Born and raised in cork Jim O’ Sullivans taekwondo career began almost by default in September of 1975 ..educated at presentation college Jim first choice activity was naturally rugby and played under age for both presentation college and at Highfield RFC where he distinguished himself and an uncompromising open side wing forward..

“At that point of my teens rugby was really all that mattered..!!! But there was little homework being done and my grades were very average to say the least ..! so following the intervention of a career guidance teacher I was give a choice give up rugby or find a trade ..!!” so in September of that year with the junior cup panel about to be named I was withdrawn from the schools rugby programme..

On a sunny Saturday in late September Jim went to watch a” Korean karate “class   that was being held at the Arcadian Ballroom on the lower Glanmire road .in his native Cork .

“The club had been open for about a year at that stage so there were at the green belt level .the first person I saw was a guy called James Fouhy who lived in barrack Street .. doing this amazing high side kick and to be honest I was completely blown away ...!! The instructor of the class was a gentleman called Liam Dandy then a second degree black belt and I could see the students were in total awe of this man ..the entire atmosphere was very disciplined and had echoes on military training ..”

So began a journey that would shape his entire life both as a competitor, instructor and examiner ..

“Training back then was so different than it is to day ..classes were every Saturday and lasted over 2 hours ..Mr. Dandy due to work commitments was unable to continue with the club so a another instructor arrived to continue  the classes  his name was Aidan Walsh and for the next 20 years Aidan was to guide the fortunes of Taekwondo in Cork and was and still is a positive influence to those who were privileged enough to be trained by him .”

Under Mr Walshes expert guidance Jim O'Sullivan's Taekwondo career began to progress ..

“Aidan encouraged me to enter my first tournament i think it was in late  1977 it was a regioal event cork and waterford clubs and i won the overall blue belt event winning the patterns and power test and second in sparring ..my old rugby competivness was back and i was away ..!

As a coloured belt Jim participated at both national  and  regional events  winning the National Taekwondo Championships in 1978 and the South Eastern Championships in 1979   and being promoted to ist degree black by Master Rhee Ki Ha in July of 1979 at the then Taekwondo Academy in Dublin..