Congratulations to Bo Sabum Nim's - Vic Aparicio, Michael Sonnekus and Miki Oshua for achieving their 2nd Degree Black Belts in Hapkido. The students wish to express their appreciation and gratitude to Master Grachev for his excellent Instruction.

A group of students from the Centurion Martial Arts Masters Academy decided to surprise Master Vladimir Grachev on his return from Russia. In celebration, and to pay their respect for his grading to Master Level.

Here they are catching him unawares at OR Thambo as he was transitioning between flights. It was a magical moment!

Well done Team Centurion You are amazing !!

Students preparing for Master Grachev's arrival

A sincere congratulations to Mr. Vladimir Grachev for his excellent and successful grading to Master level in Taekwon-do!!

Master Grachev now holds a 7th Degree Black Belt in both the Korean Martial Arts of Taekwon-Do and Hapki-Do. An exceptional achievement!

We are so happy for you Sir, and we all congratulate and salute your great achievement!!  We are blessed to have you as our Instructor. We wish you continued success.

Seen here with the Grading panel of Grand Masters and Masters
of the GTF Taekwon-Do Federation

Master Grachev (7th Degree Black Belt) with Honary Grand Master,
9th Degree Black Belt. and President of the GTF Federation
Mrs. Linda Park.

Preparing for Grading - at the GTF World Championships
in Kazan, Russia - July 2016 - 

We would like to congratulate these students on their successful grading! It is a privilege and honour you to see your commitment, dedication and growth to your art! Well Done! 

We wish to thank Master Grachev for his excellent Instruction and commitment to all his students - Thank You!! Thank You!!

Congratulations to students successful grading

Congratulations to the students from the Centurion Dojang who graded to their 3rd and 2nd Degree Taekwon-Do Black Belts. Well done on your excellent grading!

Bo-Sabum Nim Michael Sonnekus to 3rd Degree Black Belt, and Bo-Sabum Nim's Victor daCosta Aparicio and Miki Oshua to 2nd Degree Black Belt.

The students wish to thank Guk-Jae Sabum Nim Vladimir Grachev for his years of training, commitment and world-class Instruction. "Without this, our success today would not have been possible. We are grateful to you Sir. Thank you!"

#MartialArtsMastersAcademy  #TaekwonDo

Congratulations To Our New 1st & 2nd Degree Black Belts

Congratulations once again on the following Taekwon-Do students from the Ballito Dojang who recently, successfully completed their Black Belt Grading's. Well done on all your years of hard-work and commitment. What a great achievement. 

Avril Taylor, Vicki Millican & Theresa Jackson, started training together as white belts and set their goal to stick together until they had their Black Belts, what a journey! 

Fabian Durocher-Yvon has been training diligently and along with Avril, Vicki & Theresa achieved 1st Degree Black Belts. 

Bo-Sabum Nim Linda Smit, graded successfully to her 2nd Degree Taekwon-Do Black Belt. What a great achievement!

Well done Team!! TaeKwon!

‪#‎Guk‬-JaeSabumNimVladimirGrachev
‪#‎MartialArtsMastersAcademy‬

GTF Euro/Asia Championships .... Salerno, Italy

Guk-Jae Sabum Nim Vladimir Grachev receiving a gift from Honorary Grand Master Mrs. Linda Park and Master Pallela. Seen here at the recent GTF Euro/Asia Championships which took place at Salerno, Italy.

Grading - 8 February 2014

"Congratulations!"

to the following students from the 

Professional Risk Security Group

for grading on 

8 February, 2014

Kai Weinzheimer - Blue Belt

Danie Pienaar - Blue Belt

Pieter Pienaar - Blue Belt

Patrick Rampepe - Yellow Belt - Green stripe

Veritas National Championships

The Martial Arts Masters Academy students from the Ballito and Centurion Dojang’s attended the Veritas National Taekwon-Do Championships, in Johannesburg this past weekend.   Students from many different Federations and Clubs nationwide attended this national event.

The event was also used as part of the selection process for the SA GTF Team that will represent South Africa at the GTF Taekwon-Do World Championships taking place in June in Cyprus.

We wish to congratulate all our students on their results!

(Please see our Face Book page for a full name list and achievements - thank you!)

A sincere thank you to International Instructor Guk-Jae Sabum Nim Vladimir Grachev for his excellent instruction and coaching.

Students are now hard at work, training under the expert instruction of Guk-Jae Sabum Nim Vladimir Grachev, to represent South Africa at GTF Taekwon-Do World Cup - taking place in Cyprus, in June 2013.

We wish the Team the very best as they prepare for this prestigious International GTF Taekwon-Do event.

PS: As the rest of the Teams results are sent in we'll do some additional posts ...

"Congratulations to our students in Shakaskraal!"

Students from Shakaskraal this week gathered excitedly at their local community hall for their official grading in the Korean martial arts of Taekwon-Do and Hapki-Do.   Students have been training hard and diligently under the instruction of Samkelo Maphumulo.

Samkelo is a Junior Instructor with the SA Global Taekwon-Do & Hapki-Do Federation and teaches children, teenagers and adults in both disciplines.   Samkelo himself trains under Guk-Jae SabumNim Vladimir Grachev, of Ballito and is currently training hard to qualify for the SA Team that will attend the GTF World Cup in Cyprus in June.

Students were graded to different belt levels and each grading started with the required fitness levels, then demonstrating their balance, new kicks, punches, speed techniques and patterns.   Breaking of wood with kicks and punches was a definite highlight as was the self-defense and weapons techniques of the Hapki-Do students.
We wish to sincerely congratulate all the Shakaskraal students for their hard work and excellent grading. It is wonderful to see these children directing their energies positively whilst learning to defend themselves.

Many of the students are unable to pay for their fees, and instruction is given freely to them.  We wish to express our gratitude for all the donations and gifts of Dobok’s and training equipment that has been sent to assist these students.

The SA GTF and Hapki-do Federation have joined forces with Samkelo & Innocent and the Shakaskraal community, and will be bringing at exciting upliftment programme to the community upon their return from the World Cup.

KZN Open GTF Taekwon-Do Championships ~ 2 March 2013 ~

We held our annual summer KZN Open GTF Taekwon-Do Championships this past weekend.  Nine different clubs from Ballito, Shakaskraal, Stanger, Pinetown, Richards Bay, Centurion, Pretoria and Johannesburg attended, providing an exciting and well attended Tournament.

Over 100 students partook in this Championship, well supported by their family and friends. This event was also used as part of the selection process for the SA GTF Team that will represent South Africa at the GTF Taekwon-Do World Championships taking place in June in Cyprus.

We wish to congratulate the following students from our Dojang’s on their excellent results!

For Patterns in their respective Divisions: 

Gold Medals: Natasha Oosthuizen, Sathinder Naidoo, Tristan Power, Jack Maidman.

Silver Medals: Jarred Karp, Daniil Grachev, Dasra Naidoo.

Bronze Medals: Anika Naidoo, Lynne Meintjies, Chelsea-Leigh Flaum, Janine Correia, Keshav Govender, Matt Kalil.

********
For Sparring (Contact) in their respective Divisions: 

Gold Medals: Chelsea-Leigh Flaum, Roger de Charmoy, Tristan Power, Daniil Grachev, Sathinder Naidoo, , Samkelo Maphumulo, Jarred Karp, Neels Grobbelaar.

Silver Medals: Lynne Meintjies, Conrad Nalson, Shaun Cronje’, Matt Kalil, Jack Maidman, , David Henwood.

Bronze Medals: Nadira Waters, Leigh Power, Natasha Oosthuizen, Dasra Naidoo, Keshav Govender, Fabien Durocher-Yvon.

*******

We also won the Trophy (1st Place) for the Best Club. Congratulations to all the students and to International Instructor Guk-Jae Sabum Nim Vladimir Grachev for his excellent instruction and coaching.

Big thanks to the Westbrook Church for their supply of refreshments and tasty lunch and to Mr. Densil Reddy for arranging the venue. 

A special thank you to our Official Sponsor Mr. Andrew Pillinger from Herbalife – www.24HourNutrition.co.za for his very generous sponsorship of the music, medals and certificates and providing nutritional food for the children of Shakaskraal. 

*******

Thank you to all the Judges - it was fun working beside you - really appreciate your help and hard work ... it made for a fabulous event !!!
Students are now hard at work, training under the expert instruction of Guk-Jae Sabum Nim Vladimir Grachev, to represent South Africa at GTF Taekwon-Do World Cup - taking place in Cyprus, in June 2013.
We wish the Team the very best as they prepare for this prestigious International GTF Taekwon-Do event.

Children's Taekwon-Do Class in Centurion

Our Taekwon-Do Children's classes have started in Centurion .... here are some of our first children starting to attend and enjoy their classes.

Our parents say the greatest benefits they are seeing from the training is:

• Increased Confidence
• Increase in Focus and Concentration
• Better Grades at School
• Improved Self-Control
• Physical Fitness

Congratulations Maishe!

Congratulations to Maishe for achieving your Taekwon-Do Yellow Belt!

Maishe recently joined our Centurion Dojang and loves training with Sabum Nim Vladimir Grachev on Saturday mornings :)

Congratulations Shael!

Congratulations to Shael for achieving his Taekwon-Do Yellow-Belt!

Shael started his training a few months ago and trains from our Centurion Dojang .... isn't it just great to see children take their first steps!

Sabum Nim Featured in Success Academy Magazine!

Congratulations Jarred Karp for grading to Yellow-Green Belt in Hapki-Do . . . your technique was excellent. Well Done Jarred!!

Congratulations to the Abavikeli Team for their first Hapki-Do Grading!  

The Team headed by Kai Weinzheimer have been training consistently for the past three months with Hapki-Do Master, Vladimir Grachev at his Centurion Dojang, in Cambridge Park.

Back Row:    Pine Pienaar, Danie Pienaar, Eckard Weinzheimer, Graham Jones

Front Row:   Sydney de Wet,Shendl, Kai and Rayner Weinzheimer 

Instructor:     Master Vladimir Grachev - VI Degree Black Belt Taekwon-Do & Hapki-Do

                

Why Martial Arts?

I just love the versatility of Martial Arts and I am always amazed by the many different reasons why we are attracted to Martial Arts.   I don’t believe one reason is better than another.  It is what it is.  However, I do believe that many students are not clear about what they want from their martial arts training and even worse may not have communicated this clearly to their Instructor.  I think it’s a vital first step in one’s martial arts journey.

Why Martial Arts …

Self-Defense:  These students aren’t necessarily focusing on the negative or being paranoid, they simply feel the need for this basic skill. A Parent will enroll their child to equip them with dealing with bullies at school.  Or might see signs of “the bully” appearing in their child’s behavior and wish to have this energy channeled in a healthy way.

Fitness:  Many students are bored to tears by gym workouts and enjoy the variety and fun of a Martial Arts Fitness class.  They like becoming, stronger, leaner, toned and fitter than ever before.  Their flexibility increases and as an added bonus they have learnt self-defense. 

Grading:  These students are fascinated by the journey to Black Belt and beyond. They love the idea of having a clear long-term goal which is broken down into manageable smaller goals (each belt level).  They enjoy learning about Martial Arts, its origins and language and enjoy the challenge of the different levels of physical fitness, techniques; mental, emotional and physical breakthroughs that each belt level brings.  Parents see this as an opportunity to teach their children how to set and reach goals, and to develop character traits such as Respect, Integrity, Confidence, Focus, Discipline and the ability to stick to ones commitments.

Competitive Martial Arts:   Some enjoy the idea of Demonstrating their skill in either forms/patterns and/or contact sparring.  They are fascinated by the application of their art in real-life scenario’s and testing their skill and technique against another equally matched opponent.  They enjoy the rigorous training, the travel and the ability to present their Dojang at local events and re-presenting their art and country at international events.

Martial Arts as a Way of Life: Then there are those that realize that there are also deeper aspects of Martial such as its ideals, principles and philosophy. One such example would be the tenants of a Taekwon-Do … Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control and Indomitable Spirit. They see Martial Arts in its entirety – Body, Mind & Spirit. They love the idea of a strong, fast, fit and flexible body. A strong, clear, focused mind. To think clearly and make rapid decisions. A strong, balanced and principled character which in turn allows them to build a successful and happy life.

I’d love to hear your comments – “Why do you do Martial Arts?”