Alchemy Tang Soo Do wins 19 medals at Korean Nationals
Martial artists show their mettle and it is more than enough in prestigious tournament in Potchefstroom.
Six martial artists from Cresta bagged 19 medals and certificates between them at the South African Korean Martial Arts National Championships.
The group from Alchemy Tang Soo Do was led by their 7th Dan instructor, Master Gregory Hart, attended the championships held in Potchefstroom.
It gathers athletes from across the country who train in all forms of different Korean martial arts. The Alchemy students practise in the art of combat tang soo do, a martial art famous for jumping, spinning and complex kicks in combination with powerful hand techniques that’s great for self-defence and strength training.
Athletes competed in various divisions ranging from six-year-old beginners to advanced adult black belts. They showed off their skills in different categories – namely traditional forms, weapons forms, point sparring, combat weapons sparring, continuous sparring and a new division, free sparring.
After excelling in each of these categories Alchemy Tang Soo Do returned with an astounding nine gold medals, five silver medals and five bronze medals.
Free sparring is an event aimed at showcasing the variety of specialised kicks present in Korean martial arts. While the other sparring divisions may devolve into boxing matches with few kicks, this separate event encourages athletes to make use of their spectacular kicks such as spinning 360 degrees, double kicks, and jumping kicks. The Alchemy black belts embraced this new division and earned two bronze certificates.
Braedon Hollingworth, a 1st Dan, said it was a good idea to introduce a new division focusing on kicks because he often doesn’t have the chance to show off the complex kicks he learns as a black belt. He only hopes that the division will continue so that he has the opportunity to win gold next time.
Results for Alchemy Tang Soo Do:
- Braedon Hollingworth: 15–17 years advanced – gold for traditional forms; gold for traditional weapons; silver for point sparring; bronze for free sparring
- Isaac Schluter: 15–17 years intermediate – gold for traditional weapons
- Katherine Hollingworth: 18–34 years advanced – gold for traditional forms; bronze for traditional weapons; gold for combat weapons sparring; bronze for points sparring; bronze for free sparring
- Maarten Coetsee: 46 years + advanced – gold for traditional forms; gold for weapons forms; gold for combat weapons sparring; gold for point sparring
- Morné van der Merwe: 35–45 years novice – silver for traditional forms; silver for weapons forms
- Niané van der Merwe: 12–14 years novice – bronze for points sparring; silver for combat weapons sparring; silver for continuous sparring.
Related article:
