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Sabumnim Delroy "Delly" McDowell

Delroy McDowell, a 4th degree black belt, is a full time professional graphic designer and a graduate of the Edna Manley School of the Visual Arts. He has been studying the art of Taekwondo for over 22 years. He began his martial arts training by way of martial arts books with friends who share similar interests in the martial arts. He first started learning Hung Gar Kung Fu with a visiting friend from the United States in the early 70s. This was short lived with the instructor returning home. His other earlier contact was the study of Mu duk kwan Taekwondo at the Dragon Gym.

He later had the oppurtunity to begin studying the traditions and systems of ITF and WTF style Taekwondo under Sabumnim Garth King (a 4th degree black belt in ITF) in July 1976. Mr King gave up instructing 1984 and he had the untimely task to carry on with the clubs activities. In the summmer of 1987 he began learning the pholosophies and traditions of Songahm Taekwondo under Master Maurice Orange, then the regional Vice President of the state of California for the American Taekwondo Association, whose master instructor then was Haeng Ung Lee. Mr McDowell has had many travels overseas at clinics, seminars and instructors training programmes studying the art of Taekwondo.

Apart from being one of the authority in the martial arts in Jamaica, Mr McDowell has established himself as one of the pioneers and respected instructor in the martial art fraternity in Jamaica. He has done many demonstrations, taught in seminars, self defence programmes for security officers and personal protection techniques lectures for adults and teenagers. He was also an avid participant in national competiton in the early 80s. Mr McDowell now lives in St. Catherine, Jamaica with his wife Maria and four children, Kevin, Phillip, Maurice and Kristen. All of whom practices Taekwondo.

SidekickS Taekwondo is now the system that which Mr Mcdowell now practices. The style was founded by master Maurice Orange when he resigned from the American Taekwondo Association/Songahm Taekwondo Federation. These pages is an effort by Mr McDowell to give some basic information of SidekickS for all its members and other martial artist whose levels of interest will be rewarded by the contents of these pages.

Sabum Vernon "Danny" Harris

"Line up!" students of the Sidekicks Taekwondo School are quick to obey this familiar cry from instructor Vernon "Danny" Harris, 4nd Degree Black Belt.

Harris, the slightly built second-in-command to Chief Instructor Delroy McDowell, is known for his "no-nonsense" approach, and the student who tarries in obeying this call runs the risk of being assigned push-ups as punishment.

But that rarely happens - because Harris demonstrates in his own life an even higher level of discipline than he demands from his students.

An 18 year practitioner of the martial arts, Harris started out, not in Taekwondo, but in Judo and Karate at the Kingston Young Men’s Association (Y.M.C.A) In fact, he attended classes in both disciplines on the same day each week, one after the other. He stopped attending Karate classes after attaining the green belt level. After an unpleasant incident at the school, but continued his Judo training until this was discontinued at the YMCA. However, his love for the art and for teaching inspired him to instruct children in Karate, even after quitting classes.

He was invited to join a Taekwondo class at the YMCA. And so began a love affair that has continued to this day. Harris made black belt 1981, after placing first in the National Championship that year. But, that achievement did not come easy. "In the semi-finals, I almost broke my nose", relates Harris, "I went home, ‘iced’ and bandaged it, and came back to win that division".

Competition is dear to Harris’ heart - "In fact, he says Taekwondo appeals to him, not as a means of self-defense, but because of the potential for competition it offers. In the Kumite division of the "Jamaica Open Championship", first place in form and free-fighting at the Sidekicks Taekwondo Association (STA) tournament, second and third place in the Cayman Kendo tournament.

But, Sidekick Taekwondo students probably appreciate Harris most for his teaching - his tough, but fair style that has achieved results beyond some students’ expectations. And while both adults and children have benefitted from his efforts, he prefers teaching children. "I get along better with them - I get the kids to do the things I want them to do", he explains.

Nevertheless, Harris attempts to pass on to both younger and older students the same principles he has garnered from Taekwondo; qualities such as discipline and dedication to hard work.

As he points out, "There is no easy way, you set yourself a goal and work towards it. If you want to reach black belt, you have to rain hard".

However, Harris believes students who test for the black belt today have it a lot easier than those in earlier years. In his opinion, sections of past tests required running and performance of all forms and basic fundamentals. This form of testing would encourage the new generation of black belt students to put more effort into their training.

His greatest joy in teaching is to see a student understand and apply the material he passes on; and he even likes a challenge from students. "I don’t mind if some student wants to spar with me" he quips with a smile. "I’m happy to know they’re working towards something.

On the other hand, he is really discouraged when students do not attend class regularly. "They miss out on the things that are taught and in turn sets back the class a lot".

"Danny" Harris is a devoted family man to his wife Bridgette of six years, and his two daughters - Yanique, nine, and Danielle, seven. He comes from a big family himself, the second of six children.

When he isn’t working, either at this present job as a Chef, or at teaching Taekwondo, Harris enjoys watching television sports, reading martial arts’ books, or collecting stamps and coins.

And, how would he like to be remembered?

"As a Taekwondo instructor - strict, mean, but seeing some good come from it

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  SIDEKICKS TAEKWONDO ASSOCIATION, KINGSTON JAMAICA