We are deeply saddened by the sudden loss of Ryan (pictured left) who died on Thursday 12th January 2006 and our thoughts remain with his family.

Ryan was a student at our academy for 3 years and in this time, he had worked his way through both our Little Ninjas and Kickin' Kids Programmes and was a on his last grade before completing the Programme and transferring into our Junior Tae Kwon-Do class.

He was awarded Kickin' Kids Student of the Month in April 2005 and he also attended the UKTF 2005 Scottish Championships in Montrose where he won a Silver medal for Patterns and a Bronze medal for Under 13 White/Yellow Belt Sparring.

Ryan's dad Roy has also been a student at the academy for 3 years and competed at the Championships with Ryan, winning a Gold medal for Sparring.

Black ribbon has been placed across the ITF Plaque and memorial photograph of General Choi Hong Hi, to mark a period of 99 days of mourning for Ryan.

Ryan's parents Roy and Jenni, asked Mr Wallace if he would like to speak at Ryan's funeral service and he was honored to do so.  His tribute follows.

Ryan will be forever in our thoughts.

Darkness!
Darnkess sounds like screaming, crying and explosions.
Darkness tastes like a bitter lemon or lime in your mouth.
Darkness smells like a musty swamp or a rusty piece of metal.
Darkness looks like a haunted house in the mist of the moon's glow.
Darkness feels like a cold breeze down your spine.
Darkness reminds me of how I felt when my friend died.
Rogan Rennie (10)
Albyn School, Aberdeen

A TRIBUTE TO RYAN 
by Mr Gordon Wallace, VI Degree

" My colleagues and I have often said that being a teacher of children is a privilege and as teachers we consider it an honour that parents entrust us to have an influence on their children from such an early age.  Never more so has this principle been so true, as it has been, in the case of Ryan. We have had the pleasure of watching him grow up from 6 years old and achieve such a lot in that time.

Ryan had been a member of our blackbelt academy for 3 years and had worked his way through both our Little Ninjas and Kickin’ Kids Programmes.  Sadly he was on his last grade before joining the main Junior class and becoming a full green belt and well on the road to catching up with his dad!

To give you a profile on what Ryan was like as a student of Tae Kwon-Do we’ve been looking back through his pre-grading report cards which we’ve kept since he joined us, and in each report my wife has written the same thing.  In fact it gets a bit repetitive.  Enthusiastic, Polite and a Pleasure to Teach - That really sums Ryan up for us.  He was quiet, well mannered and a very well brought up young boy - a real credit to his parents.

A True Little Ninja – we read that in the notice last night. Being a true little ninja at 9 years old is no different from an adult saying they are a true martial artist.  The reason being is because we are not comparing the strength of physical actions but speaking about the strength of character.  A true test of this character is when things don’t go a student’s way in training and challenges become difficult to overcome.  We have had children and adults give up training because it was too difficult and they could not face their challenges.

Ryan didn’t and what’s more Ryan tried and tried again always with a smile on his face.

He was always happy to be training regardless whether he won his stripe or badge, and never complained if things were difficult.  A great example for others to follow.  Perseverance - the greatest attribute a true Ninja can ever possess.  Once again this is a great credit to the values installed into Ryan by Roy and Jenni.

A true Little Ninja must have courage or indomitable spirit as we say in Tae Kwon-Do.  When you talk about courage it is generally associated when talking about facing adversity. As a Little Ninja, Ryan demonstrated this on several occasions. 

I recall one occasion during sparring. 

Ryan was little, and sparred many times with students bigger than him.  Although, with all his protection on, the odd punch sometimes got through.  On this occasion this one caught him right on his nose.  With tears on his cheek, and his hands held high, I asked - Did that hurt? Ryan’s head nodded.  Are you ok?  Ryan’s head shook.  Do you want to carry on?  Ryan’s head nodded – and he did – that was Courage.

Courage in a Little Ninja also means to have courage in your beliefs and say no when you know it is wrong to do otherwise.  Ryan demonstrated this also, many times, when given the choice of an arduous visit to boot camp with Mr Burns, or to denounce his allegiance to his favourite football team to that of one from the West of Scotland.  He always chose the unforgiving experience of boot camp and remained a supporter of Aberdeen FC.

Our Tae Kwon-Do national governing body, the United Kingdom Taekwondo Federation has a saying:

The Journey is the Reward - Loosely translated we are stating that it does not matter how long your journey in Tae Kwon-Do is, or what rank you have reached, it is the experiences you have embraced during your journey, the people you have met, and the influence you have had on others that is important.

Sadly, in Ryan’s case it was a short journey.  However, in this short time he became a Champion Ninja.  He went on to become a Premier Kicker.  He won Silver and Bronze Medal at the 2005 Scottish Championship at Montrose.  

We can see by the number of people here today, the amount of people whom Ryan has touched.  Although his journey stopped short of allowing him to develop the physical skills of a blackbelt, he certainly showed that he had developed the emotional skills to make it as a blackbelt. 

He tried and endeavoured in his challenges, and when things did not go well he remained outwardly happy when I am sure he was inwardly disappointed.  Another fine attribute of a True Little Ninja – Self Control.

If I had any message to give to other students it would be – no matter how hard or difficult it gets I will say be like Ryan, he always smiled, never complained and always tried and tried again – a true martial artist -  a true Little Ninja. 

We are truly devastated by his loss."