Chepstow Taekwon-do

We are doing a demo today at St Briavels Carnival.

You can come catch us doing our thing from 3:30pm.

Come and say Hello, pick up a flyer and learn more about Chepstow Taekwon-do!

I've been trying to decide whether to put fingers to keyboard today.

Today would have been Mr Evans' 50th birthday.

Read that again.

50.

It's a day of reflection, remembrance, and gratitude for all of us in P.U.M.A.

Mr Evans was quite simply one of the fittest, toughest, and most dedicated people I have ever had the privilege to know.

So many of us—particularly those from Chepstow Taekwon-do, our adult students, and those fortunate enough to attend Summer Camps—carry memories of Mr Evans with us.

Whether he was teaching on camp, delivering one of his incredible movement-based P.U.M.A. Day seminars, or simply sharing his passion for Taekwon-Do, he left a lasting impression on everyone he met.

Two years on, I still find it difficult walking into competitions and not hearing that familiar greeting:

*"Morning Tom, how are you?"*

Mr Evans would already be busy, moving from ring to ring, checking the countless rosters he had organised to ensure the day ran smoothly.

No matter how much he had going on, he always made time for people.

He always made time for me.

I genuinely treasured every conversation we had.

As an instructor and school owner, I am fortunate enough to be invited into the room when Black Belt gradings take place, even when the students aren't my own. When Mr Evans graded for his VI Degree, I knew I wanted to be there. I knew I would witness something inspiring.

And I did.

The last time I ever saw Mr Evans, he was smiling. Performing one-step sparring. Giving everything. Demonstrating the skill, athleticism, and joy that defined him. If memory serves, it involved him leaping into the air and delivering an elbow strike on the way down—something only Mr Evans could make look completely natural.

What an honour it was to witness that moment.

A moment of happiness.

A moment of mastery.

A moment from a man who loved Taekwon-Do and loved P.U.M.A.

Tragically, Mr Evans fell ill that evening and never recovered.

Today, on what would have been his 50th birthday, our thoughts are with his wife, his children, his family, friends, colleagues, students, and everyone whose life was touched by him.

We remember his school, his students, his wider contribution to P.U.M.A., and the countless people he inspired through his teaching, leadership, and example.

Some people leave behind memories.

Others leave behind a legacy.

Mr Evans left both.

Our lives are richer for having known him, and poorer for having lost him.

He is missed beyond words, remembered with enormous affection, and will forever remain part of the fabric of P.U.M.A.

Happy 50th Birthday, Mr Evans.

You are remembered. You are missed. And you will never be forgotten.

🥋 GOOD LUCK TEAM CHEPSTOW! 🥋

It's a busy weekend at Chepstow Taekwon-do! With not one, but two competitions happening over the weekend.

Best of luck to Oliver Hughes representing Chepstow Taekwon-Do and P.U.M.A. at the ITF Open Welsh on Saturday! 👊

And good luck to all our Chepstow Taekwon-Do students competing at the P.U.M.A. English Open on Sunday! 💥

Enjoy every moment.

We're proud of you all! 🔥

Over the last few weeks, Chepstow Taekwon-Do has been seeking support and engagement from our elected representatives regarding an issue that affects many of our students: the exclusion of martial arts as a recognised GCSE PE option in English secondary schools.

Our students train week in, week out, demonstrating commitment, discipline, fitness, resilience and sporting achievement. Yet unlike many other sports, their hard work cannot currently be recognised through GCSE PE, whilst their training partners attending Welsh Secondary Schools a mile over the border, can.

We invited our local English MP, Matt Bishop, and Tidenham County Councillor, Nick Evans for Tidenham ward, to visit the club, meet our students and hear directly from the young people affected by this policy.

Unfortunately, despite invitations and correspondence from our instructor and families, we have yet to receive a response.

By contrast, we would like to publicly thank Sedbury County Councillor Chris McFarling for accepting our invitation.

Cllr McFarling will be taking the time to attend a training session at Chepstow Taekwon-do on Thursday and will speak with our students and their families and listen to their experiences and concerns.

Regardless of political views, this is exactly the kind of engagement local communities should expect from their elected representatives.

Young people are often told that their voices matter and that they should engage with the democratic process.

But if we want the next generation to believe that, we have to show them that elected representatives are willing to listen when issues directly affecting them are raised.

Taking the time to meet young people, hear their experiences and discuss the challenges they face today is one of the most powerful ways to build trust, encourage future civic engagement and demonstrate that their views genuinely matter.

Our students deserve to have their voices heard.

We therefore renew our invitation to Matt Bishop MP and Nick Evans to visit Chepstow Taekwon-Do, meet the young people they represent and listen to why this issue matters so much to them.

The door is open. We hope they choose to walk through it.

Two students.
Same Taekwon-do School.
Same instructor.
Same years of training.
Same commitment, discipline, and hard work.

But one of them can use Taekwon-do for their GCSE PE qualification… and the other cannot.

Why?

Because one goes to school in Wales, and the other goes to school in England.

Here in Chepstow, that difference can literally be a few miles across the border.

At Chepstow Taekwon-do, our students train together every week. They support each other, grow together, and achieve together. We watch shy children become confident young leaders. We see students develop resilience, self-belief, respect, fitness, and mental strength through martial arts.

To them, there is no divide.

But the current system tells English students that their years of dedication in Taekwon-do somehow “count less” than their Welsh training partners.

For many young people and parents in our club, that feels deeply unfair.

Taekwon-do is more than just a sport. For some children, it becomes a second family. A safe place. A source of confidence. A reason to believe in themselves.

That is why we have invited Matt Bishop MP to visit Chepstow Taekwon-do to meet the students and families affected by this inequality first hand. (We still haven't received a response by the way!)

Because policies on paper are one thing. Looking young people in the eye and explaining why they are treated differently for doing the exact same activity is another.

We hope this conversation can help bring awareness to an issue affecting border communities like ours — and, ultimately, lead to fairer recognition for all students, regardless of which side of the border they attend school.

Big congratulations to our Little P.U.M.A.s of the Month. These two have been awesome at class and are doing a great job displaying the values of Little P.U.M.A.s in and outside of their classes.

Keep smashing it. 👊🥋

🥋🖤 A truly unforgettable moment for Chepstow Taekwon-do 🖤🥋

Today we celebrate not just two new 1st Degree Black Belts, but an incredible mother and daughter achievement that has inspired everyone around them.

Huge congratulations to Miss Sophie Bullas and Miss Xylia Stevens on achieving their 1st Degree Black Belts. after sharing the grading floor together last weekend! 👏🔥

To stand side by side, supporting each other through every challenge, every grading, every tough training session, and every moment of self-doubt makes this accomplishment even more special. Your journey has shown the true meaning of dedication, perseverance, family, and indomitable spirit.

Watching you both grow together through Taekwon-do has been an absolute privilege, and the pride felt by everyone at Chepstow Taekwon-do today is hard to put into words.

This is more than a belt — it’s years of commitment, resilience, encouragement, and love wrapped into one incredible achievement.

Sophie and Xylia, you should both be immensely proud of yourselves. Your black belt journey starts here, and we cannot wait to see where it takes you next. 🖤🥋

We’re proud to announce that Chepstow Taekwon-do has been awarded the Disability Sport Wales Insport Ribbon (Chwaraeon Anabledd Cymru Insport Rhuban)! 🥋

A huge thank you to Ben Davies-Thompson, Regional Partnership Senior Officer for Gwent, for visiting our school to present the award and for working with our Head Instructor, Mr Tom Baxter, to get us started on our Insport journey. We are looking forward to the continued development of our relationship with Ben in the future.

The Insport Club programme supports clubs across Wales to create inclusive opportunities for disabled people to take part in sport. This recognition reflects our commitment to making Taekwon-do accessible, welcoming, and inclusive for everyone in our community.

This is the first step on our Insport journey, and we look forward to continuing to grow and develop inclusive opportunities within our School.

Tomorrow is a very special day for two incredible members of Chepstow Taekwon-do — Miss Bullas and Miss S — as this inspiring mother and daughter team step forward to grade for their 1st Degree Black Belts. 🥋🖤

Their journey to this moment has been built on years of hard work, dedication, perseverance, and unwavering commitment. Through every challenge, every tough session, and every setback, they have continued to push forward with determination, humility, and heart.

But what makes this achievement even more special is the example they set for everyone around them. Thank you both for always showing up — not just for yourselves, but for your club and your fellow students. Your support, encouragement, and positivity never go unnoticed. You are role models in every sense of the word and true inspirations both inside and outside of Taekwon-do.

Watching the two of you grow together on this journey has been something truly special, and we could not be prouder of everything you have achieved already.

Tomorrow is about more than a black belt — it is a celebration of your character, commitment, and the incredible example you set for others every single week.

Your Chepstow Taekwon-do family is behind you all the way. Good luck Miss Bullas and Miss S — go and show everyone exactly what you’re capable of. 👊🔥

Exams can be stressful — but that doesn’t mean your training has to stop. 🥋📚

Martial arts isn’t just about fitness or technique. It helps build:
✅ Focus
✅ Discipline
✅ Confidence
✅ Resilience
✅ Better mental wellbeing

Keeping up with training during exam season can actually help you perform better by reducing stress, improving concentration, and maintaining a healthy routine.

Even one or two sessions a week can make a huge difference. Consistency matters more than perfection.

Train smart. Study smart. Keep moving forward. 👊