Master of her trade

Nora Connell is the youngest and only female 4th Dan Black Belt Master in Taekwondo in Ireland. She practices with passion and teaches with joy.

Nora Connell was four years old when she first stepped foot into a Dojang - the Cootehill sports hall where her older brother Dominic was learning the Korean martial art Taekwondo. Last Sunday, 17-year-old Nora stepped out of a Dojang not only the youngest, but the only female 4th Dan Black Belt Master in Ireland.

“It’s been years of hard work to get here,” beams Nora. She is a tall young woman with a strong posture, who speaks in a thoughtful, gentle voice. With a blink of an eye she could brush the tip of your nose with her toes, one of the many swift movements internalised in hours of trainings.

The overhead kicks are surely the most spectacular in terms of agility, but the poomsae - a refined flow of blocks, turns, kicks and punches - is mesmerising to watch.

Nora has competed for Ireland in kyrougi (sparring) and in poomsae demonstrations. Together with her parents Vincent and Gemma Connell and her brother, she has been running Lakelands Taekwondo in Bailieborough for the past five years.

“Being the youngest Master is a nice achievement, but being a female Master is what I am most proud of. I have never been to a female-led seminar and I am aiming to change that,” says Nora, who is still a fifth year student at St. Aidan's in Cootehill.

Half of her 70 students are female, meaning that all students can develop together. In general, the teachers encourage everyone to be mindful of their partner’s ability. Taekwondo can be translated as the “way of the hand and foot” referring to the technique, but it also teaches the five tenets: courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit. In training, these principles are lived when showing courtesy and self-control towards a lower grade, or indomitable spirit when sparring with a taller or older partner.

“I aim to show all the students that confidence is having faith in yourself and persevering with your goals.”

Nora is proud to be considered a role model for other girls and she knows how the five principles extend into everyday life, fostering personal development and character.

“We have had feedback from parents saying that since joining, their daughters have stood up for themselves in situations where they would have previously backed down to stronger personalities.”

While self defence is an important aspect of Taekwondo, Nora’s emphasis lies on avoiding conflict altogether.

“Knowing how to defend yourself is a good skill to have, but it is not an excuse to look for trouble,” she says. Taunting an opponent on the mat is not tolerated.

When teaching Taekwondo, she focuses on guiding the kids and teenagers how to correctly execute the movements and learn the correct pattern of the poomsae. Her main objective, however, is that they enjoy themselves.

“I know from my own experience with other team sports what it’s like to be told you’re not good enough. I have seen coaches shouting at their students for losing, but I believe that no student ever goes out intending to have a bad performance.”

She knows everyone develops at their own pace and everyone deserves the opportunity to develop. The motto she goes by is: “A student won’t remember what you said, but how you made them feel.”

“I am always proud of any student who puts themselves forward for competitions or who steps on the mat for a grading test. I know myself how daunting it can be.”

Last weekend, Nora had many students to be proud of, when 61 of them stepped into the Bailieborough Dojang to complete their grading and receive a new belt. It was the last time Nora signed the certificates as 3rd Dan Instructor. The next ones will say ‘Master Nora Connell’ - and at the rate she is going, one day, ‘Grand Master Nora’.