A MARTIAL arts team from Lyde Green is celebrating after its members won 28 medals at a national competition.
Students aged from seven to 50 from Fishponds Taekwondo Academy, which trains at Lyde Green Community Centre, took part in the International Taekwondo Federation UK Spring National Championships. The team returned from the event, held at SGS College in Filton, with gold, silver and bronze medals for patterns and sparring in junior and adult categories.
Instructor Gavin Reader said: “It’s nice to win medals but it’s more important to take part and give it your best effort, while learning from the experience and having fun. It takes courage to compete and we are proud of our team, who work hard while reflecting the Taekwondo tenets of courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit.”
Another event, Elite Martial Arts Professionals Open Championship at Thornbury Leisure Centre, saw 13 students come away with 15 medals, split evenly between gold, silver and bronze.
Dad-of-three Gavin took up took up the martial art, which emphasises fast kicking techniques and is said to promote physical and mental strength, when his two daughters started the sport as young children.m He has now been a sports coach for two decades and also works as a project manager for the NHS.
Fellow instructor Simon Herrington also joined Taekwondo when his young daughter signed up.
He said: “We pride ourselves on being a family-friendly club and have many siblings, as well as parents and children, train together.”
The club says the sport’s health benefits include improved balance, flexibility, stamina, strength and posture.
It trains at Lyde Green every Wednesday and Friday. For more information, call Gavin on 0750 076 4276, email fishpondstkd@hgbp.uk.com or visit the group’s Facebook or Instagram pages.