A 19 year old martial arts student is the new World Champion in Hand Destruction. Izzy Jones, who trains with Monmouth, Usk and Abergavenny Tae Kwon-Do, won the title at the 14th Tae Kwon-Do International World Championships in Scotland.

More than 1,700 competitors from 20 plus countries took part with fellow club member, 11 year old Georgia McCarthy from Abergavenny taking the Silver medal in team sparring.

Izzy had taken a four year break from Tae Kwon-do before returning to train with World Master Anthony Farr at Monmouth Leisure Centre in June, 2024. As a 12 year old, she’d won two junior power titles, now an adult she had to break boards with her bare hand to win the World Championships.

“I wasn’t sure I’d ever come back to Tae Kwon-Do, so to return and a year later to become a World Champion is a great feeling. I am now so glad that I did it and it’s fantastic to know that I am the World Champion.” said Izzy, who lives in Blakeney in the Forest of Dean.

Georgia McCarthy only started training in January, 2024. Her mum suggested Tae Kwon-Do after Georgia badly broke her arm and needed to find a sport to help strengthen it. Since then Georgia has won Gold and Bronze medals for individual and team sparring in the English and Welsh Championships before taking Silver at the World.

“I entered because I wanted more competition experience and thought it would be amazing to compete against people from around the world. I was disappointed at first to miss out on the Gold. However, I then realised I’d won Silver and was so happy and proud, particularly when I looked up at my family and saw them cheering me on.”

Master Farr’s son, 19 year old Niall, also competed as a member of the Welsh Squad’s sparring team and 9 year old Evan Evans from Cross Ash entered individual and team sparring, as he too wanted more competition experience.

Master Farr said: “I am very proud of all students who took part in the World Championships in Glasgow, especially Izzy. She has worked extremely hard over the past 12 months, developing her techniques and to win the World Championships is a major achievement.”

To find out more about Tae Kwon-Do, contact Master Farr on 07966 222647.