Focus Taekwon-Do

Focus Squad Session Gets Everyone Excited

On Saturday 26th November the Surbiton Hall was packed with a variety of students from different schools within the Focus Group. Stamina, conditioning, stretching, pad-work, games and sparring drills were all part of the fun packed session. The session started with the normal team warm up drills involving stamina and conditioning. The session then moved into a series of flexibility and stretching drills with Master Bertrand pushing both himself and the students to the limit. Another short break, the students paired up and practised basic sparring techniques. Next a pause for water and then the students played relevant games which tested their cognitive and spacial capacity to the fullest.
The next part of the session saw the students change into power pad-work building the class spirit to a crescendo. The cacophony of grunts, groans and kihaps expelled from the students as they struck the pads with all their might was tremendous. Another a short stop while the students caught their breath followed. Whilst some were resting the Black Belts were on their feet doing their patterns.. quickly followed by the senior coloured belts, the intermediates and then finally the junior belts. Another short break to ‘pad up’ and the session continued into more advanced sparring drills. Finally the students had an opportunity to put all they had learned into operation and demonstrate their new found knowledge in Sparring. Some of the bouts were fast and furious and some were more gentle. And then all too quickly, after a cool down, it was time to go home.

A great session was had by all. WE can’t wait until next time!!

Donna Takes Control

I started having trouble with a guy about two years ago. He would verbally abuse me on the bus. Every now and again he would be on the same bus as me and he would swear and call me names every time he saw me. I tried to ignore him, but my son Blake was scared of him. Anyway this went on for about 10 months and I continued to ignore him until May 2010 when we happened to be at the same bus stop in Peckham. He saw me, started swearing at me and scared the hell out of Blake, I told him to go away, leave me along etc but out of nowhere he slapped me in the face. His bus came and he just jumped on it. I called the police and we looked for him but couldn’t find him. There were no cameras in the area so the police couldn’t identify him. They told me to call again if I saw him. I saw him the next day, called the police, but they said they wouldn’t come out as he wasn’t in my line of sight. Finally they gave up looking.

A few weeks later I decided I would try to find him myself so I sat across the road from the bus stop and waited. I started up a  conversation with a lady walking her dog and together we saw him and found out where he lived, called the police and finally got him arrested.

That day I realised that I needed to be the first line of defence for both my son and myself. I started to look around for a self defence or martial arts class. As there were no self defence classes I focused on finding a martial arts class that put more emphasis on self defence. I found a few leaflets about different TKD classes at the Peckham Pulse and really liked the look of Focus. I attended my first class, felt very welcome and relaxed within minutes. From then on I really look forward to my Sunday’s in Niilante’s class. Everyone in the class is really helpful if I have a question or have any help with something I’m not sure of. It’s a great way to spend a Sunday morning.

If you have a story send it in. We’re happy to let others know why you love training.