Cardiff and Vale College student Matthew is a Welsh taekwondo champion

Cardiff and Vale College student Matthew Bennet has been crowned Welsh taekwondo champion.

The Foundation Degree in Graphic Design learner, who is 20 and from Barry, has competed all over the world in the Korean martial art, best known for its head-height kicks, jumping and spinning kicks.

“I was quite speechless to win,” Matthew said. “I’ve never held this title before and I have been competing for so many years – it feels like a great achievement and it’s one of the most valuable titles I hold at the moment.”

Matthew has been competing in taekwondo at national and international level for between 12 and 13 years and has held British, European and international titles.

“My mother got me into it,” Matthew said. “I was having a hard time growing up – I was always the individual and I did get picked on so I needed to be able to defend myself. It was a great confidence builder for me as a child; I would not be the person I am today without it.”

While wanting to continue professionally with taekwondo – he was worked as an instructor to young children for the last four years – Matthew decided to come to Cardiff and Vale College to widen his range of options.

“Art and Graphic Design is another side to me,” he explained. “I’ve always been a creative person – I’ve had work hard to get my marks but I see Graphic Design as another career path and one I would like to go down.

“This College course will definitely help with me that – I am getting the right guidance and support from the right tutors.”

CAVC Foundation Degree in Creative Industries Lecturer Billy Adams said: “We are all really proud of Matthew. The amount of work and commitment he puts in to both his studies and his taekwondo means that he will go far in both fields.”