CHEPSTOW Taekwon-Do

Academy has trained out of

Chepstow Leisure Centre for

more than 30 years.

Mr Ken Bloomfield, 4th

Dan, is the senior instructor

and took over the club 15

years ago. At that time the

club had approximately 30

students, only one of which

was a black belt.

The academy has grown

steadily and now has more

than 80 students, of which 10

are black belts, ranging from

1st Dan to 3rd Dan.

There are now three fully

qualified instructors who are

also qualified first aiders and

are fully DBS checked.

Originally only two hours

training over two separate

days were offered. Now six

hours training over four separate

days are available.

The club is also extremely

pleased to offer a separate

training session on Tuesdays

for people with special needs.

The main aim of the special

needs section is not only to

introduce the student to Taekwon-

Do, giving them a safe

environment to train in, but

hopefully to filter these students

into the academy, training

alongside the academy

students.

There have also been success

in national competitions,

always bringing home at least

one medal per student and the

club will hopefully be taking a

squad to the UITF International

Open in Rimini, Italy

next year.

All these successes are due

in no small way to the grants

that have been awarded from

the Community Chest, allowing

Chepstow Taekwon-do

Academy to purchased much

needed additional equipment,

get all instructors fully qualified

and set up the SEN training

section.

"Chepstow Taekwon-Do

Academy's achievements

reflect the effort and commitment

their instructors have

demonstrated to inclusion,"

said Mark Foster, Disability

Sport Wales Development

Officer, Monmouthshire.

"The club began by volunteering

to work with an SEN

unit in Chepstow School,

where the students have been

working towards getting their

orange belts. This has now

produced a well-attended

weekly inclusive session on a

Tuesday evening.

"The club has been awarded

the insport Ribbon accreditation

for its work with children

and young people with disabilities.

I look forward to supporting

the club as it strives to

reach insport club bronze."

Contact Ken Bloomfield on

07525 012111 or email

for more details. Alternatively

visit the club's website at

-academy.com