April marks World Autism Awareness Month, and to support such a fantastic cause we are highlighting the inspirational story of Dave White, who continues to be a trailblazer in supporting Autism in Taekwondo.
Dave and his wife Mel run Ignite Taekwondo, with classes being run in Broughton and Winterton in North Lincolnshire. They have created a safe, welcoming environment for people of all needs to come and practice the sport they love, while becoming part of a friendly community created around the club.
Dave was born autistic and was non-verbal until the age of five, but through coming to Taekwondo classes when he was younger, he gained the confidence to thrive both on the mat and beyond, and credits the sport for saving his life.
After his son Ollie was also diagnosed at the age of four, Dave knew that the solution lay in martial arts, and started up his own club in the local area to help his son, just as Taekwondo had done for him at a similar age. From there, Ignite has grown into a club that prides itself on its welcoming atmosphere, with all needs given the bespoke service they require when classes are in progress.
All the hard work done at Ignite was recognised by British Taekwondo last year, with Dave and Mel earning the Diversity and Inclusion award in 2024 for their heart-warming story [pictured], as they continue to provide opportunities for everybody in the area to get the chance to shine.
Right from the moment a new member shows an interest, the pair make things as easy as possible. A welcome pack is sent out highlighting all staff members and photos of the hall, as well as videos if required, with free trials offered on a flexible basis to suit the aspiring new member’s needs, as familiarity of their surroundings grows with each visit.
Whether it is a 1-to-1 session to bed members in, or constant communication with parents and family to ease their inclusion into the group, the Whites have it all covered, and continue to be one of the leading clubs in the country when it comes to special education needs.
“I always speak to parents when they come and message to get to know about them and the child to prepare or any situation to support as much as I can,” Mel said. “Communication is a big key! Without that no relationship, trust or them feeling safe would happen!
“We keep sessions fun and keep them moving. We are a family club and we focus all aspects of taekwondo which I think helps a lot of our SEN as a lot of them love just doing the Poomsae side.
“We are very lucky the amount of assistants we have to support. Without them we wouldn’t be as successful.
Having been through the journey himself, Dave has every base covered when it comes to making the experience as stress-free as possible for any participant who may face challenges when getting into the sport.
Repetition, familiar faces and an adaptable approach to sessions make Taekwondo accessible to everyone at Ignite Taekwondo, with the results speaking for themselves, as membership continues to grow due to the inclusive nature of classes.
Dave continues to pass on the skills he learned through the martial art at a young age to his members, and has seen first-hand how his efforts are rewarded, with enhanced mobility and improved flexibility, as well as better overall health for those who sign up.
This about more than the martial art, this is about giving everybody equal opportunity in life. British Taekwondo strives to make all of its clubs as inclusive as possible, and Dave and Mel continue to fly the flag for the great work done across the country in making Taekwondo an inclusive sport for anybody who wants to take part.
Leave A Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.