Ely & Witchford Tang Soo Do offers traditional Korean martial arts classes for all across Ely, and the wider Cambridgeshire area. Tang Soo Do — sometimes called Korean karate — is a traditional striking art that develops fitness, discipline, and confidence alongside a structured grading system that gives students clear goals to work towards.
Our classes are suitable for all ages from 7 upwards and all abilities, from complete beginners to those with prior martial arts experience. Find out more about Tang Soo Do for children, Tang Soo Do for adults, and Tang Soo Do for self-defence.
Classes & Curriculum
Classes are varied but basically consist of a warm up and stretching followed by learning and practising techniques:
- Basic blocks, attacks and kicks.
- Stretching and physical fitness.
- Combinations from simple up to advanced Hyung’s.
- One step sparring, how to react to a punch, kick or grab.
- No/light contact points sparring wearing safety pads.
- Weapons (senior grades) – bow staff, dagger and sword.
- Korean terminology.
- Respect and general good behaviour.
Our curriculum is overseen by Great Britain TSD Association and through them by the World TSD Association. Belt promotions take place through regional gradings administered by senior Masters within GBTSDA four times a year for Gup (beginner/junior) grades and twice a year for Dan (black belt) grades.
Competitions
We, as a club, take part in two national level championships, often winning trophies at many levels. Students can also be eligible, as part of GBTSDA, to compete at European and World levels. There are also several events organised by GBTSDA each year where students can meet other clubs and learn new and varied techniques from expert Masters within WTSDA from around the world.
Getting Started
Getting started with Tang Soo Do in Ely couldn’t be easier. Simply come along to any of our sessions to meet the instructors and watch a class — and if you’d like to give it a try, your first session is completely free with no obligation. All you need is comfortable clothing such as jogging trousers and a t-shirt, and a bottle of water.
We welcome students from across Cambridgeshire, including Ely, Witchford, Wilburton, Soham, Littleport, and the surrounding villages. Whether you’re looking for a martial art for your child, a fitness challenge for yourself, or something the whole family can do together, Tang Soo Do offers something for everyone. Many of our students train alongside their children and find it a great shared activity.
Tang Soo Do?
Tang Soo Do is a traditional Korean martial art with it’s root way back in the history of Korean, however the name came into common use after 1945. In the 1960’s there was a move by the Korean government to standardise the martial arts of Korean and unite the martial arts schools (Kwans), this lead to the formation and formalisation of Tae Kwon Do, however use of Tang Soo Do continued and flourished.
Like traditional karate, Tang Soo Do places a strong emphasis on forms (Hyungs), self-discipline, and precise technique — making it a rewarding martial art to study at any age.
Further Information
World Tang Soo Do Association
About Tang Soo Do (Wikipedia)
About Grandmaster Shin (Wikipedia)
