Gwent Tang Soo Do

🌟 STUDENT SPOTLIGHT MONDAYS 🌟

This week, we're proud to introduce Mrs Vicky Thomas.

Vicky joined GTSD in September 2022 through one of our family classes. Like many adults, she originally stepped onto the mats to support her children and improve her fitness, never expecting martial arts to become such a significant part of her life.

Since then, she has shown incredible consistency, commitment and determination. Along the way she has developed her confidence, improved her fitness, progressed through the ranks and recently added another major achievement to her journey by becoming a European Champion.

Vicky is a fantastic example of what can happen when you simply take that first step and keep turning up.

We're incredibly proud of everything she has achieved so far and look forward to seeing what comes next as she continues her journey towards black belt.

Here is Vicky's story in her own words...

What stands out about Vicky's story is that she didn't start with ambitions of becoming a champion.

She started because of her family.

Like many adults, she wasn't looking to change her life overnight. She simply gave something new a try and committed to showing up consistently.

Over time, those small steps became major achievements.

Today she is fitter, more confident, closing in on her black belt, and can proudly call herself a European Champion.

If you've ever thought that martial arts isn't for you, that you're too old to start, not fit enough, or that you've missed your chance, Vicky's story shows that progress begins with a single lesson.

And if you're a current or former GTSD student and would like to share your own journey as part of our Student Spotlight Mondays series, please get in touch with Master Thomas.

Your story might be exactly what someone else needs to read today. 🥋💛

🔥☀️ GTSD SUMMER CAMP & SUMMER TRAINING WEEKEND 2026 ☀️🔥

📢 BOOKING IS NOW OPEN
📩 CONTACT MASTER THOMAS HERE OR VIA WHATSAPP: 07868041875

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☀️🥋 GTSD SUMMER CAMP IS BACK! 🥋☀️

📅 3RD–5TH AUGUST
👦👧 AGES 5–14
📍 LIMITED SPACES – FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED

This year is bigger, better, and packed with brand new activities plus returning favourites!

🆕 BRAND NEW FOR 2026
🔥 Camp-only drills
🎮 Training games
🏆 Competitions
💪 Challenges
🎯 Skill-based activities
🎉 And more

AND THE FAVOURITES ARE BACK
❓ Quizzes
🤝 Team challenges
🛡️ Self defence
🥋 Martial arts training
🏅 Prizes & rewards

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🔥 NEW GTSD SUMMER TRAINING WEEKEND 🔥

📅 8TH & 9TH AUGUST
🥋 OPEN TO ALL RANKS
👦 AGES 7+

Created for adults, families, and students who want extra structured training during the summer.

⏰ SATURDAY MORNING (9am–11am)
🥋 Stretching (partner & individual)
🥊 Sparring movement
🛡️ Self defence
🎯 Pad drills

⏰ SATURDAY AFTERNOON (12pm–2pm)
🥋 Stretching (partner & individual)
⚔️ Offensive & defensive line work
🎯 Technical drills
🦵 Pad kicking

⏰ SUNDAY MORNING (9am–11am)
🥊 Sparring drills
🚶 Movement development
🥋 Controlled sparring

⏰ SUNDAY AFTERNOON (12pm–2pm)
📋 Rotational form development
🏆 Competition form development
🦵 Kicking drills

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💷 PRICING

🏕️ SUMMER CAMP
1 DAY — £20
2 DAYS — £35
3 DAYS — £50

🔥 TRAINING WEEKEND
£15 PER SESSION
£25 PER DAY
£40 FULL WEEKEND

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 FAMILY DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE

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💥 SPECIAL OFFER 💥
BOOK BOTH EVENTS FOR JUST £80 TOTAL

(Full Summer Camp + Full Training Weekend)

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📢 SPACES ARE LIMITED FOR BOTH EVENTS
FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED

📩 MESSAGE MASTER THOMAS OR WHATSAPP 07868041875 TO BOOK

TANG SOO! 🥋🔥

🔥 NEW GTSD SUMMER TRAINING WEEKEND 🔥

📅 8th & 9th August

Want more training this summer but can't make weekday events?

Our brand-new GTSD Summer Training Weekend has been created for:

✅ Adults looking for additional training opportunities
✅ Families with weekday commitments during the summer holidays
✅ Students wanting more detailed, in-depth technical development

🥋 Open to all ranks
👦 Ages 7 and above

This is not a camp. It's a focused training weekend designed to help you improve your skills, build confidence, and spend more time on the areas that regular classes can't always cover in detail.

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⏰ SATURDAY MORNING
9:00am–11:00am

🥋 Partner & Individual Stretching
🥊 Sparring Movement
🛡️ Self Defence
🎯 Pad Drills

⏰ SATURDAY AFTERNOON
12:00pm–2:00pm

🥋 Partner & Individual Stretching
⚔️ Offensive & Defensive Line Work
🎯 Technical Drills
🦵 Pad Kicking

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⏰ SUNDAY MORNING
9:00am–11:00am

🥊 Sparring Drills
🚶 Movement Development
🥋 Controlled Sparring

⏰ SUNDAY AFTERNOON
12:00pm–2:00pm

📋 Rotational Form Development
🏆 Competition Form Development
🦵 Kicking Drills

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💷 PRICING

✅ £15 Per Session
✅ £25 Per Day
✅ £40 For The Full Weekend

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Discounts Available

🏕️ Attending both the GTSD Summer Camp and Summer Training Weekend?

We'll also be offering a special package deal for those booking both events.

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📢 BOOKING OPENS JUNE 5TH

⚠️ Spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

If you've been looking for extra training, more technical development, or simply more time on the mats this summer, this weekend is for you.

👇 COMMENT "TRAINING" BELOW 👇

We'll make sure you don't miss the booking announcement on June 5th.

☀️ GIVE YOUR CHILD STRUCTURE THIS SUMMER ☀️

The summer holidays are just around the corner.

For many families, that means later bedtimes, more screen time, less routine, and the challenge of keeping children active and engaged.

Why not give them something positive to look forward to?

🥋 Martial arts develops:

✅ Confidence
✅ Discipline
✅ Respect
✅ Fitness
✅ Focus
✅ Friendships

Most importantly, it provides structure during what can often be a chaotic summer period.

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🔥 SUMMER SPECIAL OFFER 🔥

Join GTSD before the summer holidays and receive:

💷 20% OFF your monthly training fees for

✅ June
✅ July
✅ August

That's three months of training at a reduced rate.

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👦 Suitable for children of all abilities

🥋 No previous martial arts experience needed

😁 Friendly and welcoming classes

🏆 Learn new skills, build confidence and stay active all summer long

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📩 Message us now to book your child's FREE taster session.

OR

👇 Comment "INFO" below and we'll send you more information.

Spaces are limited within our age groups and classes.

☀️🥋 GTSD SUMMER CAMP IS BACK! 🥋☀️

AND THIS YEAR IT'S BIGGER, BETTER AND PACKED WITH BRAND NEW ACTIVITIES!

📅 AUGUST 3RD - 5TH
👦👧 OPEN TO AGES 5-14
📍 LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE
⏰ FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED

We've taken everything students loved about previous camps and added even more for 2026!

🆕 BRAND NEW FOR THIS YEAR

🔥 Camp-Only Drills
🎮 Camp-Only Training Games
🏆 Competitions
💪 Challenges
🎯 Skill-Based Activities
🎉 And much more!

PLUS THE RETURN OF SOME FAVOURITES

❓ Quizzes
🤝 Team Challenges
🛡️ Black Belt Self Defence
🥋 Staff Work
🏅 Martial Arts Training
🎁 Prizes & Rewards
🎉 And much more!

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💷 PRICES

1 DAY — £20

2 DAYS — £35

3 DAYS — £50

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 FAMILY DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE

Please contact Master Thomas from JUNE 5TH for more information regarding family discounts.

💰 Additional savings will also be available for students attending BOTH the Summer Camp and the Summer Training Weekend.

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📢 BOOKINGS OPEN JUNE 5TH

All spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

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🌟 VOLUNTEERS WANTED 🌟

We are looking for THREE volunteer assistants aged 15+ to help support the Summer Camp.

If you're interested in helping, developing your leadership skills and being part of the camp team, please speak to Master Thomas.

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👀 MORE INFORMATION WILL BE RELEASED THROUGHOUT THE WEEK SO KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED!

We can't wait to see everyone in August for three fantastic days of training, games, challenges and fun.

TANG SOO! 🥋🔥

🌟 STUDENT SPOTLIGHT MONDAYS 🌟

Over the coming weeks, we'll be launching a brand-new series highlighting the people who make GTSD what it is.

Every Monday, we'll be sharing the stories, challenges, achievements and experiences of our students. Different backgrounds. Different journeys. One martial arts family.

To begin the series, we're incredibly proud to introduce Mrs Helena Hopkins.

Helena will be sitting her 1st Degree Black Belt grading this October and has become a hugely respected member of our club. Not only through her achievements on the competition floor, but through the support, encouragement and positivity she brings to everyone around her.

From overcoming significant physical challenges, to becoming a coach, a competitor, a multiple-time European Champion and Grand Champion, Helena's journey is a fantastic example of what can be achieved through consistency, courage and determination.

We are incredibly proud to have Helena as part of the GTSD family and even prouder of everything she has achieved along the way.

Here is Helena's story, in her own words...

My Tang Soo Do Journey

I never set out to become a martial artist.
In fact, if you had asked me years ago, I would have said it was something I’d never be capable of doing.

But looking back now, it’s been a crazy journey, and one I am incredibly proud of.

At 18, I was registered disabled with fibromyalgia. I had undergone surgery to remove my coccyx and struggled with dysfunction in my piriformis muscles. For a long time, my body felt like a limitation, but I made a decision early on that it would never define what I could achieve. During COVID, I reached my largest size and felt completely disconnected from myself, both physically and mentally. It was a difficult time, but it also became my turning point. I knew something had to change, and I began rebuilding, slowly, consistently, and with determination.

The reason I started Tang Soo Do was because of my son. When he was just 4 years old, I sat and watched his classes for months. I quickly realised this wasn’t just another club, it was a community. There was respect, encouragement, and genuine support across everyone on the mat. Not long after, my husband became one of the original members of the adult class. Watching him train became another source of inspiration. I could see his confidence grow and the enjoyment he got from it, but at that time, I still didn’t believe I could do the same. I sat on the side-lines, watching in awe, thinking that could never be me.

Eventually, at the age of 32, I found the courage to try, and I nervously stepped onto the mat.

What I didn’t expect was how much I would fall in love with it.

Unlike the gym, something I had never been able to stick to, Tang Soo Do gave me purpose. It challenged me mentally as much as physically, and it became something I could commit to. It helped me rebuild my strength, improve areas of weakness, and, most importantly, rebuild my confidence. There have been many tough days along the way, training through pain, fatigue, and self-doubt, but I kept pushing. Even on the hardest days, I showed up. Looking back now, I can truly see the difference that consistency and determination have made, and I can honestly say I am proud of how far I have come.

One of the most powerful parts of this journey has been the people. The club has become more than just a place to train, it’s become a second family. I’ve built lifelong friendships with people who support me on the difficult days, celebrate my wins, and stand beside me every step of the way.

As my journey progressed, I became an Assistant Instructor, something I never imagined I would have the confidence to do. Supporting others in their own journeys has become one of the most rewarding aspects of mine.

These past few years in particular have shown me just how far I’ve come.

The last 4years have been filled with incredible moments, challenges, and achievements I once never thought possible.

Today, I’m proud to have achieved:

🏆3 Grand Champion trophies
🏅3x European Champion Titles (TTF) across forms, weapons, and team forms

But the real achievement goes beyond medals and titles. It’s the person I’ve become through this journey: Stronger. More confident. More resilient.

There are moments now where I stop and reflect, and I still can’t quite believe that this is me.

The person who once doubted whether they could even step onto the mat is now competing, coaching, and achieving things I never thought possible.

Tang Soo Do hasn’t just improved my fitness, it has given me purpose, belief, and a community that feels like family.

I never thought I would be good at this.
Now, I can’t imagine my life without it………..

🥋🥋🥋🥋

Helena's story is a reminder that martial arts isn't about where you start.

It's about taking that first step.

Many people think they're too old, too unfit, too busy, too nervous, or that martial arts is something they should have started years ago.

The reality is that some of our most successful students started as adults.

If you've ever thought about giving martial arts a try, this is your reminder that it's never too late to start.

And if you're a current or former GTSD student and would like to share your own journey as part of our Student Spotlight Mondays series, please get in touch with Master Thomas.

Every black belt, champion, instructor and confident student started with a single lesson.

Your story might inspire the next person to take theirs.

☀️ SUMMER AT GTSD IS HERE ☀️

We have some exciting updates coming your way as we head into what looks set to be a busy and energetic summer!

📅 NEW TIMETABLE FROM JUNE 1ST

From June 1st, we will be introducing our new class structure.

Our lessons have been reorganised on a rank-to-rank basis, allowing us to offer MORE traditional martial arts training and a clearer development pathway for every student.

📧 If you are an active GTSD student, please check your emails as the new timetable has already been sent out.

🥊 WEDNESDAY SPARRING IS BACK

Our dedicated Wednesday sparring sessions return this month and are bigger, better and more focused than ever.

Expect:
✅ Structured sparring development
✅ Competition preparation
✅ Confidence building
✅ Technical coaching
✅ Fun and challenging sessions

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🏕️ GTSD SUMMER CAMP
📅 3rd–5th August
👦👧 Ages 4–15

Three action-packed days of:

🎯 Challenges
🎮 Games
🥋 Martial arts training
🏆 Team activities
😁 New friendships
🔥 Plenty of fun

Spaces will be available to book from JUNE 5TH.

💷 Prices will be released later this week, so keep an eye on our page.

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🥋 NEW SUMMER TRAINING WEEKEND
📅 8th & 9th August

Due to popular demand, we are introducing a brand-new Summer Training Weekend.

This event is open to adults, families and dedicated students who want additional training opportunities together.

Training sessions will run:

⏰ Saturday
9am–11am
12pm–2pm

⏰ Sunday
9am–11am
12pm–2pm

Topics will include:

🥊 Sparring
🧘 Stretching & Mobility
🛡️ Self Defence
🥋 Traditional Martial Arts
💪 Fitness & Conditioning
⭐ Plus much more

Booking opens JUNE 5TH.

💷 Prices will be announced later this week.

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👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 FAMILY & MULTI-BOOKING DISCOUNTS

We know many of our members train together, so we will be offering family discounts and multi-booking discounts across our summer events.

More details coming soon.

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🔥 NEW CLASSES
🔥 NEW EVENTS
🔥 NEW OPPORTUNITIES

We can't wait to share another fantastic summer with all of our students and families.

Keep your eyes on the page this week for pricing, booking information and further announcements!

📣 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟𝗦 𝗪𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗗 – 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗦 𝗦𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦
📣

We are actively looking for schools in 𝙉𝙚𝙬𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩, 𝘾𝙬𝙢𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙣, 𝘾𝙖𝙚𝙧𝙥𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙮, 𝙍𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙖, 𝙍𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨 to work with us 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚.

We want to bring 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬, giving pupils the chance to experience high-quality, structured sessions during the school day.

🥋 Whether it’s:

A single class

A year group

Or the whole school

We can tailor everything to suit your pupils and timetable.

Our sessions are:
🔥 High energy
🎯 Fun and engaging
💪 Physically challenging
🧠 Designed for all ages from Reception to Year 11

Martial arts helps build confidence, discipline, focus, and fitness in a way pupils genuinely enjoy.

📩 W̳a̳n̳t̳ ̳y̳o̳u̳r̳ ̳s̳c̳h̳o̳o̳l̳ ̳i̳n̳v̳o̳l̳v̳e̳d̳?̳

Tag a primary or secondary school below, or DM us with a contact email and we’ll take it from there.

Let’s get more young people moving, learning, and thriving through martial arts 🥋

Any age. Any level. Any starting point.
Never trained before?
Trained years ago?
Four years old. Forty-four. Somewhere in between.
👉 This is for you.

At GTSD Martial Arts, you don’t need to be fit.
You don’t need experience.
You don’t need “the right time”.

You just need to start.

🥋 Classes built around people – not averages

Ages 4–6: confidence, focus, fun

Ages 7–12: discipline, coordination, self-belief

Ages 13+: skill, structure, challenge

18+ adults: fitness, stress release, personal goals

Family classes: train together, grow together

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Real family club

Welcoming atmosphere

Supportive members

Family discounts available

No egos. No judgement. Just progress.

🔥 Want more than casual training?
We offer competitive pathways for those who want to push themselves.
Train harder. Test yourself. Aim for events.
Your choice. Your pace.

📈 What you’ll actually gain

Confidence that carries into everyday life

Better flexibility and movement

Discipline without shouting

Clear goals you can work toward

Coaching adapted to you, not the group

📆 Multiple classes every week
So training fits around your life — not the other way round.

2026 is coming.
You can stay the same.
Or you can try something new.

💬 Drop us a message or comment below
We’ll help you take the first step and start your progress.