Leicester Forest East School of Tae Kwon Do - Instructor Sheryl Potts

Based at Holmfield School, Holmfield Avenue West (off A47 Hinckley Road), Leicester Forest East, Sheryl Potts' Tae Kwon-Do club is offering local people the chance to keep fit, have fun and learn an effective form of self defence all at the same time.

Sheryl Potts is a 3rd degree black belt and England International, who highlights the social benefits of Tae Kwon-Do as much as the sporting ones:

"The training and patterns used in Tae Kwon-Do are very good for improving fitness, stamina, co-ordination and confidence, but is also a lot of fun and an activity which is enjoyed by all ages, shapes and sizes.Many children begin studying when they are only five or six years old, while there are plenty of pensioners - including black belts in their mid 70s - who still participate to help maintain fitness and flexibility."

Sheryl has represented England on numerous occasions and won many trophies in competitions all over the world in the full contact combat form of the sport. But participants can choose to study the sport without engaging in physical contact:
"The training patterns used in Tae Kwon-Do are both physical and artistic, and some students choose to concentrate on them, as well as the history and Korean culture which is learnt alongside the physical activities. You do not have to be big and strong to enjoy the sport".

The structured nature of the sport's tuition - which is based around a series of ten gradings leading up to black belt - has also been found to help children with special educational needs:

"Learning and performing the patterns, which are sets of defensive and attacking moves performed against imaginary opponents - poses a mental as well as a physical challenge, and helps both co-ordination and self-confidence. It is a sport anyone can try and - with the right mix of dedication and practice - enjoy and excel in. It is also a highly effective form of self defence, which is another reason that many people get involved".