YOUNG martial artists from Brynmawr and Abergavenny are celebrating after bringing home 50 medals from a major European tournament in Cardiff.
Heads of the Valleys Tang Soo Do competed at the 2026 Traditional Tang Soo Do Federation European Championships, held at the National Indoor Athletics Centre on Saturday (May 9).
The club entered a team of 30 competitors, ranging from four-year-old beginners to experienced black belts, and returned with 13 gold, 20 silver and 17 bronze medals.
The team was led by instructors Angus Rogers, Garen Kong and Geanne Delos Reyes.
The result is the strongest competitive performance in the club’s history.
Head instructor Angus Rogers said: “The medals are a fantastic bonus, but what I’m most proud of is the work the students put in leading up to the event and the courage they showed in stepping forward to represent the club.
“Throughout the day, many masters from other organisations commented on how respectful our students were, as well as their skill, control and attitude.”
The championships brought together martial artists from across Europe, the USA and Canada.
Mr Rogers said the experience had helped students build confidence, gain valuable competition experience and form new friendships.
He added: “We never judge students purely on medals. Some clubs reward or punish based on results, but I believe the real achievement is the hard work, courage and spirit students show leading up to the event. The medals are just the garnish.”
One of the team photographs taken after the event shows students proudly holding doughnuts – a club tradition which began after its first competition following the opening of the Brynmawr Dojang.
After that unexpectedly successful day, Mr Rogers bought doughnuts for the team on the journey home, and the tradition has continued ever since.
Heads of the Valleys Tang Soo Do offers classes six days a week at its Brynmawr headquarters, Unit 4, Noble Square Industrial Estate, and at Abergavenny Family TSD, based at Our Lady and St Michael’s Primary School.
Photo credit: Michael Lloyd Williams Photography.
