Merwyn Davis, instructor of Millennium Schools of Martial Arts in Tavistock and Launceston has a lot to celebrate after three of her Taekwon-do two and kickboxing students black belts. She has also become a fourth degree black belt in Taekwon-do herself - the only female in Devon and Cornwall to have achieved this with the Professional Unification of Martial Arts. The grading took place in Swindon.
Black Belt can take a minimum of three and a half years to achieve and both Taekwon-do and Kickboxing practised at Crunch Gym follow the traditional Martial Arts.
Kickboxers Rita Tucker and Sandra Aldridge (both Launceston) have achieved a hoard of medals along the way including Southern champion, British champion and international champions in their weight divisions for sparring. Rory Burford (Launceston) took four years to achieve black belt and also have competed in Southern, British and International Championships and has won both gold and silver in sparring.
New black belt Penny Steel (Tavistock) has also competed at Southern Championship level and won gold and silver medals in sparring and patterns. Mark Quick (Launceston), Merwyn's fiancé, has competed in both British and Southern Championships and has a hoard of Gold medals in destruction and sparring.
Instructor Merwyn Davis herself has competed regionally, nationally and internationally winning several trophies and medals. Her best achievement to date was fourth in the World Championships in Korea in 2004.
She said: 'I am chuffed to bits with my new black belts, I have watched them grow in knowledge and technique from their first lesson and feel so proud to have them as black belts, the grading was very tough and tested them all both physically and mentally.'
The newly graded students will receive their proper black belts in an award ceremony on June 4 in Swindon.
Merwyn and her team train at Crunch Gym, Launceston on a Tuesday and a Thursday night and in Tavistock College on a Monday and a Wednesday.
For more details call Merwyn on 07974 797114.