Holborn Tigers martial artists with their instructor, Master Rienzi Trento

A TEAM of dedicated young martial artists are getting ready to hit the summer as they prepare for a well-earned break from their fun, albeit vigorous, training schedule.

Medals and certificates will be handed out tomorrow evening (Friday) when youngsters from Holborn Tigers gather at the Holborn House Community Centre in Emerald Street to take part in their final Taekwondo session before being sent off to “recharge their batteries”.

Master Rienzi Trento has warned his skilful squad not to let their guard down too much, however, as he continues to work on a busy new programme jam-packed with competitions and gradings.

The 6th-dan black belt also runs weekly classes at the Tenants’ and Residents’ Halls in Ossulston Street, Somers Town, and the Bourne Estate in Holborn, as well as nearby Christopher Hatton Primary School.

Reflecting on just how popular his Taekwondo club has become since it opened in 2017, Master Rienzi said: “I’ve been teaching for more than 30 years, but when I first started running my own sessions about seven years ago I only had three or four kids training once, maybe twice a week. Now I’ve got more than 50 kids, some of whom are training at multiple locations three, four, even five times a week.”

Explaining the changes that come with such growth, Master Rienzi, who lives in Somers Town, added: “At the beginning it was about creating a fun environment for a handful of kids to enjoy discovering Taekwondo, but now we’ve reached the stage where we have a wide range of abilities within the club.

“For those who want to compete it’s really important that we give them the opportunities to do so. Going to other clubs and competing in a new environment, against martial artists who have been coached differently, is a really important step in a young martial artist’s development.

Lilli Babak is already looking ahead to more competitions

“I want the kids to now go off, rest and recharge their batteries. But then I plan to call them back sooner than usual because they need to start training if they are going to be sharp for what will be a very busy autumn schedule.”

Members from the Holborn Tigers spend their time sharpening their skills in two key disciplines: the poomsae, otherwise known as patterns, in which a competitor is judged on their ability to perform a set sequence of movements that consist of various fundamental stances, blocks, punches and kicks; and kyorugi, the art of sparring, in which a challenger will be wearing protective gear, including a headguard and a chest protector.

Among those itching to get back on the mats and add to her already mighty medal haul is nine-year-old Lilli Babak. The talented red belt, who lives in Soho and attends Soho Parish School, couldn’t stop smiling as she revealed her favourite part of the sport.

“I think fighting at a competition is really, really fun,” said Lilli. “I really enjoy the challenge because I like to improve.

“I also like that I can use all my kicks and my combinations against a new opponent.

“Every time you go to a competition you get better because you learned from the last one. And in a competition you fight against others that you have never met before and this is exciting because you don’t know their skills or what kicks they will use.

“The belt colour should not impress you too much, but if there is a black belt, you know it will be more difficult.”

Among the supporters watching training at Holborn House was deputy mayor of Camden, Councillor Samata Khatoon.

She said: “I was proud to watch the Taekwondo session. I believe the training will help children to boost their self-esteem, have better self-discipline, keep them active and help them learn how to respect one another.

“I was absolutely delighted to see children from our neighbouring boroughs such as Islington and Westminster joining the class. The parents being involved and dedicated also shows a great potential for a child progressing in Taekwondo.

“Rienzi has been running the classes for many years. He started in Somers Town and now he has expanded the training in different parts of the borough. He is doing amazing work helping our children to learn new skills and how to work with each other.”