THE popular martial art Rhee Tae Kwon-Do looks set to continue growing in the Gladstone region after the recent opening of a new class and appointments of new instructors.
Regional instructor Ken Jones opened the Calliope classes after the promotion of new assistant instructors in the region.
Six students including Jodine Cragg, Paul Wilson, Jamie Morris and Tom Bishop were promoted to first degree black belts in December, a position which sees them act as assistant instructor.
Steven Cragg was also rewarded with promotion to Gladstone branch instructor and now oversees the teaching of the art to Gladstone participants.
Cragg has been training in the martial art since late 2000 and was promoted to first degree black belt in June 2002.
He said it was common for beginners to progress to black belt status in approximately three years. “I like the discipline and self-confidence it provides children and adults alike,” he said.
Rhee Tae Kwon-Do is a non-contact school to learn the Korean martial art of Tae Kwon-Do.
It is popular throughout Australia and New Zealand and was started in Adelaide by Master Chong Chul Rhee, an eighth degree black belt and world master.
Gladstone branch instructor Steven Cragg said the key objectives of the training were 'self defence, self-improvement and lifelong fitness and exercise.'
Classes in the Gladstone region are hosted in three locations, Gladstone, Boyne Island and Calliope with each centre holding two classes per week.
Approximately 80 active members are participating across the region's three locations.
People of all ages are encouraged to participate in the classes, and interested parties are able to take advantage of the offer for two free lessons.
The sport is relatively cheap to participate in, costing members $40 monthly fee which covers all three training locations.
For more information contact regional instructor Ken Jones on 4975 0258.
http://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/
Martial art continues to grow in region
Taekwondo, synchro swim athletes shine
Nanaimo's Woo Kim Taekwondo club celebrats the coming of 3 students, two of whom earned medals at the last 2009 U.S. Open Taekwondo Championships in Las Vegas. About 1,700 constestants from 59 countries participate in the largest U.S. Open ever.
Three-time Canadian junior champion Jeffrey Cromack also had won bronse in the 14-17 year-old male black belt 2nd Poom lightweight forms league while former B.C. champion Michael Lowe won the top-15 in the 18-32 year-old male black belt 3rd Dan Forms Division. He was thrown by the 2008 U.S. national forms champion.
Turning to synchronized swimming, the Nanaimo Diamonds had three groups to the regional routine meet in Coquitlam and all 3 were coming home with first-place match victory..
The Diamonds Tier Six team, playing at the provincinial level, and the Tier Three and Tier Five teams, in there 1st routine of the season all had win their divisions. The Tier Six team qualified for Western Canadian championships, which commenced at Nanaimo Aquatic Centre on March 26-29.
Meghan Dougan had won the figures event in her age division while her partner Nicole Dean had a personal-best fourth-place finish. Nanaimo's Tier One, Three and Five teams competed in the regionals at the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre.
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Taekwondo Approves Changes to Rules
The WTF General Assembly, the highest decision-making body of the world's taekwondo governing body, has voted to overwhelmingly approve the proposed amendments to the WTF Rules and Regulations and the WTF Competition Rules.
The WTF Council convened in Ankara, Turkey on December 15, 2008, on the occasion of the 2009 WTF World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships, to approve the proposed amendments.
On December 24, the WTF sent letters to its 188 member national associations and WTF Council members, asking for their votes by email or post by no later than January 31, 2009.
"In accordance with Article 20 and Article 8.12 of the WTF Rules and Regulations, I, as President of the World Taekwondo Federation, hereby announce that the proposed amendments to the WTF Rules and Regulations and the WTF Competition Rules, have been duly passed with an overwhelming majority," WTF President Chungwon Choue said.
WTF President Choue continued to say: "I am pleased with the outcome and I am positive that the new rules will serve us well in the years to come."
Out of 114 ballots cast for the proposed amendments to the WTF Rules and Regulations, 91 voted for the amendments, six voted against the amendments, four abstained. The remaining 13 votes were invalid, as most of them passed the January 31 submission deadline.
For the proposed amendments to the WTF Competition Rules, 87 voted for the amendments out of 114, and seven were against the amendments, while eight abstained. Twelve ballots were invalid as most of them passed the submission deadline.
Among the approved amendments to the WTF Rules and Regulations were the WTF's designation of the World Taekwondo Academy in Korea as its international academic center for studies, education and research of taekwondo, and the change of the name of the WTF Education Committee to the WTF Education, Training and Development Committee.
Among the newly approved WTF Competition Rules, which will be effective starting as early as in June 2009, were the shortening of the competition area from the present 10 meters by 10 meters to 8 meters by 8 meters; the introduction of a differentiation of valid points (one point for a valid punch or kick to the trunk protector, two points for a valid turning kick to the body, and three points for a valid kick to the head); the introduction of an instant video replay system; the abolition of the win by a 7-point gap and the win by a 12-point ceiling; and the awarding of an additional point to the opposing contestant for two kyonggos and a gamjeom.
In a joint meeting of the presidents and secretaries general of the WTF's five Continental Unions at the WTF headquarters in Seoul, Korea on February 3-6, 2009, the participants were briefed on the results of the WTF General Assembly e-votes.
The WTF Continental Union leaders also discussed the implementation dates of the new WTF Competition Rules and the grading of Continental taekwondo championships for the newly implemented WTF athlete ranking system.
Among the participants were Gen. Ahmed Fouly, President of the African Taekwondo Union (AFTU); Mr. Hossam Morsi, Secretary General of the AFTU; Mr. Dai Soon Lee, President of the Asian Taekwondo Union (ATU); Mr. Kyu Seok Lee, Secretary General of the ATU; Mr. Athanasios Pragalos, President of the European Taekwondo Union (ETU); Mr. Gerrit Eissink, Secretary General of the ETU; Mr. Ji Ho Choi, President of the Pan American Taekwondo Union (PATU); Mr. Roberto Beltran Ramonetti, Secretary General of the PATU; Mr. Phillip Walter Coles, President of the Oceania Taekwondo Union (OTU); and Mr. John Kotsifas, Secretary General of the OTU.
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MTA Must Resolve Internal Crisis By June
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Taekwondo Association (MTA) has been given until June to resolve their internal problems if the taekwondo sport are to be included in the 2010 Melaka SUKMA.
Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the decision was made to give exponents under MTA a chance to compete in the SUKMA that has been fixed from May 28 to June 6, 2010.
"I am confident Sports Commissioner (SC) Datuk Nik Mahmud Nik Yusof can resolve the issue successfully by June," he told reporters after chairing a SUKMA committee meeting in Parliament here Thursday.
He added that the MTA, the Malaysian Taekwondo Clubs Association (MTCA) and the Malaysian Taekwondo Federation (MTF) had agreed to form a joint committee to try and resolve differences that existed among the three.
Ismail Sabri said the MTA issue has to be solved so that it would not hinder the progress of taekwondo exponents who are identified to compete in international competitions.
"Taekwondo need to be given attention as it is among sports that has a potential to contribute medals for the country," he said.
MTA was deregistered in mid 2005 by former Sports Commissioner Tan Sri Elyas Omar for apparently hindering the development of the sport but former Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said reinstated the MTA's status in June 2007.
However, some officials who were not happy with the reinstatement of MTA, filed a complaint with the SC's office and the status of the association remains hanging in the balance.
Meanwhile, Melaka state executive councillor for Welfare, Unity, Youth and Sports Datuk (Capt) Ab. Karim Sulaiman said due to the economic crisis, the organising cost of the SUKMA has been reduced to RM30 million.
"But despite the reduced budget, the quality and glamour of the Games will not be affected," he said.
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