UK Enterprise 2017

WORLDWIDE BUSINESS REVIEW / UK Enterprise Awards 2017 15 , Community Tang Soo Do Association is amartial arts centre based in Birminghamwhich provides classes for students of all ages. We invited Simon Preston to share the secrets behind the club’s success so far. Karate Club of the Year 2017 - Birmingham has done for me. Developing an understanding of the balance of life through the study of the ‘hard style’ and the ‘soft style’ allows us to find the ‘middle way’ where we can progress through life in the most efficient way.” Looking ahead, Simon is excited for the future of the association as he outlines how it will continue to grow and thrive in order to support its students and aid them on their journey. “As an Association we are currently fundraising to raise money for jigsaw mats to donate to the hall we are renting. Greaves Hall have the same mindset in terms of community development and enrichment and we wish to help them to grow their own brand. By having jigsaw mats will hopefully encourage other arts and perhaps even dance schools to want to use the hall and therefore raise them even more funding for the excellent work they do. “Ultimately, Tang Soo Do is an evolutionary art and in order to continue to evolve, each individual needs to be able to embark on their own personal journey through creativity whilst respecting the core principals of the Art itself. We also really enjoy working on charity and community events with other like-minded organisations of other Arts because we want to and we all can.” Contact: Simon Preston Contact Email: [email protected] Telephone: 07725740663 Web Address: www.communitymartialarts.co.uk Tang Soo Do is known for being an evolutionary, ‘living’ art that constantly grows as the years go by and constantly refines the techniques to find efficient training methods to lead towards a healthier body. The Community Tang Soo Do Association practices the traditional art of Tang Soo Do as taught by Grand Master Ah Po. The curriculum the association follows is outlined by the Tang Soo Do Martial Way Association and the organisation’s leaders regularly travel to visit Grand Master Ah Po to keep up to date with the modern practice of the art. Simon talks us through the association’s style in more detail and explains how it works to support each of its students in their journey. “There are many styles of Tang Soo Do in the UK, here at Community Tang Soo Do Association our style is a ‘middle way’ style, meaning a combination of both hard (external) and soft (internal) training approaches that enables us to be more efficient martial artists and human beings. “Developing character and improving the quality of life are our primary training goals. Unifying the mind, body, and spirit and focusing on honour, integrity, and rightness of action and fundamental elements of our Tang Soo Do training discipline.” Drawing on these principals the association is able to support a wide range of students of all ages and abilities, as Simon is eager to highlight. “The Community Tang Soo Do Association has the slogan ‘Stronger People, Stronger Future’ because we believe that to strengthen communities means to develop confidence and character in people in order to have the strength to reach their full potential in life. We have families training with us who wish to grow together and develop that loving bond between their family members. We have young children training with us who are learning about the basics in life such as good manners and a positive attitude to learning that will ultimately help them to succeed early in life. “Myself and the Assistant Instructors are all volunteers, we all have our own full time jobs and therefore view teaching Tang Soo Do as a pleasure and, in my case, a duty for all that the Art WUK17006