3:13pm Wednesday 6th March 2013
ONE martial arts crazy Andover family are celebrating a remarkable achievement.
Following two and a half hours of gruelling work, and many years of intensive training, the Bonthuys men enjoyed an historic day for their family and their professional Andover Academy.
Master David Bonthuys passed his Tae Kwon Do grading exam to become a 7th Dan black belt “Head Master”. Eldest son Jason has become 5th Dan, earning the title of “UK black belt schools master”, and his youngest son Benjamin is now a 4th Dan black belt, earning the title of “Expert”. Exceptional All three instruct at Hampshire’s largest Martial Arts academy, based at Martial Art World on Portway Business Park where at Master Bonthuys’ Dan level, black belts only grade when invited. Oxford-based black belt examiner, Senior Master Ted Hopwood (8th Dan) stated that the standard was exceptional. In his early days Master Hopwood trained as part of his demonstration squad under Korean Grand-Master Rhee Ki Ha who is hailed as the father of British Tae Kwon Do for bringing it to England in 1967. Master Jason Bonthuys has been training for 24 years and at ten he was the youngest black belt in the country. He said: “Today marks the first time ever grading simultaneously with my father David and my brother Ben. “A historic day for myself and my family”
Ben Bonthuys is proud of what the family has achieved together. “With much hard work and effort, it was worth it,” he enthused. “We have all been training six days per week for the last eight months.”
Master Bonthuys, a secondary school governor, has been training and teaching martial arts for more than 30 years.
He believes in leading by example and says “it takes the hammer of persistence to drive the nail of success.”
Contact Martial Art World on 01264 333 007 or www.facebook.com/MartialArtWorld.
© Copyright 2001-2013 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.andoveradvertiser.co.uk
http://www.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/trade_directory/