What is Taekwondo to me?

By Taekwondo Central Assistant Instructor Luke Crane

In just two years, I have achieved with my training what takes most White Belts at least four. I have gone from just bumming around at home with no thought of EVER studying a martial art, to being an Assistant Instructor at my club. How did I do it and why? Because I’m a Father…

Taekwondo is so many things to me. It’s liberating. It’s keeping fit, staying positive, working towards goals you would have never thought achievable, and surpassing them!

Its strength to overcome your fears, to find the confidence that has always been inside you but never knew how to access or harness.

Taekwondo is exhilarating, it’s full of energy.

Taekwondo empowers you to bring out the best from within.

Taekwondo is respect, discipline, determination, courage, focus, self-awareness, self-defence and knowing how to take control over a potentially dangerous situation.

Most importantly, Taekwondo is fun, and Taekwondo has become a big part of my life.

Two years ago I would never have seen myself where I am today. I had no thoughts of even considering taking up martial arts.

But the reason I’m here now? Her name is Remy!

She’s a beautiful blue-eyed, red-headed, fiery young girl. She is wise beyond her years and she’s been doing Taekwondo with our club since she was 3-years-old.

She is my now 8-year-old daughter and she is my world.

I enrolled Remy in Taekwondo 5 years ago at her mum’s suggestion – she had a friend whose daughter was also doing Taekwondo.

Back then I knew little of the sport, but I knew enough to realise this would be a great thing for Remy to participate in.

You see, Remy’s mum and I are no longer together and I could see there were some issues arising within Remy that I believed Taekwondo could help her with.

Self-confidence was a big issue. “I can’t Daddy, I can’t do it!”

So many times I’ve heard this same sentence. I’m sure all parents have.

It’s heart breaking when someone you love, truely believes they can’t do something. It’s like they’ve already given up.

Remy had difficulty focusing at times during her early training sessions. She had an eternal battle raging away inside as she tried to make sense of who she was in a life that involved moving from my house to her mum’s house, her mum’s house to my house and on and on.

It’s a cycle of confusion that can be very hard for any child, of any age, to understand.

Listening, or more accurately, her lack of listening is another issue that entwines its way into many of our battles.

It’s hard watching your child go through these emotions and hard to know how to deal with them the right way so you can help them understand what’s going on.

Taekwondo seemed like a great way to deal with some of these issues – A fun way, a positive way, a creative way.

Honestly, enrolling Remy into the Taekwondo Central Dragonflies Program has been the best decision I’ve ever made.

Taekwondo has really helped Remy out with all of the above mentioned and so much more.

As I sat on the sidelines over the weeks, months and then years, I witnessed changes occurring relatively quickly in Remy.

Also during this time I watched Instructors John and Ajana grow into amazing people and absolutely brilliant instructors.

I can see now why Master Justin chose them for the roles they have taken up within his club. Their attention to detail, the love and care everyone has put in is just amazing.

And finally I watched Master Justin teaching. Watched how he keeps his students interested and focused, seeing the passion that he has and puts into his work, his club.

All of this eventually made me think. This is great, maybe I’d give it a go if there was an adult class. Why not? What is there to lose?

Low and behold there was an Adult Class and even better it was a Family Class run in Australind.

At this stage Remy had passed all her belts in the Dragonflies Program and the Little Dragons Program, she was now starting out in to the Super Dragons Program.

I decided to ask the question, could she possibly join in with the Family Program if I was to start as well?

As, by now, Remy had a lot of experience it was decided that we could give it a try and we started training together.

Remy loved it! She loved it so much.

I remember Remy telling her mum on the phone one day when we first started doing Taekwondo together. She was so excited that her Dad was doing something she absolutely loves with her.

This was no longer Remy’s Taekwondo Journey, this was now OUR Taekwondo Journey and it’s been an amazing ride.

Remy is now currently working on her grading for Blue Belt 2nd Stripe, half way to Black Belt and she is only 8-years-old.

In only two years I have gone from a newbie White Belt, unsure of exactly what I was in for, to now wearing the Cho Dan Bo Belt, a probationary black belt.

In November/December I will travel to Perth to attempt my Black Belt grading.

I am also an Assistant Instructor within our club helping everyone out as much as I possibly can. But how have I graded so quickly? How have I gone from White Belt to now training for a Black Belt – 4 years of training in just 2 years?

Well I’ve worked very hard, I have been disciplined, I have pushed myself, I have believed in myself, I have completed things I never thought possible.

I just recently participated in a two week yoga challenge where I found I could keep my balance on each leg for over an hour and 2 mins.

This was organised though The Mortal Mouse Taekwondo Blogger (who just happens to be another proud Taekwondo parent training with her son within our club). I suggest you look up the page on Facebook there are many amazing articles to read.

I have done every bonus summer holiday program since I started. In the last Program I was training not only for my Red Belt 2nd stripe but also my Red Belt 3rd stripe.

This was very intense training undergone in only one month instead of the usual semester it would have taken.

I have participated in our Paragon Program. Taekwondo has given me all that I need in order to be able to achieve all of this and I have never given up because I love Taekwondo and I love my Taekwondo family.

I love working alongside Instructors John and Ajana, Master Justin, my cousin Assistant Instructor Kelly, all of the members of our leadership team.

I love that they all love working alongside me, I love helping out every one of our students.

I love that Taekwondo has given me the strength, determination and the confidence to face anything that has attempted to pull me down.

The anxieties I have faced when I’ve felt like I’m at the lowest point I’ve been in my life. Taekwondo has given me a whole new lifestyle for the better and I love that.

But most of all, absolutely MOST of all, I love my daughter Remy.

I love that we share this amazing bond together, I love that we share our love of Taekwondo together, I absolutely love that Remy is the one who introduced me to Taekwondo, just as I had introduced her to Taekwondo years ago.

Remy has given me the power to never give up and Taekwondo has helped reinforce this power in a way I never thought possible.

I encourage any mother or father to have a go! Bring your children and create a bond that will never break.

Try it out. Its’ so beneficial, truly amazing. You will love it

 

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We wanted to thank all who nominated into our kicking technique contest.

The Combo was
Short Axe Kick – Turning Kick – Cut Kick (Balancing)

For all our nominees. take a minute to look back over your footage and use this as a great chance to refine your own technique

1 – Keep Your Head Still (Head position keeps balance)
2 – Body Alignment (Looking Down Your Body not bending)
3 – Chamber of Each kick (Knee Up – Knee Forward – Heal Forward)
4 – Delivery Of Each kick (Stretch & Bend- Flick – Stomp)
5 – Support Foot Position (Angles = 0*. 135*. 180*)
6 – Contact Foot Position (Back Of Heal – Instep – Under Heal)
7 – Targeting (Correct Height)

Watch The Lesson Film Clip Here – Click Here
AND THE WINNER Of Our Term 2, $100 CONTEST IS…………..

KELLY ROWE

 

–

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By Kristy Hitchens aka The Mortal Mouse
Photos By Taylha Burgess – Taylha Burgess Photography.

It hasn’t been done for more than six years. We couldn’t wait for the chance to bring back some old-school fun to the club. And judging by the sheer number of cheers, smiles, laughing, comradery and general happiness that filled the Australind Senior High School Gymnasium on Sunday, June 10, WE DID IT!

Taekwondo Central’s Family Fun & Challenge Day was something we, the leadership group, will remember for a long time to come. We hope our Members will too.

Right from the outset, our 4m inflatable taekwondo kicker, grabbed everyone’s attention and announced participants and spectators alike were in for a great day. We kicked off the fun with a ‘Bring a Friend’ training session where participants rotated through three stations: kicking, self-defence and mixed drills. Whole club events like this are pretty special since they give us all the opportunity to come together and share in our mutual enjoyment of Taekwondo.

But there is something even MORE special about having the chance to share that enjoyment with friends and family who may not have seen this side of you before. It was truly heart-warming to see mums, dads, sisters, brothers and friends jump in and have a go, inspired by the martial artists of all ages in their lives.

The arrival of Donny the Dragon really helped lift the party atmosphere of the day and he proved a big hit with our littlest members…..and even some of the bigger ones! With our classes running in Bunbury, Eaton and Australind, the lunchtime sausage sizzle provided a great opportunity for families from all of our operating locations to come together and socialise.

On a generally wet and windy day it was an absolute stroke of luck to see the sun come out for our lunch break. A massive thank you must be sent out to our sausage sizzle team of Black Belt Tahlia Gowland, mum Deanna and Ajana’s mum Michelle who were under the pump but made sure everyone was taken care of as quickly as possible.

Our Agility Course kicked off the Challenge aspect of our big day and it was obvious hearts were literally melting around the room as our tiny Dragonfly members threw themselves into the competition. Cheered on by the audience and our instructors it was fantastic to see all of our Members enjoy the boost in confidence that comes from competing in a fun and supportive environment with their friends.

The sense of achievement too was real when our stunning Gold, Silver and Bronze medals with Taekwondo Central emblem were handed out. The flying kick competition was another magnificent sight for our spectators as some of our Members literally blew us away with their agility.

Gladiator Battles provided plenty of laughs before the atmosphere became more serious again for our Patterns Competition, showcasing yet another wonderful aspect of the training we undertake at Taekwondo Central.

Recognition must be given to Head Instructor Ajana Plunkett who took on the bulk of the massive amount of work involved in organising a day like this.

Thank you to the below and everyone who contributed towards making our first Family Fun & Challenge Day in YEARS such a wonderful success. We promise we won’t leave it so long again for our next special club event.

Instructor John Crawford

Leadership Team Kelly Rowe, Luke Crane, Trinity Best, Maddi Booth, Kelly Platts, Mollie Swarbrick

Black Belt Rebecca Collis for help with setting up and the agility circuit

Ajana’s sister Taylha – our event photographer

And Black Belt Gary Veljacich…but we can’t tell you why we have to thank Gary. It’s a secret!

A Special Congratulations to our top performers of the day

Trinity Best
2 Gold – 1 Silver – 1 Bronze

Chris Charry –
2 Gold – 1 Bronze

Alex Cunningham –
2 Gold – 1 Bronze

Kai Shapkaris –
2 Gold

Full Medal results Can Be Found Further Down This Page

AGILITY CIRCUIT – ALL DIVISIONS

Gold

• ·         William Cunningham
• ·         Daniel Platts
• ·         Noah Weggelaar
• ·         Alex Cunningham
• ·         Ryley Stranger
• ·         Bianca Stranger
• ·         Kai Shapkaris
• ·         Chris Charry
• ·         Deagan McDonald

Silver

• ·         Jebb Collins
• ·         Samuel Collins
• ·         Bruce Martinac
• ·         Annika Best
• ·         Rebecca Buhlmann
• ·         Joey Platts
• ·         Toby Ballantyne
• ·         Anthony North

Bronze

• ·         Eric Buhlmann
• ·         Abel Godwin
• ·         Dimitri Perez
• ·         Trinity Best
• ·         Madison Riches
• ·         Christopher Cunningham
• ·         Lucas Hitchens
• ·         Coya Brown

FLYING KICK – ALL DIVISIONS

Gold

• ·         Alex Cunningham
• ·         Rhiannon Maris
• ·         Kai Shapkaris
• ·         Chris Charry
• ·         Lucas Hitchens
• ·         Trinity Best

Silver

• ·         Daniel Platts
• ·         Bruce Martinac
• ·         Julian West

Bronze

• ·         Joey Platts
• ·         Jaxon Godwin
• ·         Noah Weggelaar
• ·         Anthony North
• ·         Toby Ballantyne
• ·         Dylan Scott
• ·         Deagan McDonald
• ·         Annika Best
• ·         Ashton English

GLADIATOR – ALL DIVISIONS

Gold

• ·         Abel Godwin
• ·         Sofia Sabatino
• ·         Jaxon Godwin
• ·         Trinity Best
• ·         Madison Riches
• ·         Coya Brown
• ·         Ashton English
• ·         Gary Veljacich

Silver

• ·         Samuel Collins
• ·         Alexandra Martinac
• ·         Alex Cunningham
• ·         Bianca Stranger
• ·         Ryley Stranger
• ·         Toby Ballantyne
• ·         Dylan Scott
• ·         Rebecca Collis

Bronze

• ·         Noah Weggelaar
• ·         Dimitri Perez
• ·         Will Cottam
• ·         Julian West
• ·         Bruce Martinac
• ·         Mollie Swarbrick
• ·         Shonna Charry
• ·         Annika Best
• ·         Deagan McDonald
• ·         Chris Charry
• ·         Christopher Cunningham
• ·         Lucas Hitchens

POOMSAE – PATTERNS

Gold

• ·         Melanie Buhlmann
• ·         Maddi Booth
• ·         Madison  Riches

Silver

• ·         Rebecca Collis
• ·         Trinity Best
• ·         Annika Best

Bronze

• ·         Jacqualine McArthur
• ·         Mollie Swarbrick
• ·         Toby Ballantyne

Please contact us if you won a medal but have not been listed. We  would like all to be recognised for there effort

Homepage – Click Here
Timetable – Click Here
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