Cresta’s Alchemy Dojang wins 47 medals at martial arts championships
CRESTA – Whether with hand or sword, Alchemy Dojang is a force to be reckoned with.
Alchemy Dojang can boast winning a whopping 47 medals at the SA Combat Tang Soo Do and Haedong Kumdo Championships.
The Dojang from Cresta is a regular at the championships, and head instructor master Gregory Hart once again helped with judging the event at Wits Univesity on 24 March.
Hart explained that tang soo do was established in Korea after the Second World War, and incorporates a blend of various martial arts with spectacular kicks.
Haedong kumdo, on the other hand, is the Korean sword art used by ancient warrior knights, the Hwarang Do.
All through the day, participants practised movements, fought in sparring matches, fought each other with plastic swords, and later used real swords to slice through objects to impress the judges with their skills and technique.
For Alchemy Dojang, this was a chance for its members to test their mettle against South Africa’s best. And they did not disappoint, taking 14 gold medals, 16 silver and 17 bronze.
“Some of the skill shown here has been phenomenal,” added Hart, who is a 6th dan tang soo do and 2nd dan haedong kumdo. We have practitioners from six provinces and the standard has been very high.”
Jenna Little (17) from Northcliff won four gold medals in modern forms, tang so sparring, sword sparring and long weapons.
“I started tang soo do eight and a half years ago to improve my balance but it is like a bug that you cannot get rid of, although it is great,” she said.
“It improves discipline, grows fitness and memory, and is good for self-defence.”
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