Rayners lane Taekwon-do Academy was founded in April 1999. It is an independent school of Taekwon-do that adheres to the original I.T.F. syllabus of Taekwon-do. This syllabus has been expanded in order to develop students capabilities in all ranges of self defence, in order to make each student as capable as possible in all areas as they progress to black belt and beyond. The academy teaches all the major aspects of Taekwon-do as taught in the large federations, such as patterns, sparring & destruction, but also teaches areas that are sadly neglected in some schools. These areas include pattern interpretation, pattern application (teaching the correct methods of applying the techniques found within the patterns), throwing, falling & street smart self defence, although we see Taekwon-do as an art of self defence & dislike the fact that people refer to specific parts as self defence rather than Taekwon-do as a whole.