Master O'Connor has trained in the Martial Art of Tang Soo Do since 1993.  Initially with the World Tang Soo Do Association, until the year 2000, and then with the Dragon Black Belt Academy International and the European Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do Federation.

Master O'Connor has always trained under the umbrella of "Scotland Tang Soo Do", under the direction of instructor; Master Johannes De-Vry, Oh Dan (5th Dan), and her fellow Master Instructors; Master Warren De-Vry (Oh Dan), Master Miles Hatch (Oh Dan), and Master Mark Wood (Sah Dan).

Master O'Connor quotes a Grandmaster Ho Sik Pak of the Hwa Rang World Tang Soo Do Federation, and joins his comments:

"Out of 100 Students: -

 10 become a Black Belt

 7 become a 2nd Dan

 5 become a 3rd Dan

 1 become a Master

 and out of 100 Master - 1 become a Grandmaster"

Becoming a Martial Arts Master involves dedicating your life to the Martial Arts and very few people have the commitment and skills to achieve this.  However in a very rare situation Master O'Connor finds herself and the above Masters Instructors to be the founding "old school" members of the original Scotland Tang Soo Do which was formed back in 1993.  To find 5 special people who are dedicated to the Martial Arts in such a close proximity is a rarity and should be treasured by every student and fellow instructor who has the privilege of training with these exemplary Masters.

Tang Soo Do is not just a sport as many commonly perceive it in the modern world.  It is truly a way of life.  Master O'Connor has utilised both the mental and spiritual elements of her Tang Soo Do training in her formal education, when studying for and passing her BSc in Applied Computing with Distinction in 1999.  In addition, she has achieved her Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer in 2006, and currently holds down a managerial position with a global pipeline construction company.

Master O'Connor's philosophy of Tang Soo Do is that each student should aspire to fulfil the entire lifecycle: -

Thus meaning that you need to learn the skills, perfect them during training, apply your skills to your everyday life and then ultimately complete the circle of life by passing on your skills to others through teaching.

Leigh O'Connor has been a practitioner of Martial Arts since 1987, initially in the Martial Art of Shotokan, where he achieved the rank of junior 1st Dan Black Belt.  His Martial Arts career was then dormant until 1998, when he met his now wife Master Kelly O'Connor, and she introduced him to the Martial Art of Tang Soo Do.

Leigh O'Connor joined the World Tang Soo Do Association and then re-graded to 1st Dan Black Belt, after having to learn the White Belt to Black Belt WTSDA curriculum.  He continued to pursue his Martial Arts career by affiliating to the Dragon Black Belt Academy International and the European Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do Federation.

Leigh has recently been promoted to 4th Dan Master Black Belt in Tang Soo Do, at the World Championships held in Rotterdam, Holland.