Foreigners Instructor Course, Kukkiwon, Korea

Kukkiwon Course, we're on our way;
From many countries we're here to stay;
For one week of intensive training,
We all know it will be draining.

People from countries far away;
Nepal, Colombia, the USA.
All here for one thing; a martial art:-
Something so close to our heart.

We want to learn and improve our techniques;
So our poomse is not 'unique'.
We come to Korea to learn the Kukkiwon way;
And make sure bad habits are kept at bay!

Outside, all week, the rain is relentless;
Sitting in a classroom, we couldn't care-less
We're reciting terms like "momtong makki";
But really we want to practice dollyo chagi!

Lunch was served in plastic trays;
Bulgogi, rice, a banana today;
We dash from the class to the food block,
Then back again just after one o'clock.

Eventually we get on to the floor,
Desperately hoping the classroom's no more!
My legs feel heavy like a log;

Is it because of last night’s fried dog ;)!?!?

We start from the beginning; strange for some;
Il jang, ee jang, sam jang and so on...
Variations in stance and block;
Looks like we'll be here around the clock!

And for some the days are long;
After 18:30, the practice goes on.
Perseverance, self-control, indomitable spirit;
By the end of the week, we will get it!

We're in our doboks from dawn til dusk,
This is something you couldn't make up;
"Practice makes perfect" as we say;
So we keep on going the Kukkiwon way.

But it looks like the efforts do pay;
Five by five we were tested that day,
With happy faces and camera clicks;
We receive our certificates.

The test is over; practical and theory,
Time for lunch and maybe some beer-y :) ?
Goodbye instructor course number 23;
We had a good time, now that's all from me!

TASIS International Day Demonstration - Friday 8th October

This was a great day, lovely hot weather (a change from the very heavy rain last year!). Thanks to Tony for the music and of course all the students who showed off their moves, including patterns, breaking, sparring and some great kicks!

Korea 16th - 26th June

From my experience, one of the biggest goals for a student of Taekwondo to achieve is to train in Korea. And this is something, along with eating plenty of Bulgogi , shopping at the Kukkiwon and being challenged to drinking contests by senior masters that six of us from the Kingston University club did in June.

A few of us in the club had been talking about arranging a trip to Korea for some time, so when I received a few definite "yes" replies, I set to booking our flights. Our criteria for the trip was to experience Korea - and to do some training, so in our 10 days we had sessions which included training with the Sang Myeung university team, a private seminar from Grand Master Park, a visit to a club dojang (and being showed up by 6 year olds), being special guests at a Poomse Competition, spectators at the Seoul Regional Schools Championships held at the Kukkiwon, as well as being able to visit the tourist areas, a high-end department store, a water park and climb a mountain in Seoul!

We were fortunate to start our trip by visiting GM Park at the Chungdokwan International Headquarters, a stone's throw from the Kukkiwon and the being introduced to GM Uhm, President of Chungdokwan International and former President of the Kukkiwon. We all felt pretty special when we saw some of the photos of famous faces on the walls – and meet the man whose signature was on our Kukkiwon certificates!

Through GM Park, we were introduced to the Sang Myeung University Taekwondo team and allowed to train with them. The campus is at the top of a very steep hill and at one stage we weren't sure if our mini-van would manage the steep climb as it started rolling backwards!

The Sang Myeng team have recently won some major competitions in Korea and their summer training programme involves two 2-3 hour sessions a day, six days a week. It was an eye-opening experience. The students' movements were so smooth and accurate, and they have effortless flexibility and impossibly large calves. They were very respectful and made us welcome - even though I'm sure they felt that some of us were getting in the way!

We also spent 3 hours at a club dojang; something I was interested in seeing in terms of how the youngsters are 'bred'! The dojang was in a school with the Taekwondo classes running every day. Each of the different age groups had about an hour’s session, and we were told that each student was expected to master a technique before they would be taught a new one. As Korean summers are known for being hot and humid, most of the students were not wearing a dobok (the same was true at the University) and so it was made even more clear just how flexible and precise the students were in their movements. It was also funny to see very young students performing poomse such as Keumgang, but it made me wonder if, by the age of ten, you know all the poomse, your kicks are good enough to demonstrate a perfect side kick as high as your head, and you can spa, how much more is there to keep you interested and Taekwondo fresh?

All of us on the trip have been training for a reasonably long time and Taekwondo is a big part of all our lives so the visit meant a lot to everyone who went. When you achieve a goal, especially one that you have wanted to do for some time, it means a great deal. The trip gave everyone a chance to see what Seoul is about without being in a dojang all day and to also get a slight glimpse into what Taekwondo life is like in the country where Taekwondo originated. Even Master Lawrence; who had been to Korea three times before said he had not had such a variety of experiences in Korea before.

I would say that our trip was hugely successful and that we have all learnt something new from it. Our appetites were certainly whetted and I’m sure it won’t be our last trip to the birthplace of Taekwondo.

BTCB Nationals, 30th - 31st January, Manchester

The BTCB was a real test of our players' mettle, but they did it. Four entered and three returned as National Champions - Congratulations to all!

TASIS Demonstration

We took part in the TASIS International Day by giving the parents, teachers and children a sample of what we do in class. We only had two weeks to prepare, but to the 'Eye of the Tiger' music we gave the audience a Taekwondo taster. As the demo went on the rain got heavier and heavier, but that didn't stop our TASIS Tigers!

Warm up stretching, practicing middle-section punch and then a jumping front kick by Danny to break a board.

Why are they lying on the floor? Because Johnathan has jumped over them to side kick a board.

Zach demonstrating a spectacular breaking technique - and excellent photography from Daniel's family to catch the middle section of the board flying out of Master Lawrence's hands!

Summer Training Camp, Hungary 2009

This was the 3rd year that Master Lawrence took a team of LLTKD students to the Universum Taekwondo Summer Taekwondo Training Camp. As ever, the camp was enjoyed by all. This year, additional teams from Austria and Greece were in attendance as well as a large contingent of UK university students and Hungarians. The camp is an excellent opportunity for students of Taekwondo to have 7 days of training morning, noon and night and to practice with over 100 other students.

It's not all hard work though, Budapest is a very economical city to visit and benefits from the thermal bathes in the city. Something gladly welcomed in the 35 degrees heat!

Back row: Master Lawrence, Andrew, Master Patakfálvy, Master Támas, Master Suh.
Middle row: Mike, Lee, Sean, Grand, Michaela, James, Kerry, Lindsey.
Front row: Rob, Ed, Evans, Kavita, Op.

Grand Master Park Hae Man's Seminar

Grand Master Park visited the Chungdokwan GB association and while he was here delivered two seminars, with one at Kingston University.

Sean took some good pictures, managing to cature Raymond executing a nice front kick!

Kingston University Colours Sports Dinner and Awards

KUTKD did unexpectedly and exceptionally well at the 2009 Colours Awards Dinner held at Twickenham rugby club on 27th March. All 20+ club members who were at the ball were delighted to see the club receive recognition for all the hard work and effort that the students have put in. Let's see if we can repeat the success next year.

From left to right, back row: Evans, Mani, Kerry, Tyrone, Stavros, Tatevik, Master Lawrence, Lindsey, James, Raymond, Fiona's friend & Fiona, Rashid.
Front row: Tony, Michael and Koushk.

Kingston University Taekwondo came away with awards for:

• Club of the Year - for all the medals won from the competitions attended. We managed to beat off the traditional clubs such as rugby, football, netball and hockey to win!
  
• Coach of the Year - for Master Lawrence (and it's about time too!).
  
• Full Colours - Anthony Ofori - for all his hard work in building the club and his successes in competitions.
  
• Half Colours - Michael Nathan-Pepple & Koushk aka Ryan - for their help and support in running the club over the last year, and competition successes.

TCGB National Championships, Bracknell, March

Well done to all those who donned their doboks to compete in Bracknell at the TCGB National Championships. It was a long day, although at least the journey home wasn't as far as from Durham!

Team LLTKD improved considerably on last year's results and narrowly missed third place in the Kyorgi team competition having won 7 gold, 7 silver and 8 bronze medals. An excellent result, well done!

BSTF Student Championships, Durham, February

The Kingston University students really showed their mettle by travelling over night by bus to Durham before competing in the 2009 University championships in Durham. The event was well run and attended and the team did exceptionally well considering their lack of sleep. Well Done Kingston Tigers!

TCGB Corner Judging Course, January

12 members of LLTKD attended the Corner Judging course run by International Referee Mr Chris Codling and held at Kingston University. The course was useful to all attendees, from those interested in officiating to those keen on competing. The course provided uptodate information and clarification to the rules, which is useful to all participants particularly if you're interested in sparring - if you don't know the rules, you can't get round them!