History of Master Sutherland 8th Degree.
Master Sheena Sutherland started training in Taekwon-do in Bathgate in 1974, under the instructorship of then 3rd Degree, Mr Tom MaCallum. Master Sutherland was one of the first of four females promoted to Black belt in the UK, reaching 1st Degree in just under 3 yrs, in 1977.
During these early years of Taekwon-do development in the UK, there was no separate ladies division for the various disciplines in tournament that we currently have today. Separate ladies divisions were not introduced until 1977. This caused a predicament for Master Sutherland in those early days, she could either sit out of tournament altogether, and never have the chance to use the skills she had developed over the years, or take on the guys at their own game.
As everyone who knows Master Sutherland would testify she was never the sit on the fence and only watch type, so, the decision was made, and she elected to challenge the male domination of the art at the time, by taking the guys on at their own game, causing many an upset to many of her male opponents along the way. This she did wining gold in patterns at every level, competing in mixed sparring and reaching the finals at the Scottish Championships blue belt mixed power test. Her highest accolade at mixed competition was winning silver in the Open International 1977 in Edinburgh for black belt patterns with Canada who were both male coming 1st and 3rd.
Master Sutherland’s black belts development continued as follows:
1978 Promoted to 2nd Deg
1980: Promoted to 3rd Deg
1986: Promoted to 4th Deg (Sabum)
1990: Promoted to 5th Deg
1995 Promoted to 6th Deg
2000: Promoted to 7th Deg (Sahyung (Master)
2008: Promoted to 8th Deg
With the departure of Mr Tom MacCallum to Vienna, Master Sutherland inherited and took on the role as senior instructor at the Bathgate Taekwon-do Institute, as it later became known, in 1984. During this time, the school was part of the UKTA, headed by Master Rhee Ki Ha. During 1987, some of the senior blackbelts in the UKTA decided that to further develop Taekwon-do in Scotland, a move from the UKTA was necessary, and in 1987 the UKTF was formed. Master Sutherland was one of the 11 founder members of the UKTF, which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year (2007). Master Sutherland has been a technical director of the UKTF since 1997.
The Bathgate School had many successes over the following years, under Master Sutherland’s guidance, such as:
- Brent Lyon, World Champion (Russia) 1997 1st world sparring champion in the UK since 1984
- Julie Cross, World champion (Argentina) 1999 (she has also won the title a further 5 times, making Julia the most successful female competitor in the world)
- Mark Hutton 6 times Euro Champion
This is to name but a few, as there were many other domestic titles that were won also. This gave Bathgate a 
pedigree that is to this day, unmatched. Master Sutherland inherited the Livingston school of Tae kwon-do in 1998.
Master Sutherland has achieved many things during her 34 years in Tae Kwon-do. First and foremost, Master Sutherland is the 1st and only female 8th degree in the ITF worldwide. She was elected on to the European Umpire committee in 1993, United Kingdom Coach in 1992 at the World Championships in Pyon Yang ,North Korea.
Elected to the ITF World Championships disciplinary committee during the ITF World Championships in St Petersberg, Russia 1997 Currently on the AETF board of Directors, and has been since 1993, and was presented with an Outstanding Instructor Medal personally by General Choi Hong Hi in Malaysia 1994.
She is currently the ITF Scotland Secretary General, an elected position which she has held since 1997. She is also a founder member of ITF Scotland.
Master Sutherland has also attended countless technical seminars with Grand Master General Choi throughout the years, in an effort to keep Scotland in touch with the very latest techniques. This includes the Generals last Masters Masters Seminar in Vienna in January 2002.
The Future.
The future for Master Sutherland is continuing to teach Taekwon-do to both juniors and seniors alike, continuing to teach classes 5 nights per week, making Master Sutherland a very active 8th deg, something which is unique within the UKTF / ITF.
Master Sutherland’s long time goal is to create a martial arts exhibition centre in Livingston, attracting international events and seminars and making Scotland the Tae Kwon-Do centre of Europe.
Master Sutherland has participated and supported ITF competitions over many years some of which are listed below.
AETF European Championships
Juniors
Vienna, Austria 1991
Terracina, Italy 1992
Benidorm, Spain 1993
Warsaw, Poland 1997
Seniors
Crystal Palace,London 1980
Groningen, Netherland 1993
Sr Lublin, Poland 1994
Cologne, Germany 1995
Riccione, Italy 1996
Zrece, Slovenia 1997
Riccione, Italy 1999
Edinburgh. Scotland 2000
Villa Jayosa, Spain 2001
Trebon, Czech 2002
Rijeka, Croatia 2003
Tampere, Finland 2004
Terracina, Italy 2005
Poprad, Slovakia 2007
Wroclaw, Poland 2008
Benidorm, Spain 2009
ITF World Championships
Juniors
Moscow, Russia 1993
Warsaw, Poland 1995
Ponse, Puerto Rico 2002
Ricciona ,Italy 2004
Seniors
Glasgow, Scotland 1984
Montreal, Canada 1990
Pyon Yang, North Korea 1992
Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia 1994
St Petersburg, Russia 1997
Buenos Aires, Argentina 1999
Rimini, Italy 2001
Warsaw, Poland 2003
Quebec, Canada 2007
Open International
1st German Open, Mulheim Germany 1993
Peter the Great Cup St, Petersburg, Russia 1995
Peter the Great Cup St, Petersburg, Russia 1996
For more information in the International TaeKwon-Do Federation ( ITF ) please visit their website
www.tkd-itf.org
For more information in the All European Taekwon-Do Federation ( AETF ) please visit their website www.itfeurope.org
For more information in the United Kingdom Taekwon-Do Federation ( UKTF ) please visit their website www.itf-taekwondo.co.uk