South Gloucestershire | Archive | 2005 | October | 14
From the archive, first published Friday 14th Oct 2005.
STUDENTS from two martial arts clubs in Yate and Chipping Sobury have won a total of 15 medals at the European Tang Soo Do Championships in Bristol.
Members of the Yate Tang Soo Do Club and the Chipping Sodbury Tang Soo Do Club joined around 600 competitors from countries including Germany, Holland, Greece, Italy, the Seychelles, the United States and South Africa.
The European Championships are open to all competitors from around the world and are so called because they are held in Europe rather than because they are contested only by Europeans.
Tang Soo Do is a Korean martial art that teaches empty hand and foot fighting, fighting forms, self-defence and weapon combat. The ancient discipline also teaches students about having a healthy lifestyle and a harmonious life.
Members of the two clubs, with ages ranging between five and 50, represented the British team in three categories - weapons, hyungs (forms) and sparring.
The Yate club took ten medals, with instructor Rachel Woodford leading the way. There were also top three efforts across the various disciplines and standards from Mike Williams, Jon Challoner, Joe Challoner, Nytalia Lewis, Stefan Workman and Aaron Roche.
Nine youngsters from the Chipping Sodbury club bagged five medals between them. Spencer Robertson, Sarah Miles and Edward Gray gained bronze medals, William Townsley took silver in the Hyungs but Owen Robertson beat him to gold with a terrific performance.
Chipping Sodbury club instructor Paul Townsley said: "I expect a lot from my students and they exceeded my expectations. I am very proud of their achievements."
Some students may now be able to turn their attention to the World Championships in the United States next summer.
There are over 350 Tang Soo Do students in South Gloucestershire and Bristol and both the Yate and Sodbury clubs would welcome new members.
Yate Tang Soo Do Club meet at Wellesley Primary School, Yate, every Tuesday from 6.30pm.
Chipping Sodbury Tang Soo Do club meet at St John's Mead Primary School on Thursdays from 6.45pm.
© Newsquest Media Group 2008