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Life skills through Taekwondo

Life skills through Taekwondo 7th Dan Taekwondo essay by Michael Tan 2005   Preface For many years I wondered why the length of time in each Dan increased, as you got higher.  Initially I thought it was purely to keep the Dans in perspective.  Where would it end if people were allowed to grade every year or so.  I always new the time in the grade gave you experience and knowledge.  It is only after reflecting on this time that one realises this knowledge is something no practical grading can ever test.  This is one of the reasons why we should always respect our seniors.  They have a wealth of knowledge; which one should explore.  This essay is about what has kept me doing Taekwondo when all around me have quit.  In writing this essay I will endeavour to give an insight as to what I have learnt from Taekwondo.  I shall touch on the challenges, the set backs and the future of Taekwondo for me. There is not a day that goes pass where Taekwondo has not entered my life.  It has been that way for some 20 years since the opening of our own club and taking on the responsibility of instructing others.  Now at the age of 40, Taekwondo has given me great pleasures for more than ¾ of my life (33 years). Taekwondo is many things to many people; it has so many mystical powers that it becomes part of your life.   I was first introduced to through my father and his friends.  They had started in 1971 and were blue belts by the time I started.  Back then Martial Arts were just starting to boom in Australia as a [...]

By |2019-01-16T10:31:34+10:00May 29th, 2014|Martial Arts, Motivation, Tans Coorparoo|0 Comments

Our Korean guests like Australia

  Our Korean guests from Shin Sung University are having a great time in Queensland.  The following is a bit of a travel diary of Dragon and Les. Week 1 Arrived Friday 25 Jan and went straight up to Caboolture to watch a Hapkido Grading.  Had steak at the Morayfield Leagues club. Australia Day cricket match and BBQ in Bardon. Spent their first week at Coorparoo going through all the classes. Week 2 Went down to Currumbin for 3 days.  They loved the beach and Robina shopping centre. Returned by train and introduced music poomse to Coorparoo.   Thursday they took the City Cat ferry into the city from Bulimba.   Friday they went to Ipswich where they saw Kangaroos at Queens Park Zoo followed by training with Kevin. Saturday they took a trip out to our country Club near Esk where they took training and came home via the Wivenhoe dam.  They have heaps of photos of Cows. Sunday they had a Korean meal with some of our students Min Suh and Jung Suh where they spend most of the day.   Week 3 Will spend 3 days at Coorparoo before Going down to the Gold Coast on Thursday. Week 4 Return from the Gold Coast and Spend time with Jono at Arana Hills and Yeronga. Return back to the Gold Coast from Thursday. Week 5 Monday they will meet Jono at the Airport where they will return to Korean and University life.    

Taekwondo Black Belt family – 3 girls and dad

Missing the first seven years of my girls lives with working away, Taekwondo gave me a chance to spend time with my children to build relationships, to build trust, to build goal setting and to achieve goals together. There are not many sports that allow such a wide range of ages to be all involved together. In the beginning I began to bring my daughters to our local Taekwondo centre, for  them fitness, but for me, to spend time with my children. I had been coming for four years but never graded, then my middle child Kaitlin asked me to grade with her, so I did. Now today some eight years on both her and I are going to grade to 2nd Dan together. Not a bad achievement, her and I joining her older sister to 2nd Dan with her younger sister not far behind. My second reason to family time, and a bit of fitness was to teach my daughters goal setting. Short, medium and long term goals. The youngest, Jennifer at twelve to have spent seven years to achieve her Black belt. More than half her life training, has taught her and her sisters goal setting and the sense of achievement for the hours put in. To set a short term goal, your next belt level. A medium goal, red belt in two years. Long term goal, Black Belt by thirteen years of age. This goal setting at such a young age aids them in every area of life for when they get older. To learn the principle of goal setting aids us in paying off a car, having a family, going to university. All areas of life where short medium and long [...]

By |2014-03-17T12:41:24+10:00January 19th, 2014|Taekwondo|0 Comments

Pink Belt Week for Cancer Council

Cancer Council raises awareness and funds for prevention programs, support services and world-class research into women’s cancers.  Donate to Pink and make a real difference to those affected by breast and gynaecological cancers through prevention programs, support services and world-class research.  As a not-for-profit organisation, Cancer Council relies on the support of the media to promote fundraising efforts throughout the year. In 2013 they aim to raise around $9.4 million for Pink Ribbon Day, Girls’ Night In and Pink Ribbon Fundraisers. A total of $550 was raised this week through the sale of pink belts. Jeremiah Anderson Stella Anson Kim Astro Sam Atkinson Chrissie Bowie Paul Bowler Stephen Clark Tom Dean Billie Diery Daniel Egert Mitchell Egert Sam Feenstra Tom Feenstra Sasha Freslon Adam Gibson David Gibson Sarah Gibson Claire Gladman Aiden Gock Morgan Grace Jaminson Grinke Liam Hansen Savva Hatzipapas Chelsea Hobday Caleb Hodgkinson Niamh Hodgkinson John Keillerup Connor Leahy Declan Leahy Hamish Leddie Laura Leddie Spiro Livanes Nikhil Matthews David Meechan Jamie Meechan Joshua Mitchell Courtney Nichols Lachlan Nichols Connor Nicolson Judy Pascoe Max Ryder Tom Ryder Kiarra Sawynok Tom Sinnamon Leon Skerritt Lachlan Southwood Declan Stanley Claudia Tan Michael Tan Dominic Trevatt Jon Trotta Ethan Turner Madison Turner Presley Woods Brent Woolgar  

By |2019-01-16T10:31:35+10:00October 20th, 2013|Health, Martial Arts, Motivation, Taekwondo, Tans Coorparoo|0 Comments

October Dan grading

25 students and Instructors attended black belt training and our second higher dan grading for the year.  Master Tan commenced training with all Dan patterns Koryo - Ilyo followed by some 1 step sparring incorporating wrist locks.  We finished the session going through Palgwe patterns and breaking. The following students successfully passed their high dan grading.  Congratulations to all students.   Jonathon Doyle ARANA_HILLS    3rd Dan Chelsea Hobday COORPAROO 2nd Dan Bo Tristan Jong COORPAROO 2nd Dan Bo James Woods COORPAROO 2nd Dan Bo Andrew James CURRUMBIN 3rd Dan Bo Simon Williams CURRUMBIN 3rd Dan Bo Stephanie Iong LOGAN 2nd Dan Bo Ryan Crawford SPRINGWOOD 2nd Dan   The next higher Dan grading will be in April 2014.    

What a black belt means to me.

Morgan Grace, Chelsea Hobday and Jess Roberts achieveing black belt on the weekend. The definition of black belt is a symbol worn by someone well trained in a martial art. It is a rank which is worked for over time and attained through commitment, but what does it mean to be a black belt? Taekwondo trains people well in discipline. This is developed after years of instruction and listening to what is being told. Failure to follow these instructions could lead to injury or putting others in danger. A black belt is someone who is well disciplined and can listen to orders, especially ones made by someone higher ranked than them. Taekwondo teaches people to have self-control. This is important in order not to hurt someone, especially during sparring matches or one-step. A kick which is not controlled could easily cause a serious injury. A black belt is someone who has control over their actions. Taekwondo demonstrates consciousness of a person’s surroundings. A black belt means that you are aware of what is going on around you. Taekwondo develops a person’s reaction time. This is important in many aspects of life however in martial arts is especially important to ensure that you are not hit. Having the ability to avoid attacks is essential when sparring. A black belt has the ability to react quickly to punches or kicks and move out of the way or block. Reaction time also includes attacking another person. The time available to kick in a sparring round is limited and if the person cannot attack fast enough, their opponent will seize the opportunity. It also develops confidence and trust. Having a good amount of confidence in your decisions [...]

By |2019-01-16T10:31:36+10:00July 7th, 2013|Centres, Martial Arts, Motivation, Tans Coorparoo|0 Comments

4th Gold Coast Open

A total of 362 competitors from all states of Australia attended the 4th Gold Cost Open.  There were also teams from NZ and Tonga.  The black belt divisions were the best that Australia has to offer.  We had 2 divisions with over 12 players in them.  Most divisions had many current Australian team members.  With so many TA and STA clubs in attendance, it was a great chance to see the best from each body compete in the true spirit of Taekwondo.  It was fantastic to see everyone get on and hopefully this will pave the way for unification of Taekwondo in Australia. The Daedo PSS electronic chest guards were used for a large number of coloured belt divisions.  Next year we will expand the divisions to include more junior divisions. Three very special Memorial awards were given out over the weekend. The Wayne Brown Memorial Award given for the best Poomse Spirit went to Maddy Houston from Factor Ten (Qld).  The Mario Rejtano Memorial Award given for best Sparring player went to Aaron Wain from Fighting Lyons (Vic).  The Ken Mayfield Memorial Award for best sparring (Kyorugi) spirit on the day went to Michael Magee from Global MA (Sydney).   Alan Powrie of Powrie & Co, Barristers and Solicitors has kindly donated the Ken Mayfield Award.        

By |2019-01-16T10:31:36+10:00May 30th, 2013|Taekwondo, WTF Competition|0 Comments
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