This morning, I had the privilege of delivering a 90-minute presentation to the NHS Retirement Fellowship at All Saints Church in Vicarage Fields in Warwick where about 30 attentive members joined us. Despite being a mature audience, the subjects we discussed remain highly relevant, particularly considering the vulnerabilities that some seniors may face in today’s society.
Older adults can be perceived as easier targets for robbery and assault, making it even more crucial to equip them with the knowledge and skills to protect themselves. During the session, we explored several key areas, including:
In today's world, the importance of effective self-defence training cannot be overstated. With knife crime and other violent incidents on the rise, understanding how to protect oneself has become a crucial skill. At Warwick & Leamington TKD, we pride ourselves on delivering expert self-defence training that goes beyond the basics, ensuring our students are equipped with realistic and practical techniques to face real-life threats.
The Reality of Knife Crime
Recent statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal troubling figures related to knife crime in the UK. In the latest reports, knife-related homicides have risen, highlighting the urgent need for effective self-defence training. It's not just about defending oneself; it’s about building the confidence and skills to de-escalate situations and protect against formidable threats.
Not All Martial Arts Are Created Equal
While many martial arts and combat sports, such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and Judo, have their merits, it's essential to understand their limitations regarding self-defence. These arts often focus on competitive grappling techniques, which can be less effective in real-world confrontations. When faced with an aggressor, the last place you want to be is on the ground. Ground fighting leaves you vulnerable and at a disadvantage, especially if multiple assailants are involved or a weapon is present.
At Warwick & Leamington TKD, our self-defence training focuses on effective methods geared specifically for real-life scenarios. We teach students not only how to defend themselves but also how to extricate themselves from potentially dangerous situations quickly.
We are thrilled to extend our congratulations to the 36 dedicated students from our two clubs who participated in the T-UK Central Region promotion test this past Sunday. It was an excellent day showcasing skills our students have developed over the year.
Completing a promotion test requires not only physical and technical ability but also mental strength, dedication and perseverance. We commend each of you for your hard work and commitment, which have paid off. Your success is a testament to the hours of practice, both in the dojang and at home.
Yesterday we ran a women's only self-defence course at Woodloes School in Warwick. We welcomed 11 dedicated women eager to acquire skills and knowledge that will empower them in their daily lives.
Our day began with a comprehensive presentation on safety awareness in daily life. This crucial first step provided attendees with an understanding of personal safety habits that can significantly reduce the risk of being targeted. The emphasis was not just on physical techniques but also on cultivating a mindset of safety.
In today’s society, personal safety is more important than ever. Recent tragic events, such as the Sarah Everard case, the Huntingdon train robbery, and the Bull Ring stabbing, highlight the urgent need for women to empower themselves through self-defence training. We are offering a Women’s Only Self-Defence Course designed to equip women with essential skills for self-protection and confidence.
Why Self-Defence Matters
Every day, women face situations that require awareness, confidence, and readiness to act. Many people may respond to high-profile incidents with immediate inquiries about self-defence courses, but unfortunately, this interest often doesn’t translate into actual participation. This lack of prioritisation is concerning. Self-defence is not just a skill, it's a vital life skill that can help you navigate an uncertain world.
Our upcoming course on 7th December delivers practical and effective training in a supportive environment. You’ll learn essential techniques tailored for real-world situations and instil a mindset that promotes awareness and safety.
Elsa Klegg from our Warwick club has recently been selected for a place at the FA Emerging Talent Centre for football, on top of playing for both Coventry City Girls and her school team. She will take a 6 month sabbatical from TKD to concentrate on her football.
This is no surprise as since Elsa joined the club 3 years ago has developed in to a very mature young lady who hasn’t always found Taekwon Do easy but has become a role model for other junior members.
2023 saw a very successful year for our clubs, new promotions to black belt, exceptional A pass results from each of the coloured belt area gradings, multiple world champions from the T-UK British Championships.
This made choosing the adult and junior students of the year very difficult.
In the end the Instructor team landed on the most deserving members. The criteria for the award is predicated on attendance, effort, attitude, overcoming challenges, taking on instruction and applying it, being a role model.
WLTKD’s chief instructor Mr Martin Noddings came out of a 7 year retirement from competing for last weekends Inter-services championships, an annual competition between the RAF, Army and Navy.
The competition was held at the naval base HMS Nelson, Portsmouth in their glass roofed sports hall on an exceptionally hot day, the temperature reaching 32 degrees.
The competition began with the sparring split down into two weight categories and each fight being 2 x 2 minute rounds. The competition was fierce as expected with a lot of young military personal competing for their respective services.
WLTKD students excelled at the TUK Central region coloured belt grading last weekend with 39 students being promoted including 4 student to black tag, well done Thea Roberts, Aisha Yousof, Seb Perrier, Lexie Alferez, the next one is the big one.
We also had 3 'A' passes, well done Sienna Mannell, Gabe Bailey and Sudha Pathak, outstanding performances.
A great team effort by the instructor team to get all there students ready for the grading and performing at an exceptional standard, well done all.
Now we can open the doors to a new beginners quarterly intake to also start on their TKD journey and help to change their lives for the better.
We had the last training sessions of the year tonight and as always the presentation of the students of the year awards, one adult student and one junior student.
The winning students displayed attributes of leadership, excellent attitude, standards and commitment and are role models in the club to their peers.
