An atmosphere of camaraderie, respect, discipline, action and fun is something the girls and women at Master Louise Viviers’ Tang Soo Do Club experience and appreciate every week.
Not only is Tang Soo Do, or Korean Karate, one of the most interesting sports you can compete in for life, but also the most rewarding for those who commit to excellence and hard work.
This group of girls and women who train at the club every Tuesday and Thursday are a living example of the popularity of this martial art. They compete in various tournaments throughout the year.
Imke de Kock is a shining ex- ample of one of the students whose path to her first master’s belt was one of the most enriching and satisfying experiences, even though it wasn’t a walk in the park.
Imke started as a 12-year-old and only got her master’s belt last year, after nine years of constant competing and training. She also has a bronze medal under her belt, which she won in a World Tang Soo Do event in the United States in 2013. These are only a few of her accomplishments.
Photos: Wouter Pienaar
Her mom, Elma, and sisters, Cara and Hanke, are also members of the club. According to Elma, her daughters started Tang Soo Do to learn discipline. Since then, it has become an all-round family activity for these women.
“My sister, Hanke, also has two baby girls. The eldest one got a uniform for her birthday, so, once she is old enough, she can join too,” states Imke with a smile.
The club competes in various tournaments at a national and provincial level and the Arnold Classic event, which is one of the many highlights for these competitive girls.
“It is quite stressful to compete in tournaments, but we thoroughly enjoy it. You can then judge your level of skill. It was also great to be able to train in a group again after the lockdown restrictions were lifted. We missed training together as a family,” says Bontle Mahlomi.
“The nice thing about Tang Soo Do is that anyone can do it. It teaches you a lot about yourself and gets you out of your comfort zone, which is a good thing,” adds Imke.
Maxzelle Erasmus may look small in stature, but this learner can pack quite a punch and kick.
“My best friend bullied me in grade 1 and then I started doing Tang Soo Do karate to defend myself. Once I told her that I did karate, the bullying stopped.”
Self-defence is essentially one of the most important aspects of the sport. According to Viviers, the ability to defend yourself is more important for women now, especially, with gender-based violence on the rise.
“All these girls can defend themselves when they need to and are not afraid to use their Tang Soo Do moves against an attacker. The main thing is to observe the situation around you and avoid it if possible. For example, if you see someone suspicious on the street, you should rather move to the other side of the road.”
Another aspect that makes Tang Soo Do such an enriching sport is that there is no ceiling of achievement. Plus, it’s a sport that can keep you fit and flexible, both physically and mentally.
“Tang Soo Do allows you to improve yourself continuously and learn the proper techniques.
It takes time to graduate to different belts. It is also an individual-based sport as you are responsible for your progress. You can start as a five-year-old and still go through the ranks as a 70-year-old,” states Viviers.
She, herself, started this martial art as a 12-year-old and started teaching Tang Soo Do as a 17-year-old when she opened this club in Potchefstroom.
“One of the most important parts of Tang Soo Do is to perfect your technique and work hard at it. Every session is different and depends on the needs of the students. Some students enjoy contact more than others and there is always a mutual understanding during sessions.”
Tang Soo Do classes take place at 144 Kamp Street from 17:00 every Tuesday and Thursday. Sessions are an hour for juniors and 30 minutes extra for seniors. For more information, contact Master Louise Viviers on 082 337 8030.
