Martial Arts: Amelia, Jack in Black Belt boost

Apr 30 2008 by Anthony Woolford, South Wales Echo

MEMBERS of a martial arts club had reason to celebrate recently with the promotion to black belt of two junior members.

The Heath Tae Kwon Do club in Cardiff is one of the capital’s longest running clubs and trains at Allensbank Primary School every Tuesday and Thursday from 6-7pm for juniors and 7-8pm for teens & adults.

Nine-year-old Amelia Mead, from Thornhill, became the youngest member ever to be promoted to first dan black belt and only the second girl to pass black belt in the club’s 19-year history. At a recent tournament she beat several boys five years older to take a Gold medal in her division.

Eleven-year-old Jack Gamblin, from Lakeside, successfully passed his second dan examination, making him the youngest in Wales.

Jack had to complete the same syllabus as adult practitioners of the art, including breaking boards with a variety of kicks and jumping kicks.

Club instructor Master Tony Vella, a seventh dan black belt, was very pleased and proud of both students as they have both put so much effort in to complete their outstanding achievement.