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
