TWO members of a Crediton Taekwon-Do group have achieved higher black belt gradings in a national grading held at Swindon in front of the Association's top Masters and Senior Grades.

Siâni Clark achieved her Second Degree Black Belt and Simon John achieved First Degree. Both live in Crediton and train with Dave Powlesland under PUMA (Professional Unification of Martial Arts) at Lords Meadow Leisure Centre.

Siâni has been training with Dave for 10 years. She went to a "taster" session and joined because it was a way to keep fit, was different and, she said, it gives her more confidence.

She helps Dave with teaching - giving something back to taekwon do. "We all begin the same journey," she said,

Simon has been training with Dave for four years, starting because his children were learning and it was something he had always wanted to find out more about. "This was my chance," he commented.

Sue Read