WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
The ninth Open Taekwondo World Championships was held in Telford last month and five intrepid students ventured there to compete against the best in the world. Everyone fought bravely and we were so proud of you all just to know that you were there. We came back with one bronze medal which was won by Tim Cochran in his boys tag team sparring category. Tim had trained extremely hard before the event, making several trips to Wiltshire for specialised training with the best in the business, and only missed out on a silver or gold because the team lost to the English champions, so certainly no loss of face and a well-deserved medal. Well done to you all, you were a credit to yourselves and this school.

CHRISTMAS PARTY
We asked last month for suggestions about where we could hold the Christmas party this year. The responses we had suggested that students and parents would like to be able to be all together and to do something that the tigers could be involved in aswell. As a result, we have decided to have a Christmas disco and buffet at the Community Centre on the night of Friday 3rd December. Everyone will be invited including parents and tigers so, please keep this date free in your diaries as it should be a cracking night! More details about times and prices will be confirmed as soon as we have them.

TIGER OF THE MONTH
Tiger of the month for October is Elouise Wills. Elouise has been training for a couple of months and always tries really hard to perform techniques properly. She is always doing her best to show me that she is improving and has a permanently sunny disposition. Well done and keep up the hard work!

PROPOSED CHANGES TO TRAINING TIMES
Anyone who came to the main class last Wednesday will have noticed that our recent recruitment drive has been extremely successful and that we had eight new starters. Although this is great for the school’s continued development, it does mean that we are struggling to accommodate everyone in the hall. We have tried before to find alternative venues, but this has always been unsuccessful because it would mean changing days which, in turn, would mean losing students. Our only other option is to split the class between juniors (13 and under) and others (14 and above). The only time slot that is available to us is on a Monday night as there are activities on after us on a Wednesday. Therefore, our proposal is to have a juniors training session between 7.30 and 8.30pm on a Monday, followed by a seniors session from 8.30pm – 9.30pm. Wednesday’s training and tigers would be unaffected. We understand that ultimately you would be receiving 30 minutes less training but feel that the quality of training you receive would be improved. If anyone has any feedback on this proposal, we would love to hear it. If everyone is fairly happy, we will set this up to start next month. Definate details will be given to you nearer the time.

 

NEXT GRADING
It really doesn’t seem possible that the next grading could be coming around so soon but, alas, it is. The grading will be held on THURSDAY 4TH NOVEMBER at a venue that has still to be confirmed. Pre-gradings will be held in week commencing 18th October. If you are due to grade, please try really hard to get to one of the sessions during this week as you will not be able to grade if you have not pre-graded.

 UPCOMING EVENTS
British Championships – 28th November at Telford – more details as soon as I have them.

BLACK BELT NEWS
Black Belt pre-grading training – 9th October
Both sessions will be held at Hutton Moor Leisure Centre in Weston Super Mare with sessions for black belts starting at 10am. You are required as a black belt to attend one of these sessions and we always come away having learned something. Black belt white doboks must be worn and take your licence book so that it can be stamped. Cost per session is £8.00.

 

Welcome to Tiverton TAGB Taekwon Do

Tae kwon do is characterized by the extensive use of high standing and jump kicks as well as punches and is practiced for sport, self-defence, and spiritual development. Training in tae kwon do is carried out by learning individual techniques of kicking, punching, and blocking, which are practiced in combined series of techniques in traditional sets known as hyung.  To the Korean people Tae Kwon Do is more than a mere use of skilled movements, it also implies a way of life.

Translated from Korean, Tae means to jump, kick or smash with the foot, Kwon means to punch, strike or smash with the hand and Do is art, method or way.