Norwood-based martial art academy competes for the selections of ATA Gauteng Lions team
NORWOOD — André's Taekwondo Academy competed in all four martial arts tournaments that were hosted for the selection of the ATA Gauteng Lions team.
After having no martial arts tournaments last year due to Covid-19, this year saw a mixture of live, in-person tournaments when it was allowed and virtual tournaments when restrictions were reintroduced.
Students from Norwood-based martial art academy, André’s Taekwondo Academy performed exceptionally well during this tournament season. Founder André van Tonder said he is super proud of all his students who competed.
The academy competed in all four martial arts tournaments hosted for selection to the American Taekwondo Association Gauteng Lions Colours team. To make the team, they had to be at the top of their division.
“American Taekwondo Association, now known as ATA Martial Arts, is one of the largest taekwondo organisations in the world,” Van Tonder said.
They also competed at the South African Championships. “Some students missed one tournament and did not accumulate enough points to make it to the team.”
The ATA offers many curriculum programmes for all ages and a variety of purposes, ranging from basic martial arts, to self-defence, life skill building, bullying prevention and lots more.
Van Tonder and his team of four instructors – consisting of Marissa Kats, Faiyaz Khan, Ben Lubbe, and Lucky Mashego – who teach martial arts throughout Norwood and surrounding areas, achieved the Lions team black belt in the ATA Gauteng Lions Colours this year.
ATA Martial Arts uses a rank system divided into two series – the coloured belt series, and the black belt series. Each series has nine ranks, the purpose of which are to establish a chain of command and measurement of student progress.
The Lions team black belt division included Nachman Rogoff, Jonathan Woolf, Esti Blumberg, Yaakov Blumenau, Gadiel Rogoff, Ntombi Duka, Ethan Sharfman, Joshua Kahn, Rachaeli Shapiro, André van Tonder, Faiyaz Khan, Lucky Mashego, Ben Lubbe, and Marissa Katz.
The colour belt division included Njabulo Nkosi, Isa Essop, Yalinka Lombard, Siyabonga Nkosi, Payton Butelezi, Megan Goosen, Shaelyn Venter, Eliska Manickum, Jolene Arnesen, Zanae Goosen, Stella Taruvinga, Joshua Ready, Hasnayn Samrod, and Carol Woolf.
