Karate: International United Combat Tang Soo Do/Haedong Kumbo Association-New school benefits from grandmaster’s visit |22 May 2006

Grandmaster Jacobsen of South Africa was here recently on a six-day working trip, of which the highlights were the official launching of the local United Combat Tang Soo Do/Haedong Kumbo school and two grading sessions.

According to the local school’s head David Esparon, “the occasion of the grandmaster’s visit is the perfect time to officially make known the existence of the school here”.

The United Combat Tang Soo Do Haedong Kumbo Association of Seychelles has been in existence for nine months and the grading sessions conducted by grandmaster Jacobsen last Thursday and Friday were the first to be organised by the school since it became affiliated to its parent body.

The grading sessions took place at the Katiolo nightclub, Anse Faure. Younger karatekas were graded Thursday May 18 and the seniors the next day.

The six senior karatekas who have received new grades are David Esparon (black belt second dan), Rodney Amade (black belt second dan), André Lucas (black belt second dan), Andy Allisop (black belt second dan), Randy Monthy (black belt second dan) and Nady Banane (black belt first dan).

Speaking to Sport Nation, grandmaster Jacobsen expressed his satisfaction following the grading sessions and revealed that Esparon and Amade are to be given the opportunity to train in South Africa to prepare for their black belt third dan grading.

Grandmaster Jacobsen added that he conducted five-hour training sessions daily. The sessions were aimed at showing local karatekas how to perfect the combat system of Tang Soo Do in which students have to handle weapons, apply techniques in real life situations, perform practical application of techniques and the use of pressure points which include knockouts using two fingers.

According to grandmaster Jacobsen, the difference between them (International United Combat Tang Soo Do/Haedong Kumbo Association of Seychelles) and other Tang Soo Do schools is that “we perform the art in its traditional combat form.”

Grandmaster Jacobsen is a seven-dan holder in both Tang Soo Do and Haedong Kumbo. He is also a six-dan Kido and a five-dan Hapkido.

He was accompanied here by his son Godfrey Jacobsen, who is himself a fourth dan black belt Tang Soo Do Haedong Kumbo master. Jacobsen junior was world champion in the master’s division of the International Goodwill Tang Soo Do Association World championship last year. The Jacobsens left the country last Saturday.

G. J.