During the lockdown P.U.M.A. has had to cancel a number of events and competitions. Fortunately Master Gayle arranged for an online patterns competition. We had three members of Swain Taekwon-Do enter and they all did brilliantly.

I want to say a massive congratulations to the following students, certificates will be making their way to you soon.

• Miss Mohan-Singh - 2nd place Junior female black belt patterns
• Alex Harris - 2nd place Junior female yellow belt patterns
• Ethan Smith - 3rd place​ Junior male  PUMA Grade/yellow stripe patterns

As with most things at the moment we have had some disruption following lockdown restrictions. However that hasn't stopped our students from training hard and improving their skills. We have already had a live Little PUMA grading through video calls; and our Taekwon-Do students were examined by Mr Lammin with video submissions.

Read on for full results​.

Our first grading of the year was held at Testwood School on Friday 6th March.  As usual, Mr Lammin (6th Degree) came to examine 20 of our colour belt students - including seven white belts! 

The students were tested on fundamental techniques, patterns, kicking, sparring and power. I'm incredibly proud of how well everyone performed. 

​Read on for full results.

On Sunday 1st March PUMA held their annual Tournament Officials Course in Yate. This is a course for Red Belts and above to train to become PUMA Umpires and Referees. Mr Swain went up to refresh his refereeing skills, and was joined by Mrs Hallett and Jack who were taking their first step along the umpires path.

Through the day the rules for each of the events were explained, as well as the roles and responsibilities for umpires and referees on the day of competition. There was then plenty of opportunity to put the new knowledge into practice with other course attendees performing patterns and sparring.

I want to wish Mrs Hallett and Jack the best of luck on their new journey!

You can find a full write up on the PUMA Events Website here.

On the weekend of 22nd and 23rd of February ITF-England held their AGM training weekend. 
​The weekend included a Squad Development session and Masters Training session and the Annual General Meeting (AGM).  Mr and Mrs Swain went along, joined by Mr T Bailey and Mr A Bailey.

On Sunday 9th February five members of Swain Taekwon-Do set off to Tonbridge to train with Master Jaroslaw Suska. And all with fresh aches from competing, coaching and refereeing at the International Open the day before!

On Saturday 8th January Swain Taekwon-Do attended the P.U.M.A. International Open Championships in Swindon. There were almost 400 competitors from many schools and organisations in attendance. 

​Swain Taekwon-Do took 8 members - competitors, coaches and competition officials!  Read on to find out how they got on.

The extra activities for Swain Taekwon-Do students keep on coming! This time Mr and Mrs Swain were joined by 6 of our students for P.U.M.A.s National Squad training in Swindon on 2nd Feb.

Both Mr and Mrs Swain were helping to coach this session; 3 hours of practice to prepare for the P.U.M.A. International Open Championships on 8th Feb. Starting off with patterns, then sparring drills and sparring, then on to some final fitness and reaction speed work.

If you are interested in improving your competition skills, or one day want to represent P.U.M.A. at international competitions coming along to squad is your first step.

Another busy weekend for Swain Taekwon-Do saw Mr Swain and Mr Bailey junior head to Eindhoven, The Netherlands for the 2020 Open Dutch Championships while Mrs Swain put some students through their paces with an extra sparring session!

The weekend of the 18th and 19th January was a very busy weekend for Swain Taekwon-Do students.  On the Saturday some of our members went to Swindon for National Squad training, and then on Sunday we had Red and Black belt training in Yate with Master Gayle and Master Ogborne.