LETHAL - LEIF

SUCCESS IS DETERMINED BY EFFORT !!!

My Life So Far.

I suppose you could always say I have always been a bit different. I was a very sickly baby and this carried through all my younger years. I had a suspected minor stroke at 3 and meningitis at 7.

Even with all this I was always active and it soon became apparent maybe a little too active, at 6 I was put on Ritalin and my parents were told I had ADHD. I really gave them some grief and was threatened with being excluded from school in my first year.The Ritalin helped but had some side effects, it reduced my appetite and there is some thought that it left me with mild tourettes and complusive obssesive disorder.Some doctors say it is down to that others say that sometimes you tend to get them together anyhow.

Well on one of my check ups at the hospital a doctor asked my parents if they had thought about getting me into a disciplined sport or activity and so the idea of me doing Martial Arts came about.

I joined a Thai Boxing club on our estate but soon the instructor could not cope with my lack of concentration and asked my parents to give me some time out as I was disrupting the classes.About 6 months later he decided to give me another try as he said I reminded him of himself.This time I settled more as the medication was in my system and a few months later he announced to my horror he was leaving and setting up somewhere else. His new place was to far away but he had arranged for his old instructor to take over at our centre and I finally got my first introduction to my first proper instructor and the man who was to be one of the greatest influcences on me, Paul Sutton. ( BIRMINGHAM PYTHONS )

Paul made sure he gave me the time I needed and had and still has the greatest patience, he moulded me at my pace but also taught me discipline and respect.In the 5 years I trained with Paul on a full time basis I learnt so much about the true meaning of Martial Arts.Paul and my dad who has a great martial arts background himself, learnt me that respect for yourself and your opponent are the most important aspects.My dad could have taught me himself but felt I needed to go to a club and get that sense of belonging that he always had when he trained.

MY DAD AND ME AFTER WINNING ENGLISH TITLE

I gained 3 titles with Paul, Area, English and British Champion and I was very sad when I found out we were moving 200 hundred miles away and I thought I had lost everything. Luckily that has not proved to be the case and I still try and attend Pauls shows often and still do Thai on occasions. Paul still instils the same sense of respect in me and expects to see me use it .

PAUL SUTTON WITH ME AFTER WINNING MY BRITISH TITLE

So at the end of 2001 we moved to Middlesbrough and I went looking for a new club. it was total shock that I found that Middlesbrough did not have any Thai clubs and I was totally devasted.I spent about 4 months without training then decided that enough was enough and I would have to join the local kickboxing club. So in March 2002 I joined SCORPIO FREESTYLE under Gary Jowers.

Everything was explained to Gaz on my start at the club and I have never felt any different to any other member. Gaz encourages me all the time and even findS my oddities amusing, though explaining to new parents bringing kids the first time when my tourettes is playing up can be fun ( luckily it does't happen often now ).Gaz laughs it off and has helped me do the same.

I have gone from strength to strength with Gaz and of course my dad again. Both praise me when I am on a good track but tell me when they think I am on a lazy one also.

MY INSTRUCTOR GARY JOWERS 

My achievements within kickboxing have been and I hope continue to be excellent.( Please see results ) My biggest and most proudest moments has got to be becoming WUMA World Champion x 2 at Germany in November 2004 and WUMA World Champion x 4 at Malta in November 2006

I suppose my other greatest achievements have been becoming 1st Dan Blackbelt in July 2005, I had a bad year of injury and was determined to conquere it and that proved to me I had. Next was becoming a WUMA WARLORD in November 2005,to achieve this I had to spar 100 Blackbelts in a continuous cycle with only 30 sec breaks in between each one.I raised over £80 for charity by completing it and had very blistered feet as a result.

The greatest things I feel I have gained from Martial Arts is Discipline, Self belief, Self Respect and most of all Respect for my opponents.I feel without these you will never be a successful martial Artist. I was recently featured on BBC Look North as one of their Sports Kids, it highlighted how I have used sport to cope with my problems, at first I was unsure about doing it but have had some positive response from it and think that it might help others realise that with the proper guidance some things can be achieved.

I also recently started trying to do Taekwondo aswell, I feel this will be a way for me to try and gain entry into the Olympics.On 24th March 2006 I gained my first grade 8Kup Yellow Belt.

It was a nice surprise today to receive a poster for a show I am appearing on and it has me down as World Champion, I know I am but seeing it on the poster was klass.

                          


I have just turned 15 and hope I have alot more successful years ahead of me. Things are really beginning to go well for me at the moment and on Saturday 22nd April 2006, I took 2 European Titles at the WUMA European Championships, this is an improvement for me as in 2003 I only achieved silver placings and in 2005 I took 1 title and a bronze. It is good for me to see the improvements I have made, I know then that all the training is paying off. On the 9th Sept 2006 I had my second Full Contact bout going for the WUMA British Schoolboys Full Contact Title @ -40kg, I won by TKO in the 3rd round and gained my 17th Title Belt,


On 7th Oct 2006 I has what had to be one of my hardest fights so far, against Hayden ' Tiger ' Walker from Lincoln , Hayden had a great fight record of 20 fights 15 wins and 5 losses against my record of 13 fights 11 wins and 1 draw and 1 loss. I won and felt really pleased that I am keeping up my performances

I also got to meet Dell Mann, a great instructor and gentleman.

The Story continues in style because on November 7th 2006, I headed to the W.U.M.A.World Championships in Malta. We arrived on theTuesday and spent the first few days training and chilling out in the sun.Then Saturday 11th November arrived and it was down to business, I had a very successful day apart from when I broke my toe, lol. as I came away with 4 World Titles. Self Defence, Team Semi Contact, Individual Semi Contact and Light Continuous.What a way to end my W.U.M.A. junior career.

Me collecting one of my 4 World Titles

Me with my 4 World Champion Title Trophies and Other Club Members with their Trophies and World Titles.

Then on November 22nd 2006, the local Tyne Tees News Crew came out to do a feature on me and 2 other Scorpio Clubmates, Sean Condell who got 2 World Titles and a Bronze and Shannon Flynn who attended the WKA World Championships and got 1 World Title and a Bronze. That was quite good only when it appeared on the news they announced me as Leif Garrett. ?????

The 3 of us pictured with our instructor Gary Jowers and the news crew after filming.


 I finished off my greatest and last year as a junior by competing in the WUMA British Championships on the 17th Dec 2006  where I gained 2 British Titles. When I get my belts for these and my 4 latest World Tiltles I will hold 23 Title belts. lol.

I know that from now things will get harder as I move into the seniors and with such a low size and weight I will struggle against the men. I am determined to give it my all and hopefully will still have some achievements to report on.

On the 1st March 2007, I was asked to attend the Teesside Schools Sports Council, Sports  Awards, I along with about 100 others was presented with a certificate of Achievement and then at the end of the evening I was named as 1 of the  SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR !!!, I felt so proud.

Pictured with my instructor Gary Jowers after returning from the awards night.

 

Now 16 !!!

On 31st March 2007 I entered the British Junior Championships in Thai after much encouragement from Paul Sutton my Thai Instructor, who felt I had still the ability to do it even without much training in Thai in the last 5 years  . Guess who was right ? Thanks Paul !! I gained 2 British Titles : Boys 15 - 17 years - 45kg and - 50kg.


Me pictured with my 2 British Titles

His beleif in my ability goes on , he is taking me to Belarus on April the 18th to fight Thai. Paul Sutton is a fantastic Instructor and I am so pleased to call him mine.

On 7th April 2007, I was once again allowed to fight on the WUMA International Full Contact Night ' Refuse To Lose 2 ', I had a hard bout but won and became the new WUMA Super Light Flyweight Full Contact English Champion. Another proud moment and I am grateful to Master Richard Hopkins for allowing me to be on such a prestige show.

Soon after my return from Belarus it was discovered that finally a Thai Boxing club was opening just 10 minutes away from me. Thai was where the story of Leif Taggart began and very much still part of me. I  now had a hard discision, I had been with Paul Sutton for 10 years and feel like I am part of his family, after discussions with Paul he advised me that I needed more regular training in Thai and the way forward for me was to join the new local club but I would always be thought of as a member of Birmingham Pythons. Paul doesn't hand over his students easily and straight away contacted the instructor to check that things were going to be right for me. David Mc Robb after discussion with Paul about my commitment and experience then offered me the chance to join Teesside Thai Boxing Club as an assistant instructor, I gladly accepted and on the 8th May the club opened and is doing well.

Me with David Mc Robb, My new Thai Instructor

My thanks and respect will always be with PAUL SUTTON, without him I would never have had a story to tell.

Me with the Instructor that started me on my journey with Martial Arts, Paul Sutton

Naturally there are only so many hours in a day and so many days in a week so something had to give for me to be able to give my all to my Thai boxing. With great thought I knew I still wanted to continue in my kickboxing and remain a member of Scorpio Freestyle, that was without question so I decided that my Taekwondo had to be the thing to give up on.I know that Martial Arts will always have a place in my life and I am glad I am able to now compete and train in the 2 aspects of it I enjoy most, Thai Boxing and Kickboxing.

On the 17th June 2007 I went with David Mc Robb and my team mate Jack Bezance to the WKA British San-Da Championships in Birmingham. Neither Jack or I had competed in this style before but thought we would mange it as it is a mixture of Thai, Kickboxing and Ju Jit Su and as we both do Thai and Kickboxing we gave it a go. We both returned BRITISH CHAMPIONS !!!!

ME AND JACK BEZANCE WITH OUR BRITISH SAN-DA TITLES

Well life is really moving on now and all my GCSE's are over and I have finally left school, all finished with a great send off and our Prom night. This is where the fun ends and the serious days start. lol. or well thats what they say !!!

ME READY FOR ACTION !! AND READY TO FIGHT OF ALL THE GIRLS ON PROM NIGHT !!

Well it's been a couple of months now and things are moving on.

 I have just returned from the WKA World Championships in Germany with a silver medal, thought I had the gold but thats life.

On my return I found I had been selected for the WAKO Cadet Full Contact Squad going to Portugal on 6th November. this is a great honour for me and I hope I will do well.

I think the greatest news I have received is that I have been picked for a Golden Belt World Title fight with a strong American opponent. This will take place in Liverpool on the 27th October under International Rules. I am now putting in alot of training for this and Portugal and really hope that I manage it.

On the 27th Sept 2007 I had the great news that I had been successful in my grading and was awarded my 2nd Dan Blackbelt.

Me receiving my 2nd Dan from Scorpio Senior Instructor Gary Jowers

Wow, what a feeling, 27th Oct has been and gone and I finally achieved what I have been striving for a ring World Title. after 5 hard rounds against Tyler Price from America, my hand was held up in victory and I was declared;

GOLDENBELT ATOM WEIGHT AMATEUR WORLD CHAMPION

Me pictured with my proud dad Bob Taggart on the left and my Instructor David Mc Robb on the right

A week later I was on a plane to Portuagl to attend the WAKO Europeans as part of the cadet full contact squad. I achieved a bronze medal and was proud to have been a part of the British Team.

Me pictured with my WAKO Full Contact Coach Cris Janson Piers

Feb 16th 2008.  Great changes ahead for me, I was lucky enough this week to be offered the oppurtunity to become professionally managed. I took this chance with both hands and I am now under the flag of WHITE SCORPION fight management and the ever watchful eye of Master Cris Janson Piers, who also happens to be my WAKO National Coach.

I attended the WAKO British Championships and won my 1st of hopefully many titles, with Cris as my coach and manager.

Me pictured with Master Cris Janson Piers, My National Coach and now also My Manager

Pictured after winning my WAKO Cadet Full Contact British Title

Feb 23rd 2008. I attending the IKF Amateur Championships as a secod corner with my Thai Instructor Kru David Mc Robb. I had originally been due to fight but no match was found , then at 2pm my Instructor was asked if I would step in as a late replacement as 1 of the main events of the day. it was agreed I would so later that evening I fought a Turkish Guy Hazan Yilditz for the FeatherWeight World Title. I won and became :

Pictured after becoming :

IKF Amateur Mens Featherweight World Champion

Life is moving on, I am now in my second year of college studying sport, (what a surprise.lol.) I have just came back from Naples where I competed in K1 rules. I came home with the silver and was well pleased as I made history as the 1st WAKO GB fighter to reach world ranking in K1.

Getting advise from National Coach Master Cris Janson Piers

On Podium receiving my medal

The week after returning I had my last full contact fight for the EFK British Title against the Champion from Newark Lewis Fallon. the fight was stopped in the last round due to a cut to lewis but went to the score cards and I was awarded the title.

Pictured with my proud manager Master Cris Janson Piers

I have now been asked to fight on the great show Power of Scotland on November 29th B Class thai and am looking forward to that and the new direction of fighting Thai and K1 under the watchful eyes of Kru David Mc Robb and Master Cris Janson Piers..

Me pictured at weigh in with my Opponent Keiran Mc Askill

I lost on the Power Of Scotland on a split descision and had nothing else planned for 2008 so relaxed and settled to enjoy Christmas but got a surprise as on 20th Dec 2008 I was invited to a Presentation Evening in Sheffield and was awarded the 1st ever WAKO GB Presidents Award for my achievements with WAKO and for becoming the 1st ever WAKO GB fighter to be World Ranked in WAKO K1 rules.

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Me pictured with my Award.

So with Christmas over my parents sat me down and said that as I was due to be turning eighteen that they would like to step back within my Martial Arts career ( As they had helped a lot in all aspects and descisions ) and go back to being just supportive parents. They felt I had enough maturity and experience to make my own choices as it would be my future that would be affected and they also felt I has enough support from my manager and instructors.

I suppose this conversation was backed up as days later I received a letter saying I was to be inducted into the WUMA Hall Of Fame as Competitor Of The Decade on 31st January 2009. I felt like everything was being backed up and others were recognising that I was capable of knewing what I wanted from Martial Arts and also capable of making my own choices.

Me Recieving My Hall Of Fame Award from Master Richard Hopkins, Founder of W.U.M.A

I decided to spend a week or so then deciding what I truly wanted and which direction I would like to follow, My choice was that I wanted to move fully into the K1 format as this style really excites me.

So with this choice made I am now under not only the Management of Master Cris Janson Piers but also his Instruction for my K1, I now train partly through the week with Gary Jowers of Scorpio , who adds support to my training and I attend most weekends and half term breaks etc ( I think it very important to finish my college education before giving my time more over to my Martial Arts ) with Master Cris Janson Piers and my training Partner Kerry Louise Norbury in Sheffield.

On 5Th March 2009 I finally turned 18 and now I enter the harder stages of competing, with the correct guidance and preparation I hope I will also make an impact as a Adult Competitor

On 5th April 2009 I finally achieved one of my goals and that is after 12 years of doing muay thai I finally reached the time i could go fo my Kru grade, this is like a Dan grade. I graded and passed and it was made special as Paul Sutton presented me with my Kru Armband and grade, without Paul I have always said mu journey within martail arts may never have started

Me receiving my KRU / Red Armband from Paul Sutton along with Ryan Lowney

It's now August 2009 and things have moved on, I have finally been able to make use of all the gradings I have taken , achieving my Kru was important to me as although I have been an assistant instructor in both Thai and Kickboxing my aim was always to someday have my own classes.

I have now with a lot of help and support from my parents and Master Cris Janson Piers and Kerry Louise Norbury and all at Falcon Fight Academy in Sheffield achieved this. I now have my club Black Falcon Thai which is connected to the Falcon Fight Academy and is lucky enough to have the backing of KO PRO which is sponsoring it with equipment etc... and also sponsors me with help travelling to and fro from Middlesbrough for training and to run my club. THANK YOU !!!!

I am hard into training in my K1 now and throughly enjoying it, I have been selected to represent WAKO Great Britain again in K1 in September at the WAKO European Championships in Croatia and I am really looking forward to it and I am really focussed on it. So here's to a great result !!

On my return from Croatia i will have one of my hardest fights against the 5 x French National Savate Champion at Doncaster Rugby Club on Oct 11th 2009, I am looking forward to this fight as I think it will be the time for me to show just how much training I have been putting in and also to show the New Lethal Leif Taggart !!

Gone is the Boy ! Prepare fo the Man !

 

Well I have managed to make WAKO GB history once again, on the 20Th Spetember 2009 I headed to Croatia as part of the Great Britain Squad to the WAKO Junior / Cadet European Championships.

Last year I fought through to the final and made history by being the 1st GB Cadet to stand on the podium in the K1 style of fighting , I gained the silver medal.

This year I became the 1st WAKO Cadet to attain the Gold Medal in ringsports and became WAKO Cadet K1 European Champion .......

Me collecting my Gold and becoming :

WAKO CADET K1 EUROPEAN CHAMPION

On the 11 October, I had my planned fight with Idriss Galais 5 x French National Savate Champion and it was as I has expected it to , a very hard fight, we fought under Low Kick Rules to make the fight fair for us both and at the end i was declared the winner...

 Idriss and I after our well fought fight !!

Watch this space for further updates !!!

 

But feel I would not be where I am without the support of the following people.

 

BOB TAGGART;    MY DAD, MY MENTOR, MY GREATEST INFLUENCE,MY BELIEF.WITHOUT YOU I AM NOTHING

SHARON TAGGART; MY MAM, MY ROCK, MY COMFORTER. MY WORLD .

PAUL SUTTON;    MY FIRST INSTRUCTOR AND ALWAYS THE ONE TO BELIEVE IN ME AND STILL A GREAT SUPPORT. THANKS PAUL, I WILL NEVER FORGET YOU OR YOUR HELP..

GARY JOWERS;    MY KICKBOXING INSTRUCTOR; MY COMEDIAN, MY GUIDANCE AND HOPEFULLY MY LIFELONG FRIEND.

RICHARD AND SIMONE HOPKINS

                THE FOUNDERS OF WUMA ,

                MY ENCOURAGEMENT, MY SUPPORT AND MY FRIENDS.

KRU DAVID MC ROBB: WHO WAS MY THAI INSTRUCTOR FOR 2 YEARS, HE HELPED ME A LOT AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK HIM FOR HIS HELP...

CRIS JANSON PIERS: MY CONSTANT ONLINE ADVISOR. LOL. GREAT FRIEND , MENTOR, MANAGER AND INSTRUCTOR.

KERRY LOUISE NORBURY: GREAT FIGHTER AND MY TRAINING PARTNER WHOSE ATTITUDE I INSPIRE TO HAVE, GREAT ROLE MODEL

ALL MY SPONSORS, PAST AND PRESENT,  WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT MY STORY WOULD HAVE ALREADY ENDED

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ MY STORY !! IF IT ENCOURAGES 1 PERSON TO TAKE UP MARTIAL ARTS I WILL BE VERY HAPPY.

RESPECT TO ALL, LETHAL LEIF TAGGART