Gantry 5

It's been an eventful few months on the International scene. With the World Championships well behind us, we've settled back into routine soundly and got on with things.  I'm currently working on a schedule for 2014 which contains a minimum of Four Gup Gradings and Two Dan Testings throughout.  This will be squared away over the next month or so to ensure a running start for 2014.  I'll also be putting forward plans to host our first Seminar with Grand Master Hwang or nominated Senior in his stead, providing we can get the support for it here.

Congratulations to the Hugely Successful Australian Team to the 2013 Unified World Championships held in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom this month.  Mr Sutherland, Mrs Vertessy, Mr Mott, Miss Bromley and of course myself returned from an inspiring performance as part of the most successful Team ever fielded at a World Championship!  Ever!

The Team including myself as the National Coach totaled 21 Competitors 6 dedicated support staff and officials and a further 5 supporters whom between us brought back a total of 68 medals including 9 Individual Gold, 3 Individual Silver and 12 Individual Bronze, a further 7 Team Gold, 3 Team Silver and a further 3 Team Bronze meant the haul of medals was Massive!  We flew back 6 New World Champions and two of us, myself and Sabum Andrea Smith from Townsville were crowned Male and Female Veteran Champion of Champions and now sport massive Trophies for the Title! 

Just quietly, I'm chuffed.  As chuffed as both a competitor and a coach could ever be.  As a competitor I've found myself floating home a Triple World Champion.  As a Coach, I had the honour of shepherding Australia's most Successful Team ever fielded at an ITF World Championship!  The most Glorious part of all is the friends and Taekwon-Do Family that came and shared it all with me, they too get their very own take-home experience that I believe we'll hold onto for a very long time to come.  For that, I thank you for sharing!  :D

Update: UITF Open Taekwon-Do Championships Official Photos and the Results are available online by selecting the Results tab along the top on This Site.

Sabum Scott Bower

Hot off the heels of the Grand Master Chang Keun Choi Seminar, the Selections redux will get underway in Townsville on the 16th of June, 2012.  We have already confirmed a small contingent so far with a handful of potential reps yet to commit.  Not that luck has any part in the outcome but... Good Luck all the same!  I myself will be entering just to ensure I secure a place on my team!... :D

Entry forms and lodgement details are available online here. More information has been uploaded, Competition Rules, Entry Fees and further sundry info are downloadable here.  Mr Pedashenko is currently co-ordinating the assault on the Selections effort so please liaise with him if you intend to compete.

Also, for those who were unable to attend the C. K Choi Seminar, we'll have photos up in the Gallery shortly! Feel free to head over and burn green with envy with your missed opportunity, Those who did attend had an Awesome weekend!  Thanks should also go to Mr Pedashenko who expertly and almost single-handedly hearded this handful of cats through said weekend allowing us to soak up the event in all it's glory - stress free.

 

Sabum Scott

After an Excellent Weekend, Round 2 proved the competition is Serious and not to be taken lightly. It was a well contested and hard fought Tournament and the Hosts (Sabum Gary King, Sabum Robert Graf and all the members of the Woy Woy club) put on an exemplary event for all to enjoy.  Master Moore whom attended the event was very impressed with the talent on display and quite proudly, we brought back many more medals than we had competitors with a large portion of them being Gold! 

Notable commendations need to go to Mr Steve Wood who surprised us all with his first ever competition collecting a Gold Medal in his Patterns division, ousting more experienced competitors (....okay, by only One or Two tournaments admittedly... :D ).  For Mr Wood to be judged and commended in a Technical discipline as he was in his first ever competition showing is a feat unto itself.  He maintained his composure throughout his division and to his credit represented collectively himself, his instructor and the Canberra Team with great distinction.  Will Rooks, Mel Olin, Raina Singh, Nick Campbell all likewise were first time competitors and all were able to medal in their various divisions, namely patterns.  Mel went a further step by taking up Arms (so to speak) and entering Sparring where she was able to pull off an upset to almost reign supreme in her division of sparring winning her first Silver in the process.  Will Rooks also came first time competitor and blitzed his division on his way to Gold in Special Technique and has now been registered as a World Championship Representative possibility - Naturally we'll keep you posted.

Mr John Sutherland spent the entire day of competition officiating in his Umpire's Suit and with luck (providing his knee doesn't allow his leg to fall off), he may even make his next competition appearance as a Center Referee! As much as it isn't seen to be as prestigeous as bringing home medals, His efforts were integral to everyone competing and for that, we thank him immensely.

A Big Thank You must also go to the Team that organised and coordinated much of the weekend, Sabum Joe Muyot, Mr Guy Pedashenko and Especially Mrs Deb Vertessey for among other things, the Accommodation Arrangements!

Taekwon!

Sabum Scott Bower

Selections for the Australian Team to represent at the Grand World Taekwon-Do Championships in Florida, USA in 2012 have been marked in our Calendars and the TKD Storm Event in Sydney on October 16th will mark the beginning of this opportunity for all New South Welsh and Australian Capital Territory Applicants.  TKD Storm Tournament will be the First Round of Four qualifying Championships and will be weighted 10% of the overall measurement towards the final qualifying Championships held in Maroochydore, likely in conjunction with Grandmaster Chang Keun (C. K.) Choi's Seminar (For an Incredible insight into this genuinely historical and knowledgeable Pioneer, see This Article courtesy of Totally Taekwon-Do)

All members wishing to be considered for the Australian Representative Team must be registered.  Online application for Representative Consideration can be made Here and paper forms will be available from your Instructor if you are unable to complete the online selections registration webform.

 

Yours in Taekwon-Do,

Sabum Scott Bower