The world is becoming a very unsafe place to live in. Especially, women have to be on their toes at all times. When faced with a situation to defend yourself, do not expect a super hero to come to your rescue. Instead, learn to protect yourself. Self defense is the best form of defense and it is very essential for women. It does not mean that you must have a formal training in martial arts, like judo, karate, or taekwondo, although it is always good to learn any one of them. But, you should have an idea about defending yourself when being attacked.
Till the time you get trained in one of the martial art forms, there are self-defense products that will come to your rescue when you have to fend for your safety. The category includes stun guns, pepper sprays, personal alarms, and much more and is a non-violent method of defending yourself. Use them judiciously to ward off an attack, mugging, rape, or any other form of assault. To make the correct choice of self-defense products to suit your requirements, read on to know more about them.
Self-defense pepper spray is one of the most effective tools available in the market. It is an inflammatory agent made from very hot peppers and is available in the form of liquid stream, mist, foam, gel, or powdered grains. A shot from the personal defense spray immediately causes a sharp shooting pain. The veins in the eyes and the mucous membranes swell. The person can’t open his eyes and will find it extremely difficult to breathe. The effects are only temporary and last for about 45 minutes, a valuable time for you to escape. The self-defense pepper spray is available as key chains, holsters, pens, and cans that can be easily carried in a purse or pocket.
Self-defense stun gun is another easy-to-use and valuable product, which is more useful in close encounters. It is an electrical self-defense weapon that emits a high voltage and whichever muscle group it is applied to, is depleted of energy due to rapid expanding and contracting. This tool is completely safe for you to hold. While your attacker is left dealing with the shocking repercussions you can easily run for help.
Avis MBS
Self Defense Is the Best Defense
The Wrestler
The all-time list of great sports movies is not that long. “Rocky”, “Field of Dreams”, “Hoosiers”, “Raging Bull”, and “Bull Durham” stand out. Add “The Wrestler” to that short list.
Released early this year, the film realistically depicts an aging professional wrestler who should get out of the business for health reasons but does not because he lives for his fans, it's the only life he knows and he needs the money.
Professional wrestling is not true sport because the matches are fixed, but wrestlers are strong, agile athletes. The movie shows backstage camaraderie among the fighters that belies the brutal animosity they display in the ring. If you don't like to see blood, then you may not want to watch this gritty cinema masterpiece.
Mickey Rourke plays Randy “the Ram” Robinson, a star in the 1980s who didn't save enough money to retire and struggles financially. He gets by working small wrestling shows and part-time in a grocery store while living in a rundown trailer park.
During his heyday, he was hugely successful but now he is in his 50s and fading. Thanks to steroids and tanning salons he remains a great physical specimen, but the years of physical abuse have taken their toll on his heart and back. He also struggles emotionally, trying to reconcile with the daughter he abandoned and establishing a romantic relationship with a single 40-something stripper/mother.
Although the movie is about wrestling, the sport is only a vehicle to examine the human condition. As Dirty Harry said, “A man has to know his limitations.” As Jack Kerouac explained, “We have to move on to the later phases of our lives.” The Ram did neither.
While 50-some-year-old wrestlers and 40-some-year-old strippers are conceivable, 60-year-old wrestlers and 50-year-old strippers are, well, I don't want to imagine that.
“The Wrestler” is a modern day tragedy. The two main characters are both likable even though they do despicable things. They are deeply flawed, trapped in lifestyles and careers they chose for themselves decades earlier when their bodies were in their prime but now barely making it with their futures dim and dreams evaporating.
The movie is rated R for violence, sex, and drug use and is not suitable for young people.
I rented the DVD and watched it recently. With the movie still fresh in my mind, I now read that a former great football player is coming out of retirement, not to play football but mixed martial arts. Forty-seven-year-old Herschel Walker has signed with Strikeforce.
My first thought was, “Oh, no! He's too old!” He may be the best 47-year-old athlete in the world but he's still 47. MMA is real fighting, unlike professional wrestling. However, UFC superstar Randy Couture is 46 and look at him.
My second thought was, “Go for it, Herschel!” You only live once and want to accomplish as much as you can. See Brett Favre. Or Jason Tarkong.
Walker has a brown belt in taekwondo so is not completely unfamiliar with fighting. But the ending to “The Wrestler” is not pretty. I wonder if Herschel saw the movie. If he did, perhaps he would reconsider.
http://www.saipantribune.com/
Taekwondo to get rankings at last
After years of wrangling the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) has decided to implement a ranking system early next year. The intention is to make competitions and events more exciting to the public and the media, and will hopefully open up a range of marketing opportunities for athletes and the sport as a whole.
Along with the introduction of the ranking system, the WTF intends to launch a brand new annual competition to be held at the end of each year for the top 8 ranked athletes in each category, which will serve as a ‘champions championship’. The first of these competitions, provisionally called the Annual President Cup Invitational Tournament, will be held in December 2009.
At first glance the proposed ranking system seems cumbersome and complicated, but so far, a first glance is all we’ve got. According to the WTF, points will be awarded according to a formula: A (Points received according to the rank at the WTF-promoted or sanctioned championships) X B (Grade of pertinent tournaments) = final points.
The system will be applied to WTF promoted and sanctioned tournaments as follows: first placed athletes will receive 10 points, second place will receive 60% of 10 points i.e. 6 points and third place will receive 60% of 6 points i.e. 3.6 points. And then the fun starts. Points are valid for a two-year period and will be subject to a review every three months in a continuous process. During this two-year period, 25% of a particular set of awarded points will be deducted every three months, which means that when the two-year period is over no points from that set will exist.
Tournaments will be assigned an AAA, AA or A class ranking by a specially appointed Event Evaluation Committee according to the number of participants, technical level displayed and adherence to WTF rules and as such will only occur after the event.
It is hoped that the system will form the basis for a professional Taekwondo league, which will be of benefit to all Taekwondo participants; athletes as well as organisers.
Sandy Cosser
http://wtf.org/site/news/wtf.htm?realnum=237
Fire destroys Beaver Bank Kinsac Community Centre
A fire that broke out just before midnight Wednesday has gutted the Beaver Bank Kinsac Community Centre and its attached volunteer fire department.
The fire station side of the building suffered the least damage. Firefighters responding to the blaze were able to remove fire trucks and equipment from the fire department's side of the building. Click here for fire Photo Gallery and Click here for Video
No one was injured in the blaze, but smoke still billowing in the area in the wake of the devastating fire has led to the closure of the nearby Beaver Bank-Kinsac Elementary School for today.
The not-for-profit, multipurpose community centre opened its doors in 2004 with great fanfare. Since then, it has been a popular, well-used gathering place and a source of pride for people in the community.
In addition to the fire department and its bays, the centre housed the RCMP's community policing office, a computer-access site, and the Beaver Bank Children's Learning Centre day care.
Everything from community meetings to guitar lessons, taekwondo, a dart league and a summer day camp operated out of the centre. A kids ball hockey program was set to begin next week, and an Oktoberfest event was slated for Oct. 3.
The centre has also served as the focal point for the community's increasingly popular annual tree lighting ceremony.
The large two-storey facility included a full kitchen, large multipurpose room, board room, children's programming room, two adjoining lounges and a community lounge.
Investigators are still on scene and the cause of the blaze is not known at this time.
http://www.halifaxnewsnet.ca/
A Big Break For KidSport A big break for KidSport
Doug Large will have swelling for two or three days and bruises for a couple weeks. The owner of Chimo Taekwondo spent Wednesday afternoon breaking 1,000 boards in 30 minutes to raise money for KidSport, a program that provides $300 a child per year to families who
cannot afford to put them in a sport.
“We’ve had a fair number of kids come through our program sponsored by KidSport," said Mr.Large.
“So it seemed to be the kind of program that helps all sports organizations and I wanted to raise awareness and raise a little money if we could, and try and get kids interested in sports."
Mr. Large said his efforts raised about $300 but that didn’t deter him because “the primary goal was to raise awareness and I think we’ve done that really, really well today."
Mr. Large’s fundraiser was held as part of the biannual Milk Sport Fair run by Sport Nova Scotia. The fair introduces kids to a broad variety of sports.
“I think it’s excellent because people get to try new sports," said Kayla Dewolfe, 12, a student at Oyster Pond Academy.
“They might like them and get more active."
Of the 2,500 or so students that passed through the three-day fair, an informal survey had wheelchair basketball as a favourite among boys and girls.
“Because you get to go in a wheelchair," explained 12-year-old Virginia Webber.
There were also opportunities to toss a football, simulate water polo, learn about biathlon, skip rope, hula hoop and more. The kids also moistened their palates with chocolate milk provided by the fair’s title sponsor the Dairy Farmers of Canada.
The fair has been held every Spring and Fall since 2001. It has not been held in Halifax for three years, so it was the first time that many metro students attended. It was also the first year that Lisa McKenna brought her students to the fair.
As a physical education teacher at Bel Ayr Elementary School, she said she has seen students become less active over the years, with technology taking up most of their time.
“I think children get a lot of self-esteem (from sports), especially with team sports. (They learn) co-operation, teamwork skills, learning to depend on others and have others depend on them," she said.
As for Mr. Large: “Because we make contact when we train we actually take pride in our bruises. I’ll show them off tonight to the kids and they’ll all go Woo! Ahh! Cool!"
The Chronicle Herald is an official sponsor of KidSport.
tmawji@herald.ca@herald.ca
http://thechronicleherald.ca/
Taekwondo: Crown achieve impressive tally in battle of Biggin Hill
CROWN Taekwondo Federation (CTF) took a squad down to Burgess Hill for the third stage of the national All Styles tournament last Sunday, writes Stuart Holliday.
There are three phases to the competition being held across the South East and the Midlands and those contenders who achieve at least two trophies - whether it is gold, silver or bronze - get to qualify for the grand final in December, when the champions from those two English regions will then compete.
As the tournament has gained its momentum, so - encouragingly - have CTF and the interest throughout the club has been contagious.
While the coaches and instructors were given a quick team briefing before the action began, Master Dave Crump gave one of the black belt challengers an instruction to warm up the team.
During the health and safety briefing, a loud rumbling noise rang throughout the arena as "Team CTF" ran on the spot in an effort to adhere to Crump's directives.
The rest of the assembled gathering just looked on at the 30-strong squad, all in their new black suits donated by the club's sponsor 2 direct, as they continued to draw everyone's attention.
Throughout the day, every student exceeded all expectations and a real buzz was had by the team and their well-wishers.
CTF did not only achieve nine golds, 12 silvers and eight bronzes - an impressive total of 29 trophies across the three disciplines of continuous sparring, points sparring and traditional forms), but - during the event - students from other clubs were asking about them and where they trained.
At one point even, one of their black belts was approached by another club and asked if he would join them. However, luckily for CTF, he politely declined.
The club will now wait to see who will be receiving an invitation to the final later this year.
Nonetheless, they remain fairly confident of being able to field another strong squad.
CTF have classes in Bromley, Biggin Hill, Sidcup and Halstead.
For more information about CTF, visit their website at:
www.crowntaekwondo.co.uk.
Strike force: Fargo North football player makes North Dakota history in taekwondo
Taekwondo sparked the interest of Dallas Wagemann several years ago, when he watched his younger brother practice and compete at tournaments.
But Wagemann says it was a movie and martial arts star from the 1970s that nudged him to give it a try.
“It was probably because of all the martial arts movies I was watching,” said Wagemann, now a 16-year-old Fargo North junior. “There had been a few of them. But it was mostly Bruce Lee. Mainly, ‘Enter the Dragon.’ ”
Wagemann, an offensive and defensive lineman on the Spartans’ football team, is the first North Dakotan to earn a spot on the AAU United States National Taekwondo Team. He will represent the U.S. in international competition this spring.
Wagemann’s tournament schedule has not been finalized, but he will likely travel to Germany or The Netherlands, Northwest Martial Arts Academy instructor Roy Gilbertson said.
“It’s huge,” said Gilbertson, who has instructed Wagemann for the last eight years. “He’s a really modest kid and very laid back. But he has progressed immensely. He’s big and he’s super fast for his size. That’s his biggest asset. This is just a stepping stone for him.”
Wagemann has come a long way from a chubby kid who picked up the sport because of the movies.
He’s now 6-foot-1, 200 pounds with unlimited taekwondo potential.
Wagemann insists he’s just having fun.
However, Gilbertson sees big things in Wagemann’s future.
“If he wants it, he’ll make it (to the Olympics),” he said.
Wagemann said he earned his black belt in three years.
Next year will be his final year competing at the junior level. After that, he’ll have an opportunity to work his way onto the senior team. Gilbertson said the senior team is a feeder system for the U.S. Olympic Team.
Wagemann would be eligible for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
“Dallas is a hard worker,” North football teammate Dan Aberle said. “Whenever he sets his mind to something he seems to achieve it. He’s one of the toughest kids I know.”
Wagemann said taekwondo helps keep him in shape during the football offseason and helps his footwork.
He missed seven practices and the Spartans’ first two games this season when he was competing at the AAU Nationals in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
But he’s getting back into the swing of things on the gridiron. Wagemann is starting to see significant time on North’s offensive line.
“He’s learning discipline, he’s learning how to be an athlete and he’s learning how to control his body (in taekwondo),” said North football coach Kelly Kalina, whose team travels to Jamestown on Friday. “And he’s probably bettering himself as a football player, too.”
By: Heath Hotzler
http://www.inforum.com/
Taekwondo Supplies
The Ancient art of Taekwondo and the supplies you will need to perfect it.
Taekwondo is a Korean form of martial arts, it is the national sport of South Korea. Taekwondo has earned the title of “most popular form of martial arts". The term Taekwondo, when translated from Korean means: tae – “to strike or break with foot”, kwon - “to strike or break with fist”, and do - “way” or “method” thus when the term Taekwondo is loosely translated to english it means, “the way of the foot and fist”. Taekwondo has developed into a combination of the following: self defense, exercise, combat techniques, sport, meditation, and philosophy.
When looking to buy Taekwondo supplies, you will first need to know exactly what you are looking for. There are different categories of Taekwondo supplies, these include equipment, clothes, accessories, footwear, sparring and weapons.
• Taekwondo equipment include: exercising shields, strike bags & gloves and targets.
• The clothing worn by Taekwondo practitioners are called a Dobok. The dobok comes in different colours but the most common is black and white. A TTI (belt) is worn around the dobok, the colour of the belt indicates the grade of the student.
• Taekwondo accessories include: Jigsaw mats, flags, badges (Instructors Dobok rank badge, Cloth badge, jacket badge, lapel badge), bags, key-rings and posters.
• Footwear include: martial art slippers, Ninja Tabi Boots, Tabi socks and training shoes.
• Sparring supplies include: reversible body armour, ladies sports vests, ladies chest protectors, elbow protectors, ankle protectors, forearm protectors, knee protectors, gum shields, groin guards, boxing gloves, hand & foot pads, head guards and shin pads.
• Taekwondo weapon supplies include: weapon cases, and weapons that can come in different materials including rubber, foam, metal and wood. Some weapon names are: nunchaka, training knives, swords, Bo, Jo, Escrima and Bokken. When looking to buy Taekwondo supplies, make sure to search the internet for suppliers. You will be amazed at the wide variety of suppliers to choose from, decide if you want to buy the supplies new or if you are willing to buy clean second hand Taekwondo supplies from reputable re-sellers.
Jaxster Chan
Harvey’s book has different punches
A former Youngstown-area man and 20-year veteran in martial arts is hoping his first published book — “Mastering Muay Thai Kick-Boxing: MMA [Mixed Martial Arts]-Proven Techniques” — proves to be a big hit with students, instructors and fans alike in the sport.
Joe Harvey, a native of Youngstown, said that his book from Tuttle Publishing about Thailand’s native sport, which is similar to boxing, is different from other martial arts book in two main ways.
“The format is different from other martial arts books that simply offer step-by-step photographs. My book is just the opposite. I tell you all details in text and only show photos in specific areas for illustration,” said Harvey, a 1991 graduate of Austintown Fitch High who attended Youngstown State.
He now lives in Woodbridge, Va., near Washington, D.C., and is a martial arts instructor, researcher and writer as well as a competitor in training.
“That [different format] was the biggest thing and that made [the book] new and innovative, but hard to get published until I was able to find Tuttle. It is more text rather then photos, like you are getting information from an instructor.”
In addition, Harvey said that he has drawn on his wealth of experience and connections in martial arts to make the book a state-of-the-art study of Muay Thai, which he said is “similar to boxing except that fighters also can use elbows, knees and shins, and can use standing grappling to get into position to make a certain type of move.”
In fact, “There is a complete set of standard grappling moves that are strikes and defense,” he pointed out.
Harvey believes that his book “is the closest thing you can get to having an actual instructor without having one because of all experience I have had and the people I have trained with, and I extract the best of my experience and put it in the book,” he said.
“I give the reader options, depending on what they want from the book and what they are looking for. They can study the techniques that interest them. It’s like a reference book consisting of the entire arsenal of Muay Thai strikes.”
His book is available at all major book stores, including Borders and Barnes and Noble, as well as most online book sites including bn.com and amazon.com.
Harvey atttended Harrison Elementary School in Youngstown, Mineral Ridge Middle school and Mineral Ridge High school before transferring to Fitch.
He began his official martial arts training at the Downtown YWCA in 1983 under Jim Evans in intramural classes for Ji Do Kwan/Taekwondo.
Since then, he has climbed the ranks of the martial arts as a versatile student, competitor, instructor and researcher, and has done extensive traveling and networking in the field to tap the best minds for the latest developments in the sport.
He has black belt ranks in different martial arts styles and from different organizations, including a black belt from training in Muay Thai, Filipino Martial Arts, and Jeet kune Do under one of the foremost martial arts authorities and instructors in the world, Patrick Tray.
He said Tray is a 20-year Navy Seal veteran [and] 10-year Navy Seal Combat trainer who is a representative for a world renown martial arts organizations near Washington D.C.”
Harvey said, “I seek out instructors because I want to learn. I have a huge network of instructor.” And, “Instructors also can use my book. My book is for beginners or advanced students.”
Harvey said he makes his living in martial arts. “I live close to the Pentagon. I am doing instruction and writing and I have my training. I can’t get enough learning. In just the last six months, I have been back in training.”
He also is planning a another book.
“Tuttle [Publishing] asked me to do another one. I may do my next one the same way I did this one, but do it with another form of martial arts.”
Most of Harvey’s family still is in the Youngstown area. His mother, Helen Rush, lives in Austintown and a brother, Richard, lives in Youngstown, and he has other famly members in the area as well.
kovach@vindy.com
http://www.vindy.com/
Students for Women’s Issues leads self-defense class
If Miss Congeniality taught us nothing else, it was to SING. Solar plexus. Instep. Nose. Groin. That’s right: Self-defense in a simple pseudonym. In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Week, Students for Women’s Issues offered a self-defense class this Monday. David Heineman (B1) led the class for Drake students.
“Today is about using the resources you already have to defend yourself and to hopefully get away safely,” SWI co-president Jennifer Henry (AS3) said.
Heineman has shared his art since he was 13 years old. He has a third-degree black belt in Taekwondo and Budo Jujitsu and a first degree in Hapkido.
Heineman demonstrated basic, yet effective, moves that can deter attackers in various situations.
One thing that makes women easy targets is their long hair, Heineman said. He said that if the attacker grabs your hair, you should get control of his hand and strike him in the face. However, Heineman advised using the heel of your hand rather than a fist.
The natural reaction women have when being assaulted is to try and pull away from their attacker. However, it is more effective to use their energy against them.
“If he’s pulling you, you don’t want to resist,” Heineman said. “The simplest way to get out of it is to kick him in the knee.”
Heineman has his own memory device for self-defense: See, air, run.
“Make it so they can’t breathe, they can’t see and they can’t move,” Heineman said. “Hit them as hard as you can in the nose or throat, the eyes and their knees.”
However, you don’t need Jackie Chan’s moves to stay safe; just be smart.
“When you’re walking at night, always walk with somebody,” Heineman said.
That cute purse you brought to the party or the high heels you wore to the bar could be an assaulter’s worst nightmare.
“Use everyday objects as weapons,” Heineman said. “Keep your purse in your hand, not over your shoulder.”
This way, it is ready to be used as a defense weapon.
Lauren Reed (PP2) also attended the class.
“People think about (self-defense) all the time, but this is one time we get to experience the opportunity,” she said. “Definitely, as a female, it helps to have those skills.”
For Sexual Assault Awareness Week, SWI also hosted a “Rape-Free Zone” on Tuesday to stimulate conversation about sexual assault. Tomorrow, SWI will be showing “Speak,” a film about sexual assault, at 8:30 p.m. in the Bulldog Theatre.
http://www.timesdelphic.com/
8th Tehran Intl. Sport Movies and TV Festival kicks off
The 8th edition of the Tehran International Sport Movies and TV Festival kicked off Tuesday evening with a ceremony held at the Enqelab Sports Complex.
Deputy Culture Minister for Cinematic Affairs, Mohammadreza Jafari-Jelveh and director of the festival Alireza Savar spoke briefly at the opening ceremony.
Jafari-Jelveh said that the festival provides a good opportunity to introduce both cultural and media aspects of sports, “Sport is not only an art, but also a medium itself. Sports has also helped to reflect cultures (of different nations) over the years.”
Savar next noted that this event is created to introduce filmmakers and sport movies to the world, helping to increase the number of films as well, adding, “A total of 200 productions from previous editions were submitted to the Milan Sports Film Festival, and managed to grab several awards.”
“If we try to make better use of domestic potentials, we would be able to establish a better position for ourselves in the world of film productions and sports,” he remarked.
Afterwards, a message from International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge was read at the ceremony. Next, the secretary of the festival Mohammadreza Mulla-Mohammad read the message of Sultan Fahd Abdulaziz, the vice-president of the Islamic Solidarity Sport Federation (ISSF).
The ceremony continued with tributes paid to Mohammad Fuladgar, head of Taekwondo Committee, and filmmaker Reza Nezamdust and Siavash Zarrinabadi.
Filmmaker Majid Majidi was also honored and the ceremony ended with Majidi’s movie “The Colors Fly”.
The festival will continue until September 26 at the Sepideh and Kanun cinemas, and also at the Olympic National Committee.
http://www.tehrantimes.com/Index.asp
A Guide to Tae Kwon Do Belt Colors
The belts and their colors that are used with Taekwondo aren't just a random assortment of colors that are used to separate the ranks in the martial art. In Taekwondo, each belt color has a meaning that lets fighters known about their advancement and increasing knowledge. Belts are also great for the stylist, as they let the stylist know just how far they have progressed.
The colors of the belts found in Taekwondo vary, as they represent the advancement of rank, as well as the growth of the student. It can take a long time for students to move up the ranks, all depending on their knowledge and how quite they adapt to the techniques and forms of the art.
Below, are the colors and belts of Taekwondo, along with their meaning.
White belt A white belt is the symbol of birth, or the beginning for the stylist. Students that wear white belts are just starting out, searching for the knowledge to continue Taekwondo.
Yellow belt A yellow belt is the first ray of light that shines on the student, giving them new strength to the Taekwondo martial art. Students that have yellow belts have taken a great step in learning, and have opened their mind to new techniques.
Green belt A green belt is the symbol of growth, or a seed as it sprouts from the ground and begins to grow into a plant. Students with green belts are continuing along the path of Taekwondo, learning to develop further and redefine every technique they have been taught.
Blue belt A blue belt represents a blue sky, with the plant continuing to grow upwards, heading for the sky. Students with blue belts continue to move higher in ranks, as the plant continues to grow taller. Students at this stage will also be given additional knowledge of Taekwondo so that their mind and body can continue to grow and develop.
Red belt The red belt is the heat of the sun, with the plant continuing the path upwards toward the sun. Students that possess red belts are higher in rank, as they have acquired a lot of the knowledge in the art of Taekwondo. Red belts also tell the students to be cautious, as they gain more knowledge and their physical techniques increase.
Black belt A black belt is the best of the best. It symbolizes the darkness that is out there beyond the light of the sun. Once the student is given a black belt and begins to train other students, he will teach all that has been taught to him. Black belts recognize the best students, as they continue to teach others the art of Taekwondo, and continue the never ending cycle of training.
Elvin Rowe
Hometown Heroes Could Compete in Chicago Olympics
These kids could be fighting for home-town gold if Chicago lands the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Jacob Aquino and Arthur Kopilevich, both from Palatine, are Taekwondo phenoms -- and they’re just 12 and 11 years old.
“These guys are the best in the country, and they’re the best in the world,” team manager Skip Valle said.
Supporting Valle's claim: Last February, Kopilvich and Aquino, who train every day at Teamforce dojo in Palatine, were the youngest competitors ever to win gold medals in the 2009 U.S. Open Taekwondo Championships in Las Vegas.
They each fought their way through seven single-elimination rounds against fighters from 50 countries.
That impressive display helped earn Kopilvich and Aquino a place on the Amateur Athletic Union's first Taekwondo National Cadet Team. The butt-kicking duo are among only 22 fighters in the nation to be selected.
But that’s just the beginning, Valle said.
“There’s nobody in Illinois that can beat them, nobody in the country can beat them and out of 50 countries nobody can beat them” Valle said.
"These are the guys you're going to see in 2016 (Olympics).”
Kopilvich agrees.
"If the Olympics are going to be in Chicago in 2016, I want to compete and get a gold medal," Kopilevich, who started training at 5-years-old, said.
"This is the most elite black belt fighting club, which is why I came here. When I'm on the floor and I knock (my opponent) out, I realize how good my potential is."
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/
Players help Manju
Taekwondo player Manju Tuladhar, who won a silver medal in SAF games and a bronze medal in Asian Taekwondo Championship, received financial support for the treatment of her damaged kidneys.
Taekwondo players from the US provided her with Rs 2,87,308, she said amidst a press conference on Wednesday. She thanked all her well-wishers who have offered financial help for her dialysis. She has undergone dialysis for 21 times. It costs Rs 4500 for each dialysis.
“I am glad that all of you have been so kind. I feel proud to be a player,” she said. Tuladhar also informed that her kidneys transplant operation would cost around Rs 20-22 lakhs which her family cannot afford.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php
Black belts awarded
ON Saturday, September 12, seven young local Taekwondo students were awarded their black belts by Master Shane Mckeahnie, head instructor of Strike Martial Arts in Ballina.
Alanna Nesbitt, Oscar Williams, Tanisha Faulks, Isabel Mayo, Isaac Mayo and Joe Norton were all awarded their 1st Dan black belts.
Lily Brand was awarded her 2nd Dan.
This was the biggest black belt grading conducted since Strike moved into their purpose-built school in 2007.
Master Shane was very proud of the way the students conducted themselves on the day.
“All seven students showed enormous focus and physical ability demonstrating the skills they have learnt over a number of years,” he said.
Alanna Nesbitt was the youngest at only 10 years old to be awarded her black belt. She is a current member of the high-performance team representing Queensland at the national championships in October.
Family and friends came from as far away as Sydney to witness the grading.
http://www.ballinaadvocate.com.au/
Taekwondo is Not Taekwondo Without Its Kicks
This article explains a few things about tae kwon do, and if you're interested, then this is worth reading, because you can never tell what you don't know.
The kicks used in Taekwondo sparring are more striking than in any other martial art. Even though the kicks in poomse are simpler than the ones used in sparring, they can be equally as impressive if executed properly.
Also, a good, solid front kick is more impressive than an impromptu tornado or double roundhouse kick. What is it that makes a great taekwondo kick?
1. Balance.
Balance may not be seem as obvious as you think. And balance is more than just not ending up on the floor. It is a matter of fluidity, of gracefulness, of naturalness.
With a properly balanced kick, the supporting foot does not wobble, the hands do not flail about, and the athlete does not rush to complete the kick.
Also, the athlete begins and ends the technique in the proper stances without having to correct the stances to accommodate the kick.
Practice moving within your stances. When you feel comfortable doing simple things within your stances, you should try to kick from one stance into another.
2. Proper form.
Having proper form is a requirement to having a beautiful kick. Proper form may be defined as the correct positions to which the entire body enters as it performs a kick from start to finish.
It is wise to talk with your instructor or other certified professional martial artist to learn the more articulate details of proper form. They will have the answers to any questions that you may have.
Those of you not familiar with the latest on tae kwon do now have at least a basic understanding. But there's more to come.
3. Control.
The kick in Taekwondo is not supposed to be like that of a whip. It does not have to be so fast that it cannot be seen.
Instead, the kick is to be relished and beheld as the single most attractive feature of Taekwondo. It is therefore necessary to control the kick. Controlling the kick involves the ability to freeze the kick for a split second at full extension.
This 밼reeze?is the life of the kick. It is the most memorable and beautiful part of the kick. Controlling the kick is not that easy though. Usually it involves much concentration and many years of practice.
Form is a must to both control and power. If you are not sure that you are doing the kick with proper form yet, keep working on the form part before you begin working on the control part.
Control takes some muscle development and patience, but it is well worth all the effort in the end.
4. Power.
Nothing is worse than seeing someone perform a kick with great form, balance, and control, but with no power.
If this is the case, that person is better off as ballet dancer than a taekwondo practitioner. There is no such thing as an excellent kick that has no power.
Take note that proper form is needed to achieve control. And control is the factor that leads to power.
Bear in mind also that if you try to develop power without mastering the proper control first, it may result to permanent damage to your joints. So be very careful.
The process for developing power in a taekwondo kick is very similar to developing control in that same kick.
Hopefully the sections above have contributed to your understanding of tae kwon do. Share your new understanding about tae kwon do with others. They'll thank you for it.
William Doyle
LC junior will stand tall for USA Taekwondo team
At a thin 5-foot-5, junior Christian Medina never is mistaken for a football player while walking the halls at Lake Central High School in St. John.
He doesn't play soccer or baseball, and he's no boxer. But Medina certainly packs a punch -- with his hands and feet.
Medina's sparring expertise earned him a spot on the USA Taekwondo Junior National team. He'll represent the United States at the Pan Am Championships from Nov. 19-23 in El Salvador. A welterweight (130-138 pounds), he's one of 10 American boys and 10 girls, ages 14-17, competing.
Medina won a silver medal in sparring at the U.S. Open Tae-kwondo Championships in Las Vegas in February. He's been busy since, earning a spot on the national team.
Medina first qualified in Illinois, then made the top four at National Junior Olympics to earn a trip to Colorado Springs, Colo., for a fight-off. He was unbeaten in round-robin sparring.
Medina is a fourth-degree black belt who started training at age 4. Why? His father, Luciano Medina, also is his instructor. Dad is a sixth-degree black belt grandmaster and owns Champion Taekwondo in Chicago, where Christian trains.
Luciano credits "explosiveness and technique" for his son's success. He's also turned a negative, his short stature, into a positive.
"Christian knows how to fight inside," Luciano said. "Being short, he often has a psychological edge. Opponents see him and think they'll have an easy match, going against a short, little kid. But when he steps into the ring, he takes charge."
Christian said he's almost always the shortest person in his class.
"Taller kids tend to kick long and have trouble bending their legs," he said. "I know how to fight inside really well."
Christian said not every LC student knows his name.
"But most know what I do; they call me the 'Karate Kid,' " he said with a smile. "I'm friends with everybody at school."
* How bout a blast from the past? Former boys basketball players from three Porter County Conference schools will help rival Kouts raise money for bleachers for its new gym during Saturday's South County Reunion Games.
Host Kouts' team of 1980s players will face Boone Grove '80s players at 6 p.m. Kouts' 1990s players play Hebron at 7:15, and Kouts' players from the 2000s meet Morgan Township at 8:30.
The $5 fee is for a good cause and will bring back memories.
http://www.post-trib.com/index.html
Taekowndo Park in Muju, Korea to House World Taekwondo Academy
The Taekwondo Park in Muju, South Korea, whose ground-breaking ceremony took place on Sept. 4, 2009, will house the World Taekwondo Academy, a global taekwondo education and research center designated by the World Taekwondo Federation.
The Taekwondo Park, which will serve as the mecca of takwondo worldwide, is scheduled to open in 2013, with a total construction cost of $185 million.
The ground-breaking ceremony drew about 1,500 people from at home and abroad, with the attendance of WTF President Chungwon Choue and Mr. Dai-soon Lee, chairman of the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation, which is in charge of the construction and operation of the Taekwondo Park.
Among the dignitaries were Korean Prime Minister Seung-soo Han; Mr. Wan-joo Kim, governor of North Jeolla Province; Mr. Dae-ki Kim, the second vice minister of the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Mr. Yong-sung Park, president of the Korean Olympic Committee; and Mr. Sye-kyun Chung, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party.
The event, which took place on the 2009 Taekwondo Day, also attracted four members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC): Mr. Ivan Dibos from Peru, Mr. Phillip Walter Coles from Australia, Mr. Samih Moudallal from Syria, and Mr. Dae-sung Moon from Korea.
About 650 taekwondo leaders, including 70 foreign taekwondo masters, attended the ceremony. Eight taekwondo grandmasters, who are over the age 70 and have served abroad over 30 years, received citations from the Korean culture, sports and tourism minister. 18 other taekwondo masters also received citations.
Taekwondo Promotion Foundation Chairman Lee, who also serves as a vice president of the WTF, made a brief history of the Taekwondo Park project, followed by congratulatory speeches by Korean Prime Minister Han and North Jeolla Province Governor Kim.
During the ceremony, VIPs wrote some congratulatory words on Korean paper to mark the occasion, which will be later inscribed on the cornerstone of the Taekwondo Park. The highlight of the event was when VIPs pushed the button to ignite the blast to break the ground for the Taekwondo Park.
“On the occasion of the 2009 Taekwondo Day, I would like to offer my congratulations on the ground-breaking of the Taekwondo Park,” said WTF President Choue in a video-taped message for the participants in the event.
“The World Taekwondo Academy, which will be located in the Taekwondo Park, will serve as an international academic center of the WTF for studies, education and research of taekwondo,” he said.
Dr. Choue said, “The WTA, the Korean version of the International Olympic Academy (IOA) for the Olympic sport of taekwondo, will be the home of about 70 million taekwondo practitioners around the world.”
The WTF Rules and Regulations stipulates, “The WTF designates the World Taekwondo Academy in Korea to function as an international academic center of the WTF for studies, education and research of taekwondo.”
On Aug. 15, 2009, an international symposium on the development of taekwondo curriculum for the WTA was held at the University of Berkeley in the United States. The results of the symposium will be presented at the 2nd International Symposium on Taekwondo Studies on Oct. 12 and 13, 2009 on the occasion of the 2009 WTF World Taekwondo Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark.
“To meet the growing educational demands worldwide, a new educational system is required. That is WTA. WTA is an educational institute, where leaders from all social standings, students and professionals related to taekwondo spread taekwondo spirit and Olympic spirit, and study taekwondo philosophy,” said a participants in the symposium.
The WTF designated Sept. 4 as Taekwondo Day at its General Assembly in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in 2006, and has since marked the day. On Sept. 4, 1994, the IOC decided to adopt taekwondo as an official sport of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
In 2007, the Korean government enacted a law on taekwondo promotion and the establishment of the Taekwondo Park. On Sept. 4, 2008, the Korean government and the four taekwondo organizations, the WTF, the Kukkiwon, the Korean Takwondo Association, and the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation, jointly celebrated the Taekwondo Day.
Abdul Majid, Abdullah triumph in national karate championships
Dubai: Mohammad Abdul Majid and Marwan Abdullah took the top honours in the Kumite and Kata categories at the end of the UAE National Team Karate Championships, held at Al Mizhar here on Friday.
Daeej Raisi, vice-president of the UAE Taekwondo and Karate Federation, was the chief guest alongside Iqbal Othman, an official from the sponsors of the event, Iffco - the company behind the Tiffany range of products.
The race for honours in the Kumite was evenly contested but Abdul Majid held a narrow edge due to his superior reach.
Though going down 2-3 to Khalid Sulaiman during the preliminary round, Abdul Majid staged a good recovery to score handsome wins against Mohammad Khamis and young Ahmad Salem to finish ahead of both of them on points and grab first place honours.
Sulaiman followed in second place, while Mohammad Sulaiman took third place honours and completed the podium placings.
In the Kata, Abdullah was streets ahead of his opponents. The 17-year-old won 5-0 against Salem and Khalid Sadek to reach the finals of the event.
Abdullah Eisa beat Humaid Chamis 4-1 and Hamad Al Najar 3-2 to set up a meeting in the final against the double gold medal winner at last month's GCC Karate Championships in Bahrain.
The UAE National Team Karate Championships were held to assist the national squad's preparations for the upcoming Asian competition in China.
National taekwondo clinic begins
Bangalore: A National taekwondo clinic organised under the Olympic Solidarity Programme began at Sree Kanteerava indoor stadium here. The week-long programme is aimed at updating the Indian coaches with latest trends in the sport.
The World Taekwondo Federation has sent a Fifth Dan, Choi Se Min to supervise the course. “It is our effort to ensure that our coaches are exposed to latest trends and this programme would go a long way in helping them attain international standards”, said Praveen Kumar, Secretary General of the Taekwondo Federation of India.
About 50 coaches from all over the country are attending the meet and TFI is more concerned with quality of training in smaller centres, where there is enough interest but dearth of coaches had hampered its effort to popularise the sport in such centres.
“It is easy to train coaches than athletes, as they grasp the techniques much quicker and it also helps them to pass on that knowledge to their wards”, said the Korean trainer Choi Se Min.
The sessions are split into theory and on-court demonstrations with Korean trainer himself sparring with the Indian coaches. “We have so far gone through some of the principles governing offence and defence tactics and physical fitness. The trainees would be put through advanced techniques as the clinic progresses”, he added.
The trainer also emphasised on the need to participate in more international events. “It is through good competition that one can improve the skills, and that can be obtained only through better international exposure”, said Mr. Min.
The Karnataka Taekwondo Association, which is hosting the clinic, is among the more active associations on the National scene and it plans to hold a South Zone meet shortly.
Hindu Times
Nepal Army undergoes revolution
More than 200 years after remaining the main prop of Nepal's royal dynasty, the army, dominated by the country's elite and the aristocracy, is
now undergoing a revolution itself with its chief to come from the rank of commoners for the first time in its history.
On Monday, the controversial army chief, Gen Rookmangud Katawal, who opposed the entry of the Maoist guerrillas in the national army and caused the downfall of the Maoist government, goes on leave to be followed by retirement next month.
Prior to that, on Sunday, he will hand over charge to his successor, Lt Gen Chhatramansingh Gurung, the first chief of the Nepal Army to come from the indigenous tribes. In the past, Nepal's army chiefs had always been chosen from the three elite classes: the Shahs, allied to the royal dynasty, the Ranas, allied to the former hereditary prime ministers, and the Chhetris.
Though Katawal himself was a commoner, he had been adopted by King Mahendra, deposed king Gyanendra's father, and had the backing of the palace. Gurung, who has received his military training from institutions in Dehra Dun, the US and China, has a squeaky clean image. He also holds a black belt in taekwondo.
Though Katawal exits next week, his legacy of unrest however lives on through the resumed protests by the Maoists who from Friday began a second blockade of parliament. The previous siege, started in May after Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda resigned as prime minister, had lasted for over two months and caused the peace process to be badly obstructed.
The renewed obstruction, Prachanda has warned, could prevent the new constitution from coming into effect next year. Before he left for London on Saturday, Prachanda also said the Maoist protests would not be assuaged by Katawal's retirement.
"We have asked the government to prove that it puts civilian supremacy above the military," the Maoist chief said. "If Katawal had been removed before going into retirement, it would have been a positive gesture."
Santa Cruz ninja looks to spread ancient teachings online
According to legend, in 14th century Japan, land owners looking to protect their riches began to contract warriors willing to go against the code of the samurai. Assassins trained in the art of illusion and espionage, these men and women practice ninjutsu -- the art of stealth. They were known as ninjas.
Seven hundred years later, just 300 people can truly call themselves ninjas. Mark Roemke of Santa Cruz is one of them.
But while Roemke, 39, is skilled in the art of ninjutsu, he differs in several ways from his ancestors. For one, he's an electrician, not an assassin. Secondly, instead of keeping ninjutsu in its traditional shroud of secrecy, Roemke is trying to take his teachings public.
Roemke has created the Web site Ninja-Learning-Network.com, where martial arts enthusiasts can learn about the ancient art of Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu and share their own resources, enhancing the online training experience for both beginners and experts.
It's a modern approach to an ancient art, but Roemke sees no problem with it. He said he believes the art form itself must remain intact, but the methods of teaching have to evolve in order to reach students in the far corners of the world.
"Even today in Japan's own culture, ninjas are often considered to be a myth," said Roemke. "The secret is that it's not a secret anymore."
In the past, only a select few were given the privilege to learn from a grandmaster. That changed about 40 years ago, when grandmaster Maasaki Hatsumi of Noda, Chiba in Japan realized that because of its shroud of secrecy, ninjutsu had the potential to fall off the martial arts map. Hatsumi, the head of the prominent martial arts organization Bujinkan and the lineage holder of several forms of martial arts, decided to unveil the ninja practices to the general public and began teaching.
Hatsumi, whom Roemke refers to as a "revolutionary rebel," was the first to let foreigners in on ninjutsu practices. Today 95 percent of his students, including Roemke, are not Japanese.
Born and raised in upstate New York, Roemke began practicing martial arts at the age of 7, beginning with traditional Korean taekwondo. When he was 18, he witnessed a ninjutsu demonstration, in which weapons such as swords and bo-shurikens [throwing daggers] were used. Immediately, he said, he became enchanted by this legendary, almost mythical, martial art.
Roemke earned his fifth-degree black belt in 2002 by participating in a soke test administered by Hatsumi. During a soke test, the student faces away from the master while the master swings a sword at the student. The student only passes the test if he "senses" the direction of the sword and evades it completely.
Over the past seven years, Roemke has taken Hatsumi's idea and moved it to the Web. From his dojo in Soquel, he conducts live online classes where students can learn from him and ask questions through live webcams. The Digital Dojo via webcam has been up for two months. For the more timid who just want an idea of what it takes to become a ninja, the Web site offers a free curriculum for all belts up to the first-degree black belt.
"Most people still aren't aware that the art form of ninjutsu' or ninja' is accessible to everyone now," he said in a statement. "We started the Santa Cruz Bujinkan Dojo about 10 years ago to get people excited about this form of martial art, but it's only now that technology will let us celebrate it with the whole world."
Roemke's ultimate goal is to create an online community that is fully dedicated to martial arts similar to that of a real-life community in a dojo. Roemke visits Hatsumi in Japan twice a year and said he is always surprised to find such a wide range of students. There, ninjutsu masters from around the world share styles and methods.
"I'm just this mellow Santa Cruz guy, and I'm training with officers from the DEA and Israeli soldiers," Roemke said. "But the thing is, we're all family there."
"Through every encounter," he added, "we reach enlightenment together."
Roemke said this enlightenment is what ninjutsu is all about. That's what he wants to present online for anyone to experience.
Through this, Roemke finds himself at the forefront of the new online ninja revolution, which could bring about a unique opportunity.
Though Hatsumi is said to move like a limber 19-year-old in the dojo, the reality of his age, 79, is that he won't be able to fill his role forever. There is tension on the subject of who will become the next grandmaster of the tradition. For his part, Roemke believes anyone who can find a way to revitalize a dying, ancient art will definitely find himself on the list of potential successors.
But Roemke's not waiting for the promotion to share lessons that long ago would have been kept secret.
"We are really excited to be talking to a local youth group right now about bringing in young people who really need something ultra cool to help them learn about their personal potential," he said in an e-mail. "Under the sort of mentorship that is inherent in ninja study, we can really help them. It's actually pretty easy, too, in a way. It has fewer rules and structures compared to other martial arts, it encourages people to explore their own techniques based on simple concepts."
The trick is to preserve old tradition in a modern frame.
Jason Eisenberg
Santa Cruz Sentinel
Taekwondo What and Why
"One could see from our shock loss to Guatemala in the recent tournament in Egypt that the reserve players are not good enough. I wanted to give every player a chance, but unfortunately this backfired, because we did not have the players from the bench to do the job." - Nigeria's U-20 Coach, Samson Siasia bemoaning the team's lack of quality substitutes on the team's friendly.
"He is just the type of player that we were looking for to complement Grafite and Edin Dzeko. He is not only quick, but he has also proven how dangerous he is in front of goal." - Armin Veh, the coach of Bundesliga defending Champions, VFL Wolfsburg on the purchase of Obafemi Martins from Newcastle.
"Everyone knows what happened but for me it's a little bit more difficult to explain. I am feeling much better now and I want to recover as soon as possible to get back behind the wheel of a Ferrari." - Ferrari F1 driver, Felipe Massa after being released from hospital following an accident which resulted in a double head fracture.
"The federation only gave us approval to represent the country. Do you know that I spent ₦700,000 to feature in the tournament? At a stage, some Korean officials asked us the whereabouts of Nigerian officials. I told them we were told to represent the country and they told us that we must provide a coach, player and two delegates." - Taekwondo Coach Raheem Hassan commenting on the neglect of the Taekwondo association in 2006 despite the fact that he funded and represented Nigeria at an international championship in Korea.
"I don't think it is over for us in the competition because the defeat last weekend has further strengthened the team. All we need to do now is to work harder and win all our remaining matches, including going to Mali to beat Stade Malien. It is very possible. All we need is encouragement from Nigerians." - Bayelsa United's defender Chibuzor Okonkwo says that the team will still qualify from the group.
We have the passion to beat every team in Libya, but the stuff of Hakeem Olajuwon is not there yet among these players in the team. We will get there very soon." - John Lucas, newly contracted American coach declared that he was yet to see the likes of Hakeem Olajuwon in the national men's basketball team.
"He played with so much maturity for a 17-year-old and he makes the game looks easy and that is an art. It's something that you are born with and he's going to be a massive talent." - Former Arsenal player, Ray Parlour commenting on the undoubted talent of Jack Wilshire who has broken into the Arsenal first team for the 2009/2010 season.
"In my 23 years working in England there is not a person I would put an inch above Bobby Robson." - Alex Ferguson mourning the passing of Bobby Robson at the age of 76.
Web 234next
An encouraging Night Out for the community
oward County police celebrated its annual National Night Out festivities by opening a new satellite office in the Wilde Lake Village Center Tuesday evening.
The satellite office will join other satellite offices in the Columbia villages of Harper’s Choice, Long Reach and Oakland Mills as well as in North Laurel, Police Chief William McMahon said.
Local residents said the new office might give a boost to a village center badly in need of help.
“This shopping center, it was kind of dying,” said Hamlet Hartoni, of Owen Brown, who was watching his son perform in a Taekwondo demonstration that was part of the Wilde Lake festivities. He noted that the closing of the Giant supermarket in 2006 hurt the village center and said the police satellite office could help rejuvenate it.
“When they closed that Giant, it really slowed down,” Hartoni said.
Kevin Agahi, 36, owner of Wilde Lake Martial Arts Academy, said that during the summer young people congregated in his gym and around the village center.
He said he had concerns for their safety that the new satellite office had helped alleviate.
“It makes it easier,” he said.
As part of the 26th annual National Night Out, police departments across the country sponsored block parties for the public in an effort to foster stronger ties between the police and the communities they serve.
Howard County’s four other police satellite offices also hosted parties, police said, along with about 20 other communities in Howard County.
About 50 law enforcement, local government officials and civilians attended the Wilde Lake kick-off.
Chief McMahon and County Executive Kenneth Ulman addressed the crowd, explaining the new satellite office and extolling the virtues of the National Night Out.
The festivities included the Taekwondo demonstration, and police and civilians milled around eating pizza and chatting.
The new office will be staffed by Officer Anthony Nigro, who will work with local businesses, residents and community associations. Nigro will supplement the patrol officers and will work on long-term solutions for crime problems in the area, McMahon said.
Nigro said he applied for the job because it offered him the chance to work with both patrol officers and the community.
“This office gives me a unique opportunity to assist patrol officers, but also be a resource for the community,” he said.
McMahon said another new satellite office will be opened in Owen Brown within two months.
Kendall Fedor, 52, of Wilde Lake, happened upon the National Night Out event by accident.
“I came around the corner and went, `Whoa!” she said.
Fedor said she was concerned that vacant store fronts could lead to increased crime. “We miss our Giant,” she said. “We really need a supermarket around here.”
Explorehoward.com
Martial Arts Athlete Escaped from Jail
A MARTIAL ARTS athlete yesterday escaped prison by the skin of his teeth when his medical history was brought to the court’s attention minutes before he was sentenced.
Andreas Aristidou, 26, who was found guilty of assaulting and causing actual bodily harm to a Nicosia traffic warden in August last year, was sentenced to 45 days imprisonment suspended for three years.
Nicosia district judge Michalis Ambizas appeared to take into consideration the fact that Aristidou had suffered epileptic seizures in 2004 induced by a brain tumour.
In 2005 surgery to remove the growth had only been partially successful, Aristidou’s lawyer told the court. He said his client had been taking medication three times a day ever since in preparation for a second operation and was under the supervision of the Neurology and Genetics Institute. This tumour had also affected his performance as a taekwondo athlete and explained why he had won no more medals since 2001 when he brought home the bronze during a taekwondo competition in Spain, he said.
The new information was brought to the court’s attention at the eleventh hour. The judge had been due to read out his sentence at 9.30am and was instead forced to review his decision based on the additional facts presented.
The defence lawyer said the information had only been brought to his attention by his client’s mother in the last four days. He told the court his client had not felt it necessary to disclose his personal medical history as part of his defence. Ambizas pointed out there was quite a lot that had not come to the court’s attention until now.
The judge also heard Aristidou had settled out of court a pending claims suit with the traffic warden and that both the latter and the taekwondo expert and had fully resolved their differences. Apparently the plaintiff received €2,170 in compensation which he received yesterday shortly before the morning procedure began.
The court also heard the taekwondo champion, who has represented Cyprus abroad and works for the Cyprus Sports Organisation, expressed his regret “even at this late hour” for his actions.
Aristidou, who is married with a 17-month-old baby and had been held in custody since last Friday when he was found guilty, stood in the dock looking less self-assured. Gone was the cocky half smile during last week’s appearance. There was also a small cut on his forehead above his right eyebrow as he gripped on to the dock railing. Sitting with a long face in the back of the courtroom was his father; his wife and mother were absent.
In light of the new information the judge asked for a 90-minute recess. Ambizas came back at midday with the suspended sentence without first stressing Aristidou’s behaviour had “no place in society”. The judge said what worsened the 26-year-old man’s “unacceptable reaction” to receiving a parking fine from an attendant who had simply been doing his job was the fact that he was a taekwondo athlete and trainer. He said society had come to expect more from people like that who should know better.
Asked later whether he was happy with the final outcome in light of the circumstances Aristidou’s response was succinct: “No.”
The 26-year-old did not elaborate what he meant further and said he was considering filing an appeal.
The incident took place on Themistoclis Dervis Street in August last year when Aristidou parked his car in a handicapped spot and received a fine. The issue quickly escalated into a verbal and physical onslaught, finally concluding with the enraged martial arts expert grabbing the traffic warden by the neck and bringing him to his knees unable to breathe. Thanks to the intervention of eyewitnesses Aristidou was pulled off his victim.
Cyprus Mail
British Open Sees Malta
Members of the Malta Taekwondo Federation (MTF) recently participated in the 12th British International Open Championship, held in Crawley, England.
The Maltese squad, the largest to take part in an overseas taekwondo competition to date, was a mixture of national team members and others from local official clubs.
The British Open attracted over 470 participants from different parts of the world with many countries fielding their best talent.
Despite the strong competition, the MTF members obtained some prestigious results, winning a silver medal and three bronze.
Irina Anastova clinched silver in the senior female category (-47kgs class B).
The bronze medal winners were Kimberly Meli (junior female -55kgs class A), Joel Genuis (peewee male -31kgs class B) and Edward Camillieri (cadet male class B).
Members of the Maltese taekwondo clubs that participated for the first time in this competition also achieved some commendable results.
Mauro Busuttil won a gold medal (senior -72kgs class C) while Megan Maistre Melillo (peewee -35kgs class B), Jamie Maistre Mellillo (cadet -35 kgs class B) and Luke Maistre Melillo (junior -5kgs class B) also left their mark.
The Maltese contingent was led by Brian Saliba, the national coach, and Joseph Azzopardi, club coach and instructor.
Times of Malta
Lehigh Grand Opening For Taekwondo Fan
USA Martial Arts Florida celebrated the opening of their new Lehigh Acres training center July 24 and 25 by hosting a two-day seminar featuring local and national instructors, including two karate gold medal winners in the USA National KarateDo Federation National Championships and the Junior Pan Am Games. Seminar attendees were treated to a demonstration of Olympic-level sparring by Tyler Wolfe (17) and Alice Nimmo (15).
Their coach, Jason Sorgi, from Katsu Dojo in Gainesville, Fla., held a sparring clinic as part of the seminar, and students were able to go toe-to-toe with Tyler and Alice.
"It was exciting! Alice is really fast," said Samantha Reach, 9.
The event was attended by students and instructors from around the country, and utilized the full 2,200-plus square feet of mat space. Friday and Saturday seminar sessions were held for youth and adult students, with multiple instructors in each session. A team of instructors from USA Martial Arts in Birmingham, Ala.,, Tim Morgan, Robert Blackston, and Alan Glaze, instructed students in holds, pins, joint locks and grappling using Aikido, Judo and Jujitsu techniques.
Students also practiced self defense with these techniques, and learned a weapons form with the short knife, called a tanto. Students appreciated the opportunity to train with different instructors.
"It was fun with all of the black belts," said Alyssa Herndon, 10.
Rounding out the weekend, several instructors from Koryu Uchinadi Florida, headed by Nick De Paolo, taught self-defense from repeated attacks, including standing and ground defenses. Participants learned a patterned defense drill which included multiple defenses in a sequence.
"It was incredible to be able to train with all of these black belts from different schools in one place," said Mary Kay Cassani, an adult student in the Lehigh training center. "I learned so much in one short weekend, it was amazing."
"We have been truly honored to host these talented individuals for this seminar," said Jeff Reach, president and chief instructor at USA Martial Arts Florida. "By sharing their time, talent and energy with us, our grand opening is a success."
USA Martial Arts Florida is located in the Winn Dixie Plaza on Homestead Rd. in Lehigh Acres. Programs include Aikido, Aiki-Judo, Iaido, Judo, Jujitsu, Karate, and TaeKwonDo, with classes for ages 3 and up. Family and multi-art discounts are available. For more information call 239.303.DOJO (3656), or visit www.LehighKarate.com.
Lehighacres Citizen
ASC Funding for Taekwondo World Championships
The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has secured funding from the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) for Australian athletes to compete in the 2009 WTF World Championships being held in Copenhagen in October.
The AOC is the interim governing body for the sport of Taekwondo in Australia.
As a result of this announcement, STA will immediately re-open entries to the World Championship Selections Event being conducted in Canberra on 16 August, in case some athletes did not enter knowing they could not self-fund the approximately $5000 cost of participating in the WTF World Championships.
Athletes have until noon (AEST) on Saturday, 8 August, to submit an entry to the Selection Event if they would now like to enter.
The funding from the ASC will be applied to the costs of entry fees, airfare, accommodation, meals and ground transportation associated with an athlete’s participation in the 2009 WTF World Championships as determined by the ASC.
The winners of each weight division at the Canberra Selections Event will be eligible to have costs covered by ASC Funding, subject to an international performance standard validation undertaken by the Taekwondo Independent Advisory Steering Committee.
The Taekwondo Independent Advisory Steering Committee will comprise of an AOC appointed representative, an ASC appointed representative, and an independent representative based on the recommendation of the ASC and AOC.
Athletes who do not meet the international performance standard will not be eligible to receive ASC Funding and will be required to fund the cost of attending the Championships (as was the case prior to ASC Funding being made available).
The ASC Funding will be administered by the ASC - the AOC will not receive any funding as it is financially independent of all government funding.
Olympics Australia
Thief Wishes For Cops
An Italian thief has thanked police for arresting him, which put an end to a beating he was suffering at the hands of Korean tourists who he had robbed in Rome.
"I must thank you - they were massacring me," the 48-year-old criminal said to officers after he was arrested near the Theater of Marcellus, one of the monuments in Rome's historic center.
The thief, from the northern region of Liguria, had stolen a handbag from a woman in a Korean family group taking in the sights. He threatened the family with a knife when he was spotted and then tried to flee.
But two young men in the group chased him for several hundred meters and then sent him crashing with what were said to be taekwondo moves.
They proceeded to disarm the thief and set about administering a beating.
A patrolling police officer then arrived, separated the three and arrested the thief after he heard the story.
"Normally, tourists will just call us and report the incidents," the officer said. "In this case, the two got really excited and could have seriously injured the thief."
The young Koreans left after they got the handbag back while the thief was hauled off to a city jail where robbery charges were laid.
Rome recorded 4,246 cases of armed robbery last year, compared with 5,133 in 2007. The Korean action could lead to another dip.
The Standard HK
Teach Self Defense in School
Spousal abuse, bullying and date rape are subjects that are debated endlessly. Laws are passed that bring new problems with them. An item showed up in the Weird But True section of the New York Post that hinted at a possible solution to women getting knocked around. The Post reports as follows.
"When Rome cops interrupted a mugging, no one was happier than the mugger, who'd just grabbed a handbag from a woman in a group of Korean tourists.
It turned out everyone in her party was skilled in taekwondo.
"Thank you," he told the cops. "I was being massacred."
In an average New York crowd, what is the chance of all the women knowing marshal arts? This group of Korean women all knew Tae Kwon Do. And look what they were able to do to a purse snatcher. They did not fit into his calculation of estimated risk.
Most public schools have mandatory physical education, usually involving team sports. Imagine what it would be like if judo, karate or one of the other martial arts were offered along with the usual baseball and football. The Israelis have developed Krav Maga, which is an eclectic mix of different martial arts that is designed to be useful for self defense after a minimum of training. Could this lessen the likelihood of abductions, bullying and other forms of violence?
Most forms of self defense also involve an attitude. Self confidence and self assurance have an aura to them that is perceived by would be predators. Whether they are street predators or boyfriends from hell, predators have a sixth sense as to who is a pushover and who is not. It is the self confidence as well as the skills themselves that make safety on the streets and in relationships likely. Attitude modification is helpful not only prospective victims but for those who are likely to be predators as well. Many who abuse others are covering their own insecurities.
I am not saying that football, baseball and other group sports should be abandoned. But it is a sad waste of time to use the entire time allotted to physical education in schools used for something with no practical use. When someone is coming at you with a knife, basketball does not give you any additional choices. Krav Maga does. That is what it was designed for.
Self defense arts are not the only solution to problems of street and relationship violence. But they are an important component. Young people who feel assured that they can stand up to bullies are less likely to become bullies. And that is as good as a home run any day.
Rant Rave
Olympic Karate Overdue For Donovan
Donovan was the coach and manager of the national karate team for more than 30 years until his retirement in 2008 - during which time he helped Great Britain to five consecutive World Team Championship victories.
All those achievements however, would pale in significance to the chance to go for gold on the Olympic stage - something Donovan was deprived throughout his career.
Karate came mighty close to Olympic inclusion in 2005 when, along with squash, the martial art was put to a controversial two-thirds majority vote at the IOC Congress in Singapore - neither eventually made the cut for London 2012.
But on August 13 karate will be in direct competition with squash, roller sports, baseball, softball, golf and rugby sevens as those seven sports are cut down to two ahead of the IOC Congress in Copenhagen in October.
This time around, the two sports will only need a simple majority in the Danish capital to ensure their inclusion at 2016 - something Donovan is convinced is long overdue.
And the current technical adviser to the English Karate Federation is adamant the Olympics is just the carrot karate needs to sustain its growth in the UK.
"There's not a sports club in the country where you won't find a karate club - or even two or three. It's the tenth most popular sport in the world and there's 50 million people training now," said Donovan.
"We should have been included in the Olympics many years ago - it's long overdue. We thought we would get in a few years ago but it wasn't to be.
"It would have been great to have competed on home soil - we would have loved it - but we'll keep fighting on.
"Rugby and golf are professional sports - they shouldn't be allowed in the Olympics. Karate is one of the most popular sports in the world and that's often forgotten.
"It would mean so much for the young people of this country who would have a goal at the end of the line.
"Karate has a rich history in this country and we've been very successful and would be near the top of the medal table that's for sure.
"I'm sure everyone in karate would use the Olympics as their end goal. 2016 is quite a few years away but it would give the sport a boost in this country both now and when the time comes.
"Those competing in 2016 will not even be in the national team now so it'll raise the profile of karate in this country even more.
"We've got all the structure and facilities in place with the English Karate Federation and British Karate Federation, which the EKF falls under."
Opponents to karate's inclusion draw attention to the existence of both judo and taekwondo on the Olympic schedule already and claim a third martial art would be one too many.
That coupled with the tarnished name taekwondo received at the Beijing Olympics for sub-standard judging - which prompted Cuba's Angel Valodia Matos to take matters into his own hands (or feet).
But Donovan is keeping his fingers crossed the IOC do not take such a short-sighted approach.
"It's a concern that judo and taekwondo are already in the Olympics but they're completely different sports," he added.
"Karate has at least five times more people taking part worldwide.
"I hope it [the taekwondo controversy in Beijing] does not affect us but karate is completely different to taekwondo.
"You would never get anybody act that way on the mat in karate - it teaches self-control. I hope the IOC look past that.
"I'm really hoping we're successful this time round - I haven't got many nails left - but if we don't then we will still be going forward and marching on. We'd keep trying and would be there again in 2020 until we have our chance."
More than the games - UK
Penury forces kick-boxing champ to sell clothes
Representing the state on several occasions and winning gold medals have never helped Kashinath Das to support himself and his family.
Poverty has forced this 29-year-old sportsman to live as a make-shift shop owner.
A native of Pinchhapal village in Balasore, Das was among 15 gold-medalists from the state who participated in the recently concluded East Zone Kick-Boxing Championship tournament in Kolkata.
He has won four gold medals in rugby and two in national-level taekwondo championships earlier.
Sadly, despite his talent, he has had to struggle to arrange one square meal each day. With no government aid in sight, he ekes out his living by selling garments in a small makeshift shop in Bhubaneswar .
"Apart from participating in sports tournaments across the country, I have been running a garment shop in the unit-II market building area in the capital city," said Kashinath, who did his graduation from a private college.
"I used to earn Rs 100 to Rs 150 a day which is not enough to manage my family comprising me and my parents. Out of my earnings, I also need to keep some money aside for my trips to participate in the tournaments and I also manage a rugby team at my village," he said.
"After I finished my matriculation in 1997, I came to Bhubaneswar to work as a help in a politician's house. Later, I sold newspapers until a kind-hearted person allowed me to set up a garment stall near his shop in the market building," Das said.
"One day I saw a sportsperson being felicitated at a function inside Bhubaneswar's Kalinga Stadium. That day I decided to become a sportsman and began training under Dipti Ranjan Mohapatra," he said. Later, he learnt rugby and kick-boxing while he completed his graduation.
Kashinath Das is a frustrated man today. "Despite my repeated requests, the government has not helped me in any way. I tried getting into the police, but I was denied a job because I couldn't get good marks in the written exam," he said.
"It will also help if I can get a permanent shop in the market building," he added. This apart, Das wants financial assistance for the girls' rugby team he has started. It is the third such team in the state and has around 30 players who have participated in national championship tournaments and won.
Times of India
