Top awards for Totnes Taekwon-do Students

Martin Luker and Daniel Henderson of the PUMA South Hams Taekwon-do schools at the Totnes based club, have been celebrating with their families recently. In one week, both the 14 yr old , and 11 yr old were nominees of the Endeavour Award at the Sports South Hams presentation, and members of the highly acclaimed South Hams Taekwon-do Display Team, with Martin winning the overall Endeavour Award. And by the end of the week both were completing their respective 2 nd Degree & 1 st Degree Black Belt Gradings in Swindon .

The national Grading included Martin & Daniel showing the examining panel, their technical ability in Taekwon-do, their sparring and self defence, power, Korean theory, and their Black Belt Spirit in a gruelling fitness session at the end.

At the recent Presentation Evening, Master Luker was awarded his second degree black belt and certificate, as well as his second degree pin badge. Not only did he receive his much deserved promotion, but also he gained a prestigious Credit Pass.

He was later awarded with the overall award for his outstanding Black Belt Spirit amongst the other 100 adult and junior students who took part at the Swindon grading.

“I am so pleased for Martin”, says Lesley McGhie, Chief Instructor for the PUMA South Hams schools, “I have known him since he was 5, when he first started training, and before I became an instructor myself. We have both come on a long journey since then, and it has not always been an easy one, but Martin has persevered, and he certainly deserves all his awards that he has received just recently.”

Daniel was awarded his first degree black belt and certificate, as well as his Black Belt tie, pin badge and blazer badge. Not only did he receive his much deserved black belt, but he also gained a prestigious Credit Pass.

“I am very proud of Daniel”, says Lesley, “I have known him now for at least 5 years, when he first started in our Little PUMA programme. He joined the junior Taekwon-do the following year and has been training with great commitment ever since. His hard work has paid off, and he can be proud in the knowledge that he is the first Little PUMA that has come through the ranks and become a fully qualified Taekwon-do Black Belt in the PUMA South Hams Schools. What an excellent role model for other children!”

Martin is now promoted to be the same as two other members of his family, his dad Steve and his brother Darren, making this a family of second degrees. The family will now all be training towards their 3 rd degrees, with Steve Luker the Totnes Taekwon-do clubs Assistant Instructor, being due next year. Meanwhile they will all be helping the boys granddad, Norman Luker, as his next aim is to receive his 1 st degree Black Belt. Daniels dad has just started grading too, and whilst Dan is at the beginning of his black belt journey Roger is at the other end starting out in his coloured belt career.

Both results are a great accolade for the thriving family club, at the Totnes Taekwon-do School held mainly at the Totnes Pavillions and at various primary schools in the area. At the next national Black Belt Grading, the club is hoping for four more 1 st degrees to be promoted.