NEWTON Abbot Martial Arts and Combat Sports proudly celebrated a major milestone this past weekend as five dedicated students successfully achieved their black belt promotions in ITF Taekwon-Do.

The grading, held at the picturesque Moorland Hotel in Haytor, marked the first black belt grading hosted by NAMA and conducted under the expert supervision of Master Johann De Silva, VII Degree.

Lasting three hours and taking place on Saturday, January 25, the grading and was a rigorous test of skill, discipline, and perseverance with a range of challenges being undertaken.

Lewis Burke (I Degree), Darren Burke (I Degree), David Sercombe (I Degree), Jasper Sercombe (I Degree, junior), and Sophie Chisholm (III Degree) are the successful quintet, as pictured from left to right, joined by chief instructor Ed Colman-Roberts and the aforementioned Johann.

Their achievements are a testament to years of hard work, dedication, and commitment to their martial arts training.

Colman-Roberts had this to say on the occasion: “I couldn’t be prouder of their accomplishments. This grading was particularly significant to me, as it marked the first time that students who started with me as beginners have now reached the prestigious black belt level. Witnessing their journey from white belt to black belt has been an incredibly rewarding experience.

“A special mention goes to Sophie Chisholm, who successfully earned their III Degree black belt a major step forward in their Taekwon-Do with their following grade giving them rank of international instructor and expert black belt.

“Beyond the technical demonstrations, the grading highlighted the personal growth and resilience of each participant… This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering support of our NAMA community, including families, training partners, and fellow instructors.

“Congratulations once again to all our black belt participants—you have made your school and community incredibly proud.”