On 17 June 2009, a team from Batam visited the National Training Centre (NTC) for training. The team, comprising junior belt holders aged 5 to 12, was led by Siaw Lung, the Chief Coach of the team and one of the top instructors in Batam.
After a brief introduction, the visiting players, some of them accompanied by their parents, began training under the guidance of the national squad members. The Batam players might be young and junior but they displayed potential with their natural movements.
Said Ms Wong Liang Ming, the national coach, “I am surprised that they can kick so well. They have the makings of future champions. If they continue training, I am sure at least one of them will make it to the Indonesian national team.”
The youngest player, a 5-year old, who was only a yellow belt could already perform a decent reverse kick. During sparring, some of the older boys showed guts taking on our experienced junior tournament players.
At the end of the training, the visiting team was treated to pizzas. They certainly relished the food as they had to replace loss calories.
Before they left, souvenirs were presented to them to commemorate their visit to the NTC.
The 3rd National Taekwondo Poomsae Championships held on 14 June 2009 at Yishun Sports Hall proved to be a record breaking event.
It attracted almost 1,200 participants. The youngest was 5 years old and the oldest 69 years old. For the first championships in 2007, more than 200 signed up for the event. Last year, the number doubled to more than 400.
While the organizers were delighted with the overwhelming response, they were concerned with the timing. It would take a minimum of 20 hours to complete the competition – that is, the event starting at 9am would end at 5am the next day.
An emergency meeting was called to consider various alternatives. The most popular solution was to hold the event over two days. But it could not be done because the hall was not available the day before or the next weekend.
The organizers decided to use six courts instead of the original and usual plan of three courts for the competition. This led to another problem: Would there be 30 poomsae referees available for that day? In view of the various challenges, the rules were modified.
The STF was grateful to all club leaders, team managers, coaches and participants for accepting the modifications and co-operating with the organizers to make the event a success. The championships saw performers giving of their best to bring honors for the clubs, coaches supporting and congratulating one another for the outstanding results of their participants and the judges ensuring that deserving participants finish among the medalists. The standard of performance and sportsmanship was simply outstanding.
The STF would like to put on record its thanks to all parents, club leaders, coaches, volunteers and participants for their support, understanding and patience.
Prof Tan Cheng Han, STF Advisor, gave away the following awards.
Best Coach : Lai Han Seng (J H Kim TKD)
Best Performer : Soh Qian Yi (Acme TKD)
Fighting Spirit : Karen Lim (Shota) and Ng Wei Hau (Assisi)
The World Taekwondo Hanmadang 2009 will be held from 12 to 15 August 2009 in DangJin Stadium, Korea. It is an interesting and exciting event comprising competitions for destruction, standard poomsae, creative poomsae, taekwondo aerobics and hoshinsul (self-defence).
Any club interested to field participants for the event may do so with the blessings of the Singapore Taekwondo Federation (STF).
All applications for the tournament will be processed by the STF and submitted to the organizers.
Clubs may at the same time apply for subsidies from the STF to participate in the event. The subsidies will be awarded based on the contributions of the clubs to the development of taekwondo and the organisation.
The STF encourages as many members as possible to participate in the event.
The centralized grading on 4 and 5 July 2009 will be held in Yio Chu Kang Sports Hall. The STF requires the co-operation of club leaders and coaches in the following areas.
Transport and Parking
The STF is aware that it is not the best place to organize its grading. However, it cannot help it as the regular venue is closed for the Asian Youth Games.
Nevertheless, the STF is appealing to all club leaders and coaches to seek the understanding and co-operation of the candidates and their parents, if they are involved, to bear with any inconveniences caused by the use of the venue.
Please encourage them to use public transport as car park spaces are limited. If they drive, they should be advised to arrive at the sports hall early to have a better chance to getting parking lots.
All examiners are required to note that it may not be possible to reserve parking lots for them because of the constraints.
Submission of Documents
Coaches are reminded to ensure that they submit copies of the candidates’ unarmed combat certificate and grading preparation certificate if they have the certification. The certification will help the examiners in their assessment of the relevant candidates.
Assistance to Officials
In the recent National Poomsae Championships, many coaches were seen helping the tournament officials. Their assistance had resulted in the smooth running of the event. The STF is proud of the coaches and looks forward to the same team spirit being displayed at the grading.
Please take note of the following if you are participating in the Championships organized jointly by the Constituency Sports Club Council of the People’s Association and the Singapore Taekwondo Federation.
This competition is open to taekwondomembers of the STF.
The registration for the championships will be on Sunday 28 June 2009 from 2pm to 4.30pm at the National Training Centre.
All forms must be endorsed by the respective Constituency Offices at the Community Centre. Forms signed by RCs cannot be accepted.
Proofs of grades must be produced on the registration day.
Weigh-in will NOT be conducted on the registration day. It will be held on the day of the competition when the players report at the inspection desk. There will be no weight allowance. Players who are over or under weight will be disqualified. Each player can have only one official weigh-in. A similar weigh-in machine will be provided for players to check their weight before they take their official weigh-in.
The maximum number of players should be 4(1 player per weight category) instead of 6 as spelt out in paragraph 8.3 the competition outline.
Briefing and drawing of lots will be conducted on 5 July 2009 at 6.00pm at the National Training Centre. Coaches who are involved with the centralized grading on that day may request for their students to be graded earlier.
J H Kim Taekwondo Institute is looking for dedicated, enthusiastic staff for its school. The following positions are available.
1) Junior Instructor (1 x position) – full-time position, 50 hours per week – must work weekends, no exceptions – starting salary $1250 to $1750, depending on qualifications – minimum 1st dan STF-certified – NCAP Level 1 preferred – STF Coaching Pass preferred – Must be Singaporean or PR, no exceptions
2) Senior Instructor (1 x position) – full-time position, 50 hours per week – must work weekends, no exceptions – starting salary $2000 to $2500, depending on qualifications – minimum 3rd dan STF-certified – NCAP Level 1 required – STF Coaching Pass required – degree- or diploma- holder preferred. – Must be Singaporean or PR, no exceptions
3) Administrative Assistant (1 x position) – full-time position – nature of work: data entry – must work alternate weekends – starting salary $1000 to $1500, depending on experience – diploma preferred – must be Singaporean or PR, no exceptions
4) Administrative Manager (1 x position) – nature of work: to manage student accounts, inventory and basic customer service- familiarity with STF procedures (grading, tournaments, etc.) preferred – must work alternate weekends – degree holder preferred, minimum diploma holder – starting salary $1750 to $2250, depending on experience – must be Singaporean or PR, no exceptions
Interested parties may submit their complete resumes to info@tkd-singapore.com. Qualified candidates will then be contacted for an interview.
If you are found suitable for the position, you will be required to undergo a three-month training period & probation during which your suitability for the position will be confirmed.
The 33rd Annual General Meeting has been scheduled to be held on Saturday, 25 July 2009 at 2.30pm at the STF National Training Centre, Block 80 Lorong Limau #04-191, Singapore 320080.
All resolutions for the meeting should be submitted to the
Hon Secretary
Singapore Taekwondo Federation
260A Tanjong Katong RoadSingapore 437048
by 9 July 2009.
The agenda for the meeting and the Committee’s reports will be forwarded to you in due course.
The overwhelming response to the coming National Poomsae Championships had resulted in the need for the organizers to tweak the rules to accommodate the unexpected huge number of participants.
The championships attracted 1,015 participants for the various categories!
All participating club leaders, team mangers and coaches are kindly requested to note the following information and inform all performers and their parents, if necessary, so that the event can be run smoothly on that day.
The reporting time will be 8.35 am.
The competition will start punctually at 9.00 am.
It is expected to end at 10.00 pm.
Arrangement will be made to have six courts to run concurrently.
The STF will decide on the number of judges. It may not be the standard number.
Manual system will be used for scoring in the preliminaries and semi-finals.
For the finals, electronic scoring system and 3 courts will be used.
Your co-operation is required to get your participants ready half an hour before their scheduled performance time. They should report immediately when their categories are announced.
A performer will be disqualified if he or she is not at the holding area when his or her group begins to compete.
The schedule and name lists are attached. Please ensure that the names of your participants are in the right categories. You are required to inform the Secretariat by telephone (6345 1491) or email (tkdf@pacific.net.sg) before noon on Friday 12 June 2009 if there is any error.
The STF appreciates the understanding, support and co-operation of all participating clubs.
The National Inter-School Taekwondo Championships were smoothly and successfully held over five days at Regent Secondary School. The first two days – 22 and 25 June 2009 – were primarily for secondary school students. The next two days – 26 and 27 June – were for primary schools and the last day – 28 June – was mainly for junior colleges.
The competition comprised ‘kyorugi’ and ‘poomsae’ attracted students from 66 primary schools, 52 secondary schools and 10 junior colleges. It turned out to be a highly competitive event which saw players and performers trying to outdo one another for the various titles at stake.
After the last trophy for the championships was presented by Mr Milan Kwee, STF President, many new champion schools were crowned. The top schools for the various divisions are as follows.
A Division (Junior Colleges)
Boys – Temasek Junior College
Girls – Temasek Junior College
Team – Hwa Cong Junior College
B Division (Secondary Schools)
Boys – Maris Stella High School
Girls – Cedar’s Girls Secondary School
C Division (Secondary Schools)
Boys – Bowen Secondary School
Girls – Hai Sing High School
Team (Secondary School)
Bowen Secondary School
Senior Division (Primary Schools)
Boys – St Anthony’s Primary School
Girls – Boon Lay Gardens Primary School
Junior Division (Primary Schools)
Boys – Temasek Primary School
Girls – Temasek Primary School
Team – St Anthony’s Canossian Primary School
The event was not about winners only. For those who did not achieve their goals, the tournament offered them valuable lessons. Amidst the celebration of some Junior Colleges in the school hall, Mr Joe Lim from Serangoon Junior College was seen teaching his students about the importance of adopting winning attitude. He also highlighted the fighting spirit shown by some of the successful performers.
All participants – players and performers and some of their parents who were present to give their morale support, coaches and teachers – had found the event enriching and rewarding. It was unfortunate that some students could not benefit from the event. Their applications to participate in the event were rejected because their grades were awarded by taekwondo clubs not recognized by the STF.
The success of the event would not have been possible without the support, contribution and faith given to the STF to organize the event.
The STF would like to take this opportunity to record its appreciation to the following.
Singapore Schools Sports Council and Singapore Primary School Sports Council for their blessings,
Co-Curricular Activities Board for their guidance and contribution,
Principal of Regent Secondary School for agreeing to partner the STF in making the event a reality,
Participating schools for supporting the aspirations of their students to excel in the sport,
Organizing Committee for their hard work and sacrifices and
