30 years ago by Master John Harrison, 7th Dan. Since 1998 he has served as The Royal Navy Team Coach and currently leads as the UK Armed Forces Team Coach. John began his taekwondo journey in 1989 and has been teaching in Poole since 1995. Over the years he has guided students to success at competitions across the world, earning numerous gold, silver, and bronze medals along the way. Today he coaches what he believes to be one of the most dedicated teams in the country, with athletes competing at national and international level, including students who have represented the National Team on numerous occasions. Master Harrison is an experienced coach and instructor, combining high-level sporting expertise with a strong foundation in the traditional values of taekwondo.
Cedric Chan
5th Dan
Cedric has trained with Master Harrison for over 20 years and has built a strong foundation in traditional taekwondo. Working closely alongside Master Harrison, he assists with many of the training sessions and now leads the Saturday classes. Cedric also supports the Military Taekwondo programme when he can and has been a dedicated part of the club from the very beginning.
Ben Harrison
4th Dan
Ben has been training since the age of four and is now one of the club’s national and international coaches. He continues to compete at the highest level, winning medals both nationally and internationally. Ben also supports Military Taekwondo training and teaches fortnightly on Fridays, sharing the class with Master Harrison.
Lily Hoy
3rd Dan
Lily joined Wessex Taekwondo in 2022 and has been training and competing in taekwondo for over 12 years. During that time she has qualified twice for the Cadet European Championships and twice for the Under-21 European Championships, winning medals across the UK and internationally. She has recently joined the coaching team and continues to develop as both a competitor and an instructor.
Thandor Dlamini
3rd Dan
Thandor began taekwondo at a young age in his home country of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) and went on to represent his country at the highest level. He joined the Army in 2019 and has competed in three World Taekwondo Championships, in Russia (2015), South Korea (2017), and Manchester (2019), as well as the 2019 African Games in Morocco. Named Army Sportsman of the Year in 2025, Thandor joined Wessex Taekwondo in 2022 and currently trains as a full-time athlete at the centre whilst continuing to serve in the military.
Sam Leah
2nd Dan
Sam has been training since the age of five and joined Wessex Taekwondo four years ago. He is both a national and international competitor and continues to develop his skills through training and competition. Sam now assists as an instructor with our novice classes and is a valued member of the team.
Harrison Cole
1st Dan
Harrison has trained with Wessex Taekwondo since the age of five and has worked his way through the ranks. He is both a national and international competitor and continues to push himself to achieve new levels in the sport. He has worked closely with our novice classes and is a fantastic ambassador for the club.
Diana Leon-Grist
1st Dan
Diana has been with Wessex Taekwondo for over four years, training alongside her two children who are also members of the club. In 2025 she took over the Taekwondo Tots classes and now teaches on Tuesdays and Thursdays, while also assisting with our novice classes. She continues to develop as both a student and an instructor.
Max Stokes
1st Dan
Max began taekwondo at the age of five and has grown up as part of the Wessex Taekwondo family. Through training he has built confidence, strength, and flexibility, with the core values of taekwondo teaching him a great deal both on and off the mat. He now assists as an instructor at the club, enjoying helping others to develop their skills while continuing to improve his own.
Helen Leah
Welfare Officer
Helen has been involved with Wessex Taekwondo since 2022, when her son Sam joined the club. Drawing on her experience working within the NHS, she brings genuine professionalism to her role and took on the position of Safeguarding Officer in early 2026.
Safeguarding
The welfare of every member is a priority at Wessex Taekwondo. If you have any safeguarding or welfare concerns, please speak to Helen Leah or your club instructor in the first instance.