Sport
9 August, 2022
Breaking into the record books
AT JUST 10 years old, Dimbulah’s Christo Schutte entered the local taekwondo history books recently after he achieved his junior black belt at his latest grading, becoming Xtrheem Taekwondo’s 59th student to achieve a black belt.
Schutte has always had the goal of receiving his junior black belt since he started training at the Dimbulah Centre with his brothers two years ago, now through regular training and an unwavering self-belief, he has achieved his dream.
“Christo is an impressive young person, in just two and a half years of dedicated training, he has achieved the level of Xtrheem Taekwondo junior black belt,” Xtrheem Taekwondo master instructor Phil Quayle said.
“The fact that someone as young as Christo can achieve junior black belt level in a relatively short amount of time is a testament to this young man’s exceptional focus and personal drive.”
On the night of his grading, Schutte performed a 1st Grade/ black tip Choong-Moo pattern comprising of 30 movements, several rounds of free sparing, three step and one step sparring and five board breaks demonstrating the effectiveness of his front kick, side kick, back kick, knife hand strike and running jumping flying side kick which was performed over three students.
Schutte enters the record books as the 59th student to achieve the level of Taekwondo black belt at the Dimbulah Training Centre under the guidance of instructor Quayle, Schutte is also the second youngest of the 38 junior students to have achieved a junior black belt.
New white belt student Indigo McKay also excelled on the night after just two months of dedicated training.
She demonstrated that she was ready for her first grading by performing a four directional punch on the right and left sides and breaking a single timber board with a knife hand strike.
McKay was promoted to 9th grade/yellow tip on the night by instructor Quayle who said he was impressed with her performance.
Xtrheem Taekwondo secretary and black belt instructor Gaye Taylor said while numbers may be down at the club, the quality has remained at a high standard.
“As black belt instructors, we have been training in martial arts for over three decades and we recognise the importance of community members coming together socially to train,” she said.
“Not only to learn essential self-defence but to maintain strong and healthy bodies and to also strengthen our minds, so we are prepared for whatever life throws at us.”
