The STF will be organizing a Sparring Course (Fundamental) on Sunday 27 September 2015 from 2.30pm to 5.30pm. Candidates going for their 1st poom or dan will be exempted from sparring if they have the fundamental certification.
More details on the course are as follows.
Date : Sunday 27 September 2015
Time : 2.30pm to 5.30pm
5.00pm onwards (Test)
(Senior Red 1 & black belt holders will be required to recite the pledge)
Venue : STF National Training Centre
Block 80 Lorong Limau #04-191 Singapore 320080
Minimum Qualification : Red 1
Fees : Closing date: Monday 21 September 2015 – $50.00
After closing date – $70.00
Dress Code : Dobok
The registration form is available in the ‘Forms’ folder.
His parents signed him up for Taekwondo when he was six, hoping the sport would help the quiet child become more confident.
“I was a very quiet and shy boy,” admitted the now 24-year-old Jason Tan.
“So my parents put me into a Taekwondo class at the RC, hoping that it will help to open me up more.”
After nearly two decades of Taekwondo, the sport has done much more than boost his self-esteem. Tan will be the captain of the national team at the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
This will be Tan’s fourth time competing in the SEA Games, having clinched bronze in 2009 and 2011.
“I’m definitely aiming for a medal and more than a bronze this time,” said Tan who has been with Acme Taekwondo since he first started the sport.
“Asian powerhouses in Taekwondo are in this region so it is very competitive, but I will take it as it comes and try my best.”
Tan currently trains two times daily six days of the week.
The Temasek Polytechnic retail and hospitality design graduate started sparring from the age of seven and joined the national team at 16 after displaying a lot of promise.
Tan consistently topped his category for 12 years from 1999 to 2011 in the National Taekwondo Championships.
Bouncing back from injury
His coach revealed that in 2011, Tan suffered a torn ACL and had to undergo surgery.
However, he battled the injury to come back to the sport, despite doctors not being optimistic.
Six months later, he was back on his feet and competed at the 2011 SEA Games where he lost during the semi-finals by one point and missed his shot at the gold medal bout.
Tan’s best achievement to date was at the Korea International Open in 2012 where he won gold in the Under-58 category.
His most recent podium finish was a bronze at the 12th Asean (ATF) Taekwondo Championships 2015 in March this year.
Natural leader
“Jason not only shows talent for the sport, he also displays strong character,” said Wong Liang Ming, the coach for the national Taekwondo team.
“We appointed him as the captain since he was 18, because he displayed a lot of leadership potential and responsibility.”
Wong went on to describe how put in extra hours on his own for training and took initiative to bring the team together.
Once, Tan even knocked on the hotel door of every teammate during an overseas competition to make sure they woke up on time, said Wong.
“Tan is definitely one of Singapore’s brightest hopes. He has shown so much drive and passion, and also maturity responsibility from a young age.
“Of course we want him to make it to the finals – there’s no one who deserves it more,” Wong said.
The Singapore Taekwondo Federation (STF) has placed a high premium on the safety of participants in all its activities – especially grading and tournaments as safety cannot happen by accident.
However, the STF recognizes that all its efforts will come to naught if club leaders, officials and coaches do not co-operate or are careless.
For the National ‘Kyorugi’ Championships, the STF would like to remind them to ensure that their athletes are prepared and fit for the competition. They should withdraw any athlete who is not feeling well on the day of the competition.
Doctor’s clearance will be required for those with pre-existing medical conditions.
Before reporting at the inspection desk, it is the responsibility of coaches to physically check that their athletes don all the required protective guards which are in good repair and fit them well; have their nails trimmed; and do not wear anything that may cause harm to themselves or their opponents.
Among other things, the inspection desk officials have been instructed to ensure that all safety measures are strictly observed. Athletes and their coaches are expected to co-operate with them to make the competition safe.
Coaches will have to appear before the Sanctioned Committee if they are negligent or are caught slipping through or trying to slip through the safety checks.
Some coaches have requested for more clarity on video replay request. In order to assist them, the Singapore Taekwondo Federation provides below a general guideline which is useful in helping them decide if they want to request a video replay or not.
The referee or any of the judges has the right to call for a conference to confirm if there is any contact for head shot where head kick is NOT allowed. If there is any iota of doubt during the discussion, the referee shall request for video replay. In the absence of video evidence, the referee shall make the final decision by giving the kicker a ‘Gam-jeom’ instead of declaring ‘PUN’.
For technical point/s, the referee or any of the judges can ask for confirmation. If the refereeing officials want to be sure, the referee may ask for video replay provided the coach does not have any quota.
Generally the coach can ask for video replay against the opponent for the following – falling, getting out of boundary line, invalidation of points when penalty has been given for the offence which helps in the scoring and points awarded by judges for face kick in a conference when e-headgear is used.
For his own player, the coach may request video replay for points, technical points or invalidation of any penalty.
The coach may also request for video replay for removal of phantom points, inclusion of penalties omitted from the scoreboard, loss of time or other technical issues.
For video replay requested by the coach, the video review jury shall accept or reject a request if the review jury has video evidence to support his or her decision. The review jury will also reject the request if the view is blocked by, say, the referee or player and the referee shall pocket the card. However, if the review jury cannot find the clip because of technical problem or other reasons, the request shall be rejected and the card returned to the coach.
Please feel free to email Mr Lim Teong Chin at stkdf@mail.com if you require more clarification or information.
Results of the Kyorugi Referee Course held on 15, 16 & 29 August 2015 held at the STF National Training Centre are attached.
A retest for unsuccessful participants will be held on Wednesday 9 September 2015 at the at 7.30pm at the STF National Training Centre. The fee is $20 per component.
Please call the Secretariat at 6345 1491 by Tuesday 8 September 2015 to register for the retest. Payment may be made at the venue.
All participants in the recently concluded Kyorugi Referee Course will be required to attend an extra session on Friday 4 September at 7.30pm at the National Training Centre.
The results will be made known at the session.
Please call the Secretariat at 6345 1491 to register. If you are keen to officiate at the National Kyorugi Championships, you will have to successfully complete the session and assessment on Friday.
The results of the Referee Refresher Seminar held on 30 August 2015 at the National Training Centre have been tabulated and moderated. For example, we have reduced the passing bar to 70% for scoring test and provided greater allowance for passing for the theory test.
The retest will be held as follows at 7.30pm at the National Training Centre.
– Wednesday 2 September 2015
– Thursday 3 September 2015
– Friday 4 September 2015
Participants may choose one of the above date for the retest.
The fees for the retest shall be $20 per component. It will be payable at the National Training Centre before the start of the retest.
Please be reminded that only those who had successfully completed the seminar will have their licences to officiate extended by a year.
In accordance with the Constitution of the Singapore Taekwondo Federation, the following members have been nominated by the out-going Committee for co-option in the new Committee.
(a) Milan Kwee
(b) Dr Ho Mun Wai
(c) Dr Lee Chee Wee
(d) Wong Liang Ming
The following five affiliates are each entitled to a reserved seat in the Management for the new term.
(a) Edgefield Secondary School
(b) J H Kim Institute (Main)
(c) St Teresa TKD Centre
(d) J H Kim Institute (Bukit Timah)
(e) Acme TKD
The affiliates concerned are asked to submit in writing the names of representatives who will take up the reserved seats by Friday 11 September 2015 to the Secretary-General, Singapore Taekwondo Federation, 260A Tanjong Katong Road Singapore 437048 or email at stkdf@mail.com.
If the names of the reserved member are not submitted by the stipulated date, the seat will be offered to the next affiliate in line.
The programme, fixtures and protector sizes for the 2015 Ambassador Cup National Kyorugi Championships are attached.
The PSS and Video Replay will be implemented for all 4 days of competition.
Recycled sensing socks will be provided. If the competitors are concerned with the hygiene, they may purchase the socks at the venue at S$90 each.
Clubs officials are advised to take note of the following reporting time.
– Volunteers
1) Day 1 & Day 3 – (Saturdays) 5 & 12 September 2015 by 9.00am at Toa Payoh Sports Hall (set up & training) 2) Day 2 & Day 4 – (Sundays) 6 & 13 September 2015 by 8.00am at Toa Payoh Sports Hall
– Referees
1) Day 1 & Day 3 – (Saturdays) 5 & 12 September 2015 by 12.00pm at Toa Payoh Sports Hall 2) Day 2 & Day 4 – (Sundays) 6 & 13 September 2015 by 8.30am at Toa Payoh Sports Hall
Each club must provide at least one volunteer for each competition day. Clubs without referees will be barred from the competition and action will be taken against them.
“There are not many years of early childhood opportunities for father and son bonding amidst the rigours of work and school.”
The impetus for joining the competition was really all about bonding with my son. There are not many years of early childhood opportunities for father and son bonding amidst the rigours of work and school. I am therefore very glad to have this opportunity to create a shared experience with my son, hoping that the experience will create good memories in the years to come.
Alexander has found great interest and passion with taekwondo at his young age. He is very enthusiastic about going for his taekwondo lessons and the fact that there is a competition gives him the additional drive and direction for this training. INDUK Taekwondo is a great place to foster his interest. The instructors clearly have a passion for the sport and it is contagious.
Shortly after registering for the competition, Alexander and I practised regularly together. Our instructors at INDUK Taekwondo spent a great deal of time, correcting what seemed to be really small imperfections to which I did not really understand its significance at that point in time. Nevertheless, we both tried our best to turn practice into habit and attempted to follow all the directions given to us by Ms Lee Na Lee, our instructor, and trusting in her judgment. It was only on the day of competition where I saw the performance of veteran competitors that I began to understand the difference these small imperfections could make in the outcome of the performance.
I would like to point out that one of the “Eureka” moments for us was when we saw the performance of Ms Chelsea Sim. It was at that point that I understood the goal of Poomsae, how the art should be performed, and how all the small imperfections mentioned earlier played such an important role in the overall performance of the Poomsae. Of course, I grabbed the teachable moment to explain to my son the art hoping that he would appreciate it as he watched wide-eyed.
Sitting on the bench and waiting for our turn to enter the arena was a rather intimidating experience. I looked to the left, there was all Black Belt competitors. I looked to the right, and there were also all Black Belt competitors. I felt rather small being a Yellow Tip holder. But my fellow competitors were very encouraging. They explained to me that in a Family of 2 competitions, the sophistication of the pattern wasn’t what was important, but the synchronisation and accuracy of the delivery. I was very grateful for their assurances. Nevertheless, my son and I shared a prayer together before we entered the arena, trusting in God.
The actual performance in the arena was quite a blur to me. I remembered being rather nervous and marveled that my son seemed to be more calm and collected than I was, which is quite the irony since I’m the father. I recalled seeing our score of 6.73 and thinking … “Hmmm…. that turned out better than I thought!”
I was glad to be the second pair to perform, coz that meant the nervous part was over early. Sitting at the side line and watching the performances of other competitors in my category was rather interesting. I watched each pair and all I could think of was, “Wow, they are really good!” As each pair performed and sat next to us, I watched in anticipation wondering if our score was good enough for a medal. I would have been satisfied as long as there was a medal, mainly because I didn’t want my son to be disappointed and go home empty handed. But with each performance, the hopes climbed. We were assured at least a bronze, then at least a silver and when the final pair completed their performance, it came as a shock when we realised that we had actually won. Alexander was over the moon with excitement and kept grinning like a cat that had just caught a fish. I was reeling with disbelief combined with a sense of surreality.
This weekend has been most interesting. I am certain that the National Taekwondo Poomsae Championship 2015 has established its roots into our fond memories together as father and son. Our training together at INDUK Taekwondo will probably take a new life as well, having been exposed to what a good Poomsae performance is like in a competitive arena. I would like to thank Singapore Taekwondo Federation for organising the event, INDUK Taekwondo and our Instructor, Ms Lee Na Lee for her patience and high standards, and also to God for blessing us with the opportunity for bonding over the shared experience.
