Potchefstroom’s first and foremost Tang Soo Do Club, under the tutelage of Master Louise Viviers, held its grading test last week to usher in the New Year on a high note.

A group of seven hopefuls graduated during a tough and physically exhausting week of preparation from Monday 4 January – Friday 8 February at the Trimpark, where high temperatures demanded a number of water breaks in between the action.

“We have been grading from Monday and, although grading normally takes place in a day, I schedule it for the entire week to let my students get to grips with the moves and what is expected of them. It doubles as a training week,” said Viviers.

Tang Soo Do is a Korean Martial Art form which dates back more than 70 years after it was coined by Lee Won Kuk in 1944. It has a composite style of techniques that incorporates a number of mentally and physically difficult moves to master.

This was evident as Master Viviers instructed her students time and time again until they did it perfectly – just as the textbook advises. In this sport, there is no time for a lackadaisical attitude and precision and form are key to getting the most out of the sport.

The results of the grading are as follows:

Imke de Kock – 3rd Dan

Hanke de Kock – 2nd Dan

André Lerm – 1st Dan

Delano Petersen – 1st Dan

Obakeng Mothabedi – 1st Dan

Thato Melleane 1st Dan

Emrick Herman – 1st Dan