Jasmine Grundy, Media Release, 12 May 2025
A dedicated Cairns mother and son duo are set to represent Australia at the 2025 ITF Taekwon-Do World Championships in Jesolo, Italy, this October, following years of shared discipline, training, and personal growth on the local dojang floor.
17-year-old Hunter Thomson and his mother, Jasmyn Grundy, have trained together for the past eight years under Master Jeff Dieben, Chief Instructor of International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) North Queensland.
What began as a mother-son activity quickly evolved into a way of life. Hunter is now preparing to compete on the world stage as part of the national team, and the family is calling on the support of the local community to help them get there. A GoFundMe page has been launched to assist with the significant travel and competition costs associated with the trip.
The Year 11 student at St Andrew’s Catholic College recently cemented his position on the Australian squad with an outstanding performance at the Queensland ITF State Championships in Brisbane last month, claiming:
- Gold in Patterns
- Gold in Special Technique
- Gold in Power Breaking
- Silver in Sparring
Hunter will compete at the National Championships in Melbourne this June before heading to the World Championships in Italy from 3 to 13 October 2025.
For Jasmyn, a 2nd Dan Black Belt, the achievement goes beyond competition; it’s about the values forged in the journey.
“The journey to Italy isn’t about medals,” Jasmyn said.
“It’s about what this path has taught us: commitment, humility, and the strength that comes from showing up—together—again and again,” she said.
Beyond her role as Hunter’s training partner, Jasmyn is a respected Resilience Coach and Group Facilitator with Centacare FNQ, delivering wellbeing and personal development programs across Cairns. She credits Taekwon-Do with reinforcing the values she brings into her community work—confidence, discipline, integrity, and purpose.
According to Jasmyn, Hunter, known for his quiet focus and strong work ethic, is grateful for the opportunity to represent Australia.
“The fact that I get to do what I love on the world stage, competing against the very best in Taekwon-Do, is the achievement.
“And it wouldn’t happen if I hadn’t shown up that first night,” said Hunter.
Master Jeff Dieben, who has mentored the pair since the beginning, said their journey is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when dedication meets opportunity.
“People of all ages, genders, and backgrounds can benefit from the practice of ITF Taekwon-Do,” Mr Dieben said.
“To be exceptional takes courage, consistency, and belief in oneself. Whether it’s fitness, confidence or world titles, the first step is walking through the dojang door with a can-do attitude,” he said.
Support Hunter’s journey
The community can assist with Hunter’s participation at the World Titles with donations contributing to expenses, including flights, accommodation and fees, by visiting the GoFundMe page as follows:
To help Hunter get to the World Championships in Italy, please visit: https://gofund.me/0ce89ebc.
