Gethin is on top of the world

Gethin Hughes and Pete Williams
A university student won a bronze medal at the tae kwon do world championships.

Gethin Ceidiog Hughes, 18, from Denbigh, fought his way to the semi-final at the tournament held at the Telford International Arena.
His instructor, Pete Williams, said Gethin’s achievement was all the more remarkable because a knee injury meant he’d lost a lot of training leading up to the event.
A former pupil of Ysgol Glan Clwyd, in St Asaph, Gethin is now studying Product Design at UWIC in Cardiff.
He took up tae kwon do, a martial art which originated in Korea, four years ago and attends Pete’s classes at St Asaph Leisure Centre.
Last year Gethin won a gold medal at the Welsh Closed Championships in Cardiff  and a bronze medal at the British Championships in Hereford.
But the world championships in Telford were a major step up with 2,000 competitors from around the world, from as far afield as America and Australia.
Pete’s son, Terry, who also won a world bronze a few years ago, sparred with Gethin in the weeks leading up to the event where he was competing in the lightweight men’s division for red belts.
He said: “It was a really tough tournament and I was thrilled to have won a bronze medal in the world championships.
“I really do have to pay tribute to Pete because he is an absolutely brilliant instructor and the sparring sessions with Terry were a huge help.”
Pete, from Mynydd Isa, near Mold, is a 4th Dan black belt. He is a fully qualified instructor accredited by the Taekwondo Association of Great Britain and has been teaching taekwondo in St Asaph for 10 years.
He said: “I’m here in St Asaph to try and help kids to become better, to look after themselves and to give them the confidence and the belief in themselves,
“It helps give them confidence in life and teaches them discipline and self-control. It gives you respect for other people.
“In the weeks leading up to the world championships, Terry gave Gethin extra sparring training on Saturday mornings.
“Gethin has shown that he’s got the commitment and the ability.
“Unfortunately, he got an injury before hand. If he’d been able to train fully, I quite believe he could have quite easily won the world championships.
“I am absolutely delighted because this is a huge accolade for such a small club.
“The competitors came from every corner of the world and for Gethin to come third  in the world is fantastic. It’s a brilliant achievement.”
The tae kwon do classes are held at St Asaph Leisure Centre every Wednesday and Friday evening between 7pm and 8pm with classes for younger children on Saturday mornings between 10am and 11am. The first taster lesson is free.

A university student won a bronze medal at the tae kwon do world championships.

Gethin Ceidiog Hughes, 18, from Denbigh, fought his way to the semi-final at the tournament held at the Telford International Arena.
His instructor, Pete Williams, said Gethin’s achievement was all the more remarkable because a knee injury meant he’d lost a lot of training leading up to the event.
A former pupil of Ysgol Glan Clwyd, in St Asaph, Gethin is now studying Product Design at UWIC in Cardiff.
He took up tae kwon do, a martial art which originated in Korea, four years ago and attends Pete’s classes at St Asaph Leisure Centre.
Last year Gethin won a gold medal at the Welsh Closed Championships in Cardiff  and a bronze medal at the British Championships in Hereford.
But the world championships in Telford were a major step up with 2,000 competitors from around the world, from as far afield as America and Australia.
Pete’s son, Terry, who also won a world bronze a few years ago, sparred with Gethin in the weeks leading up to the event where he was competing in the lightweight men’s division for red belts.
He said: “It was a really tough tournament and I was thrilled to have won a bronze medal in the world championships.
“I really do have to pay tribute to Pete because he is an absolutely brilliant instructor and the sparring sessions with Terry were a huge help.”
Pete, from Mynydd Isa, near Mold, is a 4th Dan black belt. He is a fully qualified instructor accredited by the Taekwondo Association of Great Britain and has been teaching taekwondo in St Asaph for 10 years.
He said: “I’m here in St Asaph to try and help kids to become better, to look after themselves and to give them the confidence and the belief in themselves,
“It helps give them confidence in life and teaches them discipline and self-control. It gives you respect for other people.
“In the weeks leading up to the world championships, Terry gave Gethin extra sparring training on Saturday mornings.
“Gethin has shown that he’s got the commitment and the ability.
“Unfortunately, he got an injury before hand. If he’d been able to train fully, I quite believe he could have quite easily won the world championships.
“I am absolutely delighted because this is a huge accolade for such a small club.
“The competitors came from every corner of the world and for Gethin to come third  in the world is fantastic. It’s a brilliant achievement.”
The tae kwon do classes are held at St Asaph Leisure Centre every Wednesday and Friday evening between 7pm and 8pm with classes for younger children on Saturday mornings between 10am and 11am. The first taster lesson is free.

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