Community · Salisbury
Harnham Taekwondo club marks first grading milestone
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
A recently established taekwondo school in Harnham has celebrated its first student grading, with all participants successfully passing their assessments.
A new martial arts school based in Harnham has reached a significant milestone, with every student passing its inaugural grading session. The school, which operates out of the Harnham Parish Hall on Lower Street, held the assessments on Tuesday, 25 August, under the supervision of Grand Master O’Neill, the vice-president of Authentic Centres for Excellence (ACE) for Taekwondo.
Gary Clark, a 45-year-old scaffolder from Amesbury, founded the club in March this year. Since launching its first classes on 14 April, the school has attracted a diverse group of members ranging from children as young as five to adults in their late forties. The club has quickly established a foothold in the local community, welcoming families to join its adult sessions.
The club follows the traditional teaching standards and principles established by the founder of taekwondo, General Choi Hong Hi. The curriculum is delivered by a team that includes four black belts and three qualified instructors. Mr Clark expressed his pride in the achievements of his first group of students, noting that the school prioritises a friendly, inclusive atmosphere for new members.
Demonstrating their progress, students recently took part in a public demonstration at the Harnham fete, showcasing a variety of techniques including patterns, sparring, and power testing. During the performance, children demonstrated their skills by breaking wood and tiles, while adult members broke through blocks. Mr Clark himself participated by performing a knife-hand strike through a house brick to highlight the school's commitment to technical training.
The school currently runs weekly sessions every Tuesday at Harnham Parish Hall, located at SP2 8EY. The timetable is structured to accommodate different age groups, with children aged five to seven training from 6 pm to 7 pm, followed by junior and adult classes from 7 pm to 8 pm.
Looking ahead, Mr Clark plans to continue the growth of the club, with goals to expand to a second evening of training and to support students as they work towards their subsequent grades. Prospective members or families interested in joining are encouraged to attend the current Tuesday sessions.
Source: Salisbury Journal — Sport · View original