Cynon Valley AM Christine Chapman was delighted to join with members of the Aberdare Tang Soo Do club and their families for the club’s recent Awards Presentation evening.
Members of the club received awards for their achievements within the Korean Martial Art and for their wider voluntary activities, and afterwards put on a display of their skills, including 9 year old Anton Lloyd Jones of Penywaun who thrilled the audience by performing a jump-flying side-kick over two people to break a wooden board.
Mrs Chapman said: “I was honoured to be invited and share in the success of the club’s members, and was very impressed by the skill and dedication they showed”.
Tang Soo Do is renowned for its kicking techniques, and the club, affiliated to the International Tang Soo Do Federation, has been based in Penywaun and Hirwaun for over 20 years. The club helps develop confidence, respect and self-control amongst its members, who are drawn from Hirwaun, Penywaun and Trecynon, and from the Merthyr area.
Mrs Chapman added: “The class is not for profit, and receives no funding. I was impressed by the martial arts skills the students displayed. I was also struck by the leadership skills the class helps its students develop, and by the sheer variety of community activities the club and its members have been involved in. I can’t recommend the club enough!”
Class instructor Siân Moran said: “Everyone really enjoyed showing their skills and the award winners felt honoured to receive their awards from such as special guest. Christine touched the hearts of the parents and families with her comments about the support they give their children to train and compete, on behalf of everyone I like to thank Christine for supporting us and making the evening truly special for us all”.
