Martial arts at home
CRESTA - While martial arts has generally suffered during the lockdown, Alchemy Dojang in Cresta has adapted its approach, and is now online.
While martial arts has generally suffered during the lockdown, Alchemy Dojang in Cresta has adapted its approach, and is now online.
The dojang has closed its doors, but in the studio, master Gregory Hart works tirelessly to provide training videos to tang soo do students.
“The challenge then for instructors [during the lockdown] was how to say in touch with our students and motivate them to stay fit and healthy during the crisis.
The answer for some has been technology,” said Hart, who is a seventh dan tang soo do and second dan haedong kumdo practitioner.
“At Alchemy we have been streaming online classes for our students to tune into and train along with. There are four classes per day, every second day, divided up by age group and belt level. In this way we have been able to keep 70 per cent of our students active and have helped to provide them with some routine and normality.”
These include free online classes for those working towards their purple belt in combat tang soo do.
“We have recorded a complete breakdown of all techniques in the syllabus for the first belt so children and adults can train at home and then be invited to come for grading once lockdown restrictions end.”
These videos can be found at www.alchemycentre.co.za/web-tv. The techniques are explained by Hart and demonstrated by world champion, Wesley Baleta, a gold medallist at the last world championships in London in 2018.
Hart said students can also book one-on-one classes with him to work on specific goals and aspects they need help with.Hart believes students who keep up their training will be able to do their gradings for higher-level belts shortly after the lockdown or even perhaps in an online grading session.
“Our students have been amazing. They have trained in their gardens, living rooms, passageways and on balconies. They have trained and learned in spite of cramped conditions and impressed us with their fortitude,” concluded Hart.
Details: Alchemy Dojang info@alchemycentre.co.za; 011 888 0398; 082 940 5446.
