For Allan Looby, taekwondo is more than a martial arts form ? it's a way of life.

Introduced to martial arts at the age of five, Looby has endured years of sacrifice and dedication ? helped by financial backing from the Leopards Club.

And it's finally paid off for the Bermuda Police officer.

Last year saw Looby win back-to-back taekwondo championships in the black belt kata (form) disciplines in Jacksonville, Florida. And now he's determined to defend those titles.

A devout student turned martial arts instructor, Looby was first inspired by his stepfather St.George Powell, Al Wharton and David Simons and quickly developed a passion for Kung Fu and boxing before progressing to the local taekwondo scene as a teenager.

Having 'paid his dues', Looby was elevated to the rank of senior instructor at the Dragon Taekwondo Martial Arts School located at Warwick Academy School under the directorship of master Myron Burchall, and has also been a student of Korean taekwondo Grand Master Pak in Jacksonville for the past year.

In addition to his championship winning form in the US last year, the four-year Police officer also placed fifth in the black belt Olympic Sparring and third in the black belt Point Sparring championships to cap off a highly impressive 2003 campaign.

"I have been doing martial arts ever since I was five-years-old and now it has become a way of life for me. If I don't train I feel as though I've missed something for the day and basically it has become a part of my everyday routine," explained Looby.

"Martial arts is basically up to the individual as far as the mind is concerned. You have to think things first before you act and you become fitter as time goes by when you realise that you are able to do things you never before thought you could achieve."

Martial arts, says Looby, is also "spiritual".

"Spiritually it becomes a way of life, whereas everything you do evolves around the disciplines of martial arts. That's the difference between martial arts and other sports ? basically it becomes a part of you," he added.

But success, he noted, came at a high cost, primarily in the form of long hours of training.

"I train whenever I can because if I don't train I feel a bit uneasy for the day. My work schedule is very flexible as far as my training is concerned and I train pretty much in the evening or early morning ? but it all depends on my work."

Having reached the top of his game, Looby now devotes time to help nurture the skills of his daughter, Alnique, a yellow belt.

"Martial arts is a family thing and naturally she (daughter) wanted to become involved. So I started training her at home at the age of two. She also developed a love for the arts and began to bug me every day until I enrolled her in the class."

As for competing this year, Looby is currently preparing to defend his two championships in Florida in early summer, when he hopes to compete equally as well, if not better, than a year ago.

"I am just going to take things as they come. It is a bit of a pressure but I am hoping to do well again," he said.

"Once I get out there I will resume training with Grand Master Pak, who has now taken me under his wing."

Looby praised his sponsors, Leopards Club. "I am very grateful for their financial support and hopefully we can continue our good relationship," he said.