A GREENOCK-based Tae Kwon Do coach travelled to Honolulu to train with one of the sport's most prominent masters - and passed the rigorous 7th degree test with flying colours.

Inverclyde Cho's Tae Kwon-Do Academy's Charles Boyle took the long trip to AIMAA headquarters in the Hawaiian captial to train with Grand Master Hee Il Cho.

The AIMAA founder, president and chief instructor is renowned throughout the world as one of the leading and most innovative teachers of Tae Kwon Do and the martial arts, with numerous magazines covers and titles worldwide.

Grandmaster Cho has also appeared in numerous movies, written books and produced over 70 DVDs.

Master Boyle has been training hard over the past seven years since his last testing for his 6th degree master's in 2015.

Even though he had a lot if injuries during these years, he kept on pushing through injury and surgeries to travel to Hawaii to test for his 7th degree masters.

He made the journey with his friend Master Peter Byrne, from Knocckainy Limerick in Ireland, who tested for his 8th degree grandmaster title.

Master Boyle was over training with Master Byrne in Limerick earlier this year so that they could go through their grading syllabus as both would be up on the floor at the same time, under Grandmaster Hee Il Cho, 9th degree, and AIMAA European director Grandmaster John Darcy, 8th Degree.

The test was rigorous, with each participant performing patterns, AIMAA curriculum, one step sparring, self-defence, sparring, board breaking as well as theory on all parts of Korean history and its influences in Tae Kwon Do, as well as being asked about these essays that they had to submit.

The group had a full week of training with Grand Master Cho before the testing so they could climatise to the heat and humidity, as temperatures reached higher than 30C.

Master Charles successfully passed alongside other students from Scotland and Ireland.

Charles and Gillian Boyle would like to thank everyone for their support over the past seven years for helping with training and teaching.

Inverclyde Cho's Tae Kwon-Do Academy's classes take place in the gym hall at Notre Dame High School and Panthers' classes are held in the middle floor of Fun Fit Studio at 146 Old Inverkip Road in Greenock (old Melrose Pub).

Panthers' classes are for ages four-year-old to six Tuesday and junior and senior classes run on Monday and Thursday.

Come along for a free week of classes in December with the instructor team who have 70 years of experience between them.

Visit www.inverclyde-taekwondo.com or contact Master Boyle on 07901828863, Mrs Boyle on 07908715883 or pop in on any training nights.

Master Boyle would like to thank sponsors Edward Sweeney of Sweeney Law Ltd, Ellen MacDonald of Robert Kerr Partnership Ltd, Derek Buchanan of West Courts Litigation Ltd for helping with sponsorship for the testing in Hawaii.

2nd photo is Grandmaster Cho and Master Boyle receiving his 7th degree certificate.