23/09/2026
๐ ๐ง๐ฆ๐ซ ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ง๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐จ๐ฅ๐ก๐ฆ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฃ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ๐๐๐ฃ๐ฆ ๐ช๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ด ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ! ๐บ
๐ฏ ๐๐ง๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ฆ. ๐ฎ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ฆ. ๐ญ๐ด ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ. ๐ฏ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฃ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ. ๐ข๐ก๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ง๐ฆ๐ซ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฌ! ๐
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฒ๐
๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ท๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐!
TSX Martial Arts has returned from the ITFU European Championships in Italy, where ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐๐ต ๐๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ป, ๐ก๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ต๐ถ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ represented England and our academy with passion, confidence, professionalism, courage, humility and incredible energy.
And the results? Absolutely phenomenal!
But behind every medal is a story. Behind every victory are years of dedication, disappointment, sacrifice and determination.
This is about far more than medals. It's about three remarkable young people who have shown us what it truly means to be a Black Belt. โค๏ธ
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
๐
๐ง๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐๐ง๐ฆ ๐
๐ฅ ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ง๐ฅ๐๐ โ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฃ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ข๐ก!
๐ฅ Individual Sparring
๐ฅ Individual Patterns
๐ฅ Team Patterns
๐ฅ Open Team Patterns
๐ฅ Open Team Sparring
๐ฅ Tag Team Sparring
๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฃ๐๐๐ก ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ! ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ
๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ช๐๐ก โ ๐๐ข๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฃ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ข๐ก!
๐ฅ Special Techniques
๐ฅ Individual Sparring
๐ฅ Team Patterns
๐ฅ Open Team Patterns
๐ฅ Open Team Sparring
๐ฅ Tag Team Sparring
๐ฅ Individual 3rd Dan Patterns
๐ณ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฃ๐๐๐ก ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ! ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ
Seth also captained the Boys' Team Patterns, doing an exceptional job leading a talented group of young athletes.
๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ช๐ฆ โ ๐๐ข๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฃ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ข๐ก!
๐ฅ Team Patterns
๐ฅ Individual Sparring
๐ฅ Team Sparring
๐ฏ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฃ๐๐๐ก ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ! ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ
PLUS two bronze coaching medals for Mr Downing and Ma'am May! ๐ฅ๐ฅ
๐ง๐๐๐ง'๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ด ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฃ๐๐๐ก ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ง๐จ๐๐๐ก๐ง๐ฆ ๐๐ก๐ ๐ง๐ช๐ข ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐ฆ๐ซ ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ง๐ฆ!
An incredible achievement for our academy! ๐
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
โค๏ธ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ง๐ข๐ฅ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ
Medals tell you who won. They don't tell you what it took to get there.
Each of our three athletes has overcome significant challenges to reach this moment.
๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ช๐ฆ โ ๐ง๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง
Just four weeks before the European Championships, Sophie suffered a devastating migraine episode that mimicked a stroke, leaving her unable to speak and struggling with her balance.
Her European dream was suddenly thrown into uncertainty.
What followed was a journey of recovery, fear, disappointment and determination.
But Sophie refused to give up.
She faced the unknown with extraordinary courage, grace and humility, demonstrating the true meaning of Indomitable Spirit.
Simply making it to Italy would have been an incredible achievement.
๐๐จ๐ง ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก'๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ง ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ง. ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฃ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ข๐ก! ๐ฅ๐ฅ
There aren't enough words to express how much this young lady means to TSX Martial Arts or how immensely proud we are of her.
Although we suspect she already knows... it's probably etched all over Mr Downing's face as she continues to visibly age him through a combination of pride and worry! ๐โค๏ธ
Sophie, you are extraordinary. Your story will inspire our students for years to come.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ช๐๐ก โ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ง๐ฅ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ ๐๐ข๐ก'๐ง ๐๐๐ช๐๐ฌ๐ฆ ๐ฆ๐๐
Seth lives with a condition affecting his feet that means he experiences almost constant pain.
Every extra training session, every round of sparring and every gym workout brings its own challenges.
Yet Seth continues to turn up, train hard and push himself without complaining.
Many people watching Seth perform have absolutely no idea what he quietly contends with every time he steps onto the mat.
His resilience, determination and strength of character are exceptional.
Now a ๐๐ข๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฃ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ข๐ก, Seth continues to make a wonderful impression on his National Team Coaches and teammates.
He has become a role model and hero to many younger TSX students, and watching him grow as an athlete, leader and young man has been an absolute privilege.
Seth, your achievements are incredible, but it's the person you are that makes us proudest. ๐
๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ง๐ฅ๐๐ โ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐๐ก ๐ช๐๐ข ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ฌ
Ned was the first TSX student selected for the National Team, paving the way for others to follow.
And what a journey he's had!
Through additional sessions with Master Jo, Ma'am May and Mr Downing, Ned has worked incredibly hard to improve his posture, stability, strength and technical ability.
He's trained hard in the gym, developed his athletic conditioning and learnt what it takes to prepare and fuel his body as an athlete.
He's even discovered that chicken nuggets aren't a complete nutritional plan! ๐
All jokes aside, Ned's vision, focus and tenacity are beginning to produce the results he deserves.
From being our first National Team athlete to standing on the European podium with a gold medal around his neck.
๐ก๐๐, ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ . ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ ๐ฃ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ก ๐ง๐๐ ๐ช๐ข๐ฅ๐. ๐๐ก๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ช ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ'๐ฅ๐ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฃ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ข๐ก! ๐ฅ
We couldn't be prouder of you!
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
๐ฅ ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ฆ โ ๐๐ก ๐๐ข๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฅ ๐ง๐ข ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐ง ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ก๐
Mr Downing and Ma'am May are incredibly honoured to be part of the ITFU England National Coaching Team.
We've thoroughly enjoyed this journey with our own students and hope we've contributed positively to the other exceptional athletes from clubs across England.
If we've helped even one or two students in some small way, that's enough for us. โค๏ธ
A huge thank you to all the TSX coaches who have supported our athletes throughout their journey.
A particularly special thank you goes to ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐น for his exceptional knowledge, experience, technical guidance and the time he has generously given our students.
These achievements are the result of many people working together.
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
โค๏ธ ๐ง๐ข ๐ข๐จ๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ก๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐๐ก๐ง๐ฆ
None of this would have happened without you.
Thank you for the financial commitment, travelling, early mornings, extra sessions, sacrifices and endless encouragement.
But above everything else, thank you for the trust you have placed in us, not just during this European journey, but throughout the many years leading up to it.
Your children have become our Taekwon-Do children.
We've watched them grow from little six-year-olds into the exceptional young people they are today.
We've shared their victories, disappointments, laughter, tears and dreams.
Somewhere along the way, we became one big family.
That doesn't happen overnight. It's been years in the making, and it's what makes TSX Martial Arts so special. ๐
Our gratitude also extends to the wonderful parents from the other clubs whose loyalty, commitment and support helped create such a magnificent atmosphere throughout the Championships.
From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU! ๐
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
๐บ ๐ง๐ข ๐๐ฉ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐ง๐ฆ๐ซ ๐ฆ๐ง๐จ๐๐๐ก๐ง โ ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ง๐ฆ ๐ก๐ข๐ช!
If Ned, Seth and Sophie have inspired you, remember something important.
๐ฌ๐ข๐จ ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ง ๐๐ข๐ข๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ง ๐ข๐ฉ๐๐ฅ๐ก๐๐๐๐ง ๐ฆ๐จ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ฆ. ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ข๐ข๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ง ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ช๐ข๐ฅ๐!
All three started competing at around six years old.
Seth is now 16. Ned is 17. Sophie is 18.
They have spent years training, competing, losing, learning and growing.
Their biggest successes have only started coming in recent years.
They've learnt to lose with grace and dignity, manage disappointment, control their emotions and keep going when things don't go their way.
๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ช๐๐ก ๐๐ข๐๐ฆ๐ก'๐ง ๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐ช๐๐ง๐๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ ๐๐ก๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ข๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ช๐๐ฌ!
So, if you're sitting there thinking, "I want to do what they've done"...
๐ก๐ข๐ช ๐๐ฆ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ ๐ง๐ข ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ง ๐ช๐ข๐ฅ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ง๐ข๐ช๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ ๐๐ง!
๐ฅ Increase your training and attend more classes.
๐ฅ Get to regular sparring sessions and get those rounds in!
๐บ Attend TSX squad training.
๐ฌ๐ง Get involved in National Squad Training and show your commitment.
๐ Attend seminars and expand your knowledge.
๐ Enter competitions and gain experience.
๐ช Take responsibility for your own development.
And parents, keep encouraging and supporting your children!
Your instructors can guide you and walk alongside you for part of the journey, but Y๐ข๐จ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐ฝ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ.
Every setback is another opportunity to learn.
We would love to see more TSX students following in their footsteps, representing England, gaining international experience and working towards European and World Championships!
๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ง ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐๐. ๐ฃ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ก ๐ง๐๐ ๐ช๐ข๐ฅ๐. ๐๐๐ง'๐ฆ ๐๐๐ง ๐ ๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ง๐ฆ๐ซ ๐ฆ๐ง๐จ๐๐๐ก๐ง๐ฆ ๐ข๐ก ๐ง๐๐๐ง ๐ก๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก๐๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ ! ๐ฌ๐ง๐บ
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
๐ง๐ข ๐ข๐จ๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐๐จ ๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฌ
Our heartfelt thanks go to all the National Coaches, umpires, competitors, parents and supporters who made the European Championships such an unforgettable experience.
It was an honour to be part of this incredible team.
And seeing England finish ๐ฆ๐๐๐ข๐ก๐ ๐๐ก ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฃ๐๐๐ก ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ง๐๐๐๐ was the icing on the cake! ๐
A very special thank you to ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ง๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ, ๐ ๐ฟ๐ ๐ง๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ, ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ ๐ฎ'๐ฎ๐บ ๐๐น๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ.
None of this would have happened without your commitment, dedication and hard work. ๐
And Aaron...
You're nuts, but you're amazing too! WOW! ๐โค๏ธ
Mr Downing & Ma'am May โค๏ธ
