MARIA JOSE LOPEZ
Founder & Head Coach | 4th Dan Black Belt
Over 30 years of Taekwondo experience Maria Jose Lopez is the founder and Head Coach of Club Taekwondo Escorpio London, proudly based in Tooting since 2022.
With extensive experience teaching children, teenagers and adults, Maria is passionate about using Taekwondo to develop confidence, discipline, fitness, focus, respect and perseverance.
She is particularly committed to inclusive Taekwondo, with extensive experience supporting students with Autism, ADHD and different learning and support needs. Her approach is centred on creating a structured, positive and welcoming environment where every student can participate, develop their skills and progress at their own pace.
Qualifications & Experience
4th Dan Black Belt
Sport Technician Level I & II
Over 30 years of Taekwondo experience
Extensive experience in inclusive Taekwondo coaching
Experience supporting students with autism and ADHDSafeguarding & Prevent trainingMental Health First Aid & Mental Health AdvocacyUnderstanding Behaviour that Challenges
Her goal is simple: to help every student become stronger, more confident and proud of their progress — both in Taekwondo and in everyday life.
A Bit About Me
Taekwondo has been part of my life for more than 30 years.
My journey began in Spain, where I developed not only as a Taekwondo practitioner, but also as a coach, referee and judge. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to train and teach hundreds of students of different ages and abilities, and to take on leadership roles within the sport.
Before moving to London, I served as Regional Delegate for FEDAMC in Murcia and as Director of Club Escorpio in Spain. Moving to the UK gave me the opportunity to continue that journey and build something of my own here in Tooting.
In 2022, I founded Club Taekwondo Escorpio London with a clear vision: to create a club where people can learn Taekwondo, challenge themselves and feel that they truly belong.
For me, being a coach is about much more than teaching techniques or preparing students for their next belt. It is about helping people become more confident, disciplined, resilient and respectful, both inside and outside the dojang.
I am especially passionate about inclusive coaching. Every student learns differently, and I believe good coaching means understanding the individual rather than expecting everyone to learn in exactly the same way. This is particularly important when working with students with autism, ADHD, SEND and other individual learning needs.
I am proud of the community we are building at Escorpio. Whether a student wants to train for fitness, personal development, grading or competition, my goal is always the same:
to help every student discover what they are capable of.
⭐ “Taekwondo is not just what I teach — it is who I am.”
— Coach María