About
Melbourne Taekwondo Centre - Diamond Valley was born in 2002 but the origins of the club date back to as early as 1990.
Original Head Instructor,
Michael Catania, who was a multiple time State, National and International
Taekwondo Champion, first started a part time club in Bundoora, at St Peter's
Church Hall in 1990. The club, while small, was a successful and productive
class of around 60 dedicate students.
Meanwhile, in Diamond Creek,
Hojo Taekwondo, under the guidance of then Head Instructor Tony Devlin, was
thriving in the local community with class for kids and adults at the Diamond
Creek Community Centre.
In the late 90's, Tony decided to take his Full Time job to a greater level and asked his friend Michael to take over his club in Diamond Cree, knowing it would be in great hands. Michael did, and MTC Diamond Creek was born.
Many State, National & International Champions were bred in those two clubs, including Adam Wright, Jordan & Ken Higham, Jacob Raemakers & Stephen Taylor.
In 1999, Michael Catania had to stop teaching Taekwondo due to work and family commitments, so with the blessing of Grand Master Jack Rozinszky, the clubs were handed over to Mark Nolasco to grow and develop.
Mark was already teaching for Michael at both venues and quickly grew both clubs to the point where they needed extra nights to cope with the influx of new students.
In Late 2001, Mark found a full time venue in Eltham, above the ANZ Bank on the corner of Arthur St and Main Rd, and in 2002 opened up the venue to students. A new breed of champions were developed in this club, including Stephanie & Jessica Aldridge, Carina Mastrilli, Ali Currie, Matthew Lindsay, Grant Mason and Jonathan Goddard who competed in both Technical and Olympic Sport Taekwondo in Australia, Malaysia and Korea.
The club stayed there until late 2008 before, once again, outgrowing the space and requiring a larger venue to house the many students. So in November 2008 the club packed up and moved down the road to Bridge St, Eltham. This was a successful time for the club, creating a new set of champions including Griffin & Ethan Reytomas, Talisha Rowland, Nathan & Christopher Walsh, Max Morley, Georgia Charlesworth and Sanjana Alex.
After five years, and several issues with our neighbours, the Eltham venue became untenable, so the club moved into what was to be a 3 month temporary venue in Main St Greensborough, while we waited for a factory to be finish in Eltham. 15 months later, and still waiting for the factory to be finished, another venue in Eltham became available
At the beginning of 2016, our Peel Street Eltham venue opened. After 4 and a half successful years in the venue, COVID forced us out and we now call St. Francis Xavier Primary School in Montmorency home.
Our students can train over a 4 day period in all of the disciplines in Taekwondo. The club offers the following programs:
Traditional Taekwondo - Self Defence, Patterns (forms), Bag & Mit Kicking, Sparring (non contact) and etiquette (manners).
Primary & Secondary School
Programs - Self Defence and Basic Taekwondo Skills to deter and protect
against Bullies at school and attackers in the street.