Family affair for new Melton Mowbray Tae Kwon-do Club black belts

For Frances it was a real family affair, as she joined husband Gavin, son Elliot and daughter Rose, who have all previously been promoted to black belt.

Philip will now be able to concentrate on supporting his daughters, Charlotte and India, in their aspirations of following in their father’s footsteps in the near future.

Club instructor Daniel Pearce, a fifth degree black belt, said: “We have a lot of family groups who come along and train in Melton Mowbray and I hope this news will inspire everyone.”

The pair travelled to the Tae Kwon-Do Association of Great Britain Academy in Bristol for the grading which was conducted by grandmaster, ninth degree black belt, David Oliver.

David, the chairman of the association, was supported by four other eighth-degree black belt world masters of the art from the association council.

The examiners were looking for a very high physical standard of self-defence techniques, power, accuracy and control, and also questioned them on their knowledge of the military martial art.

Their achievements were a reward for their hard work and dedication to training over the last few years.

They both train at the Melton club sessions, held at Sandy Lane Methodist Church every Tuesday, and attended extra classes in Sleaford and Corby Glen.

Daniel added: “We are currently training hard for the last competition of the year, the British Tae Kwon-Do Championships.

“We have several members taking part in different disciplines and many supporters will be travelling to the Derby Arena for the event in November.”