Evolution Taekwondo - Emerald Branch

About our Head Instructors

Yale Mercieca

Yale has been involved in taekwondo for over 20 years. She started training with No's taekwondo at age 11, in 1993. For the first couple of years she trained only once a week, learning the basics and gradually moving through belt levels. Eventually, as a red belt, she decided to follow in her sister Zoe's footsteps and give fighting class a go. This was the beginning of over 10 years of intense training and competing at both red and black belt levels. During this time, Yale attained numerous Victorian titles and competed in many National championships and selection tournaments.

Yale successfully graded for her black belt with No's Taekwondo in 1999, aged 17. Sparring then took priority and it wasn't until 2003, while training under Tiger's Taekwondo that she graded to second Dan. This was the first time the Warren's - Zoe, Yale and Josh - had graded together, and would set the scene for the next two gradings. Two years later Yale attained her third Dan under Evolution Taekwondo in 2005, and in 2009 she attained her fourth Dan. This is possibly one of the only instances where three siblings have reached monumental achievement in Taekwondo on the same day.

Yale now has two daughters, Stella and Ari, aged 3 and 1. She hopes that they will one day join her in training and create their own martial arts story.

Josh Warren

Josh Warren, youngest of the Warren siblings began his training in Taekwondo when his parents allowed him to take his first class with his sisters in 1996, aged 6 years old. Always keen to follow in the foot-steps of his two sisters Zoe and Yale, Josh started his training with No’s Taekowndo, under the tuition of Mr Kehung No.

Josh began his training one class a week. In 1998 after 2 years of training, he reached his blue belt and quickly began increasing his training regime, attending classes 4-5 times per week. As with his sisters, Josh began to develop a keen interest in the sparring side of Taekwondo, and throughout his time as a colour belt he fought in many club and state championships to good result.

In October 2000, Josh successfully graded for his First Pum Black belt, at this stage reaching his Black belt led to an extended passion for sparring and saw Josh compete in many more State, University, and National Championships.
Josh fought as a black belt for over 10 years, and in his later and most successful years as a fighter he fought in the heavyweight division, always coached by his sister Zoe.
In 2010, Josh competed in his last national championships, placing 2nd, losing to a fighter from Samoa, but beating the other Australian competitors, including the Australia’s International Heavyweight representative.

In late 2002, Josh and his two sisters began their training under Peter Van Delaarschot at Tigers Taekwondo. Josh went for all his further Dan gradings alongside his sisters, attaining his 2nd Dan in 2003, his 3rd Dan in 2005, and his 4th Dan in 2009.

Josh now enjoys the instructing side of Taekwondo, and developing his technique and self-defence. Josh hopes to continue training alongside his sisters at their club together for many more years.

About Evolution Taekwondo - Emerald

Our club first opened at The Patch Hall in October 2003 with a total of eight students. Four of whom continued training with Evolution Taekwondo, grading for their Black Belts in 2008. Over the years, our community based club has grown in numbers, and has seen the transition to bigger centers with the move to Monbulk Hall in 2005, and then to Emerald Hall in 2008.

Emerald Evolution Taekwondo encompasses strong family values, stemming from the clubs head instructors Yale and Josh, brother and sister and strengthened by their sister Zoe and her husband, Dave - our guest instructors to Evolution Taekwondo – Emerald. Moreover, many of our instructors teach as parent and child and within our student body, many of the parents of students train alongside their children.
At Evolution Taekwondo – Emerald, we believe that the involvement of parents in our younger students training is highly beneficial for the development of skills, technique and concentration whilst also building upon the clubs family-friendly atmosphere.

Our clubs instructor base is built up of black belts who have moved up the ranks and continue their learning at our the club. Our diverse team is made up of junior, senior, male and female instructors.
Emerald Evolution focuses on a strong club spirit, with learning in a strict but supportive environment and we are always excited to meet new members!

To come give our club a try, please contact one of our head instructors:
Yale Mercieca: 0408 993 380
Josh Warren: 0408 566 178