Director & Advisor

​Ko Poon BA (hons), PGCE (Primary), DipShiatsu​
​

External Martial Art Career

Ko Poon (Poon Kok Hung) began Martial Arts in the early eighties within a successful Karate organisation. He has trained in the external arts of Shotokan and Goju Ryu Karate Do under various masters to a high level, achieving the grade of Black Belt 5th Dan in Shotokan and 1st Dan in Goju Ryu as well as being graded by world wide acknowledged Masters whose lineage can be traced to Japan and Okinawa.  He started teaching his own Karate classes in 1994 and co-founded with his brother  John Poon - POON DOJO. Today, Ko Poon maintains a constant presence within Poon Dojo, as the Director and Advisor to POON DOJO, although his own martial journey has taken him deeply into the powerful internal art of Tai Chi Chuan.  Within the media world Ko has appeared in a documentary about spirituality as well as on Children's television training a presenter in the Art of Karate.

​

Internal Martial Art Career

In 1999 Ko Poon decided to focus his training within the internal arts. It was at this point that he became a student under Master John Ding (Ding Teah Chean). In December 2002 he qualified as a JDIATCC Traditional Tai Chi Chuan Instructor.  Since then, he has been involved in teaching Tai Chi to the Elderly for 'Age UK Waltham Forest', teaching Tai Chi in a Newham Primary School as well as for a Learning Disability Unit at Waltham Forest. Additionally, Ko Poon now runs the MDA Stratford City branch and is a senior student of Sifu John Ding, dedicating his Martial Arts training solely to the path of Tai Chi Chuan. 

 

Therapy, Health & Wellbeing Career

Ko Poon started his therapy career in the early nineties, as an apprentice of Dr Sir A.J.W Clemens BA. MSc. Phd., Founder of the Association of Osteomyology. It was in 2000 that Ko Poon decided to study Shiatsu.  He graduated in November 2003 from the British School of Shiatsu Do as a fully qualified Shiatsu therapist.  During the course of his training he had the opportunity to train with leading practitioners in the field such as Ohashi Sensei (Founder of Ohashiatsu ©).  Ko Poon now runs a successful Shiatsu practice in East London.

​

Professional Career

Professionally, Ko Poon has worked in the British Education system since 1996. Starting as a Primary School Teacher in the East End of London, he then gained promotion to become a senior manager holding the positions of Acting Deputy Head Teacher, Assistant Head Teacher as well as a Leading Maths Teacher in the Borough of Newham. In September 2003 Ko Poon became a Senior Lecturer at the University of East London, lecturing in Mathematics and Physical Education for the Primary PGCE programme (Initial Teacher Training). Ko Poon is now the Lead Physical Education Lecturer for the Primary PGCE Programme. He is the Lead Tutor responsible for writing the module in Physical Education for the Primary PGCE Programme and continues to train Students in becoming Primary School Teachers. Ko Poon also maintains his CPD by attending courses with the Association for Physical Education (AfPE) the only professional association in the UK for PE.