The Taekwondo Warriors from Assisi Hospice amazed the spectators with their ‘explosive’ performance on 8 June 2007 at Amex Staff Lounge. It was a special fund-raising event organized by American Express Community Club for the children of the Hospice.
The Warriors demonstrated the various components of the martial arts including one-step sparring and ‘poomsae’ (a series of movements incorporating ideal attacking and defensive techniques against imaginary opponents). They simply awed the spectators with their precision and power. Their power was brought out when they broke numerous planks with various techniques.
The spectators were certainly impressed by their indomitable spirit and zest for life despite the tremendous challenges they were facing.
If the planks represented their challenges, the Warriors looked set to conquer them. And the resounding cheers and applause they received from the spectators gave them the strength.
The seminar and assessment for national referees will be held on Sunday 1 July 2007 from 9am to 12noon at the National Training Centre.
It is essential for all referees to attend the seminar to familiarize themselves with the new scoring system and learn the new rules andregulations which will be implemented in the August National Championships.
National referees with expired licences may also attend the seminar. Their licences will be renewed if they pass the assessment conducted at the end of seminar.
The dress code for the seminar is ‘dobok’. Registration for the seminar and parking on that day are free.
The hours clocked for the seminar can be used as part of the NROC Coach Continuing Education requirements.
For registration, please call Jolene or Theresa at 6345 1491.
By now you should have heard about the sensational acrobatic group JUMP. Many of you probably have bought tickets to watch their shows on Saturday 30 June 2007 and Sunday 1 July 2007 at Esplanade Theatre. If not, do so quickly as tickets are fast running out.
Here is more.
Cast members of JUMP, who are also taekwondo experts, will be at the National Training Centre on Thursday 28 June 2007 at 7.00pm to conduct a workshop only for black and poom belts recognised by the Singapore Taekwondo Federation. The dress code for participants is ‘dobok’.
Participants can learn from the cast members how they train to perform the gravity-defying stunts. They will also have the opportunity to practice some of the ‘easier’ movements.
The registration fee is $5.00 per participant. The fees collected will be used to defray costs for the event.
As the one and a half hour workshop can take a maximum of 60 participants, registration will be on a first-come first-served basis.
The registration form is attached. Registration closes on 22 June 2007.
The next unarmed combat programme (level 1) will be held on 14, 15, 21 and 22 July 2007 at the National Training Centre. It is open to poom belts and black belts.
Participants who pass the course will be exempted from the unarmed combat component of the requirements for upgrading to 2nd poom or 2nd dan.
The application form and more information on the programme are attached.
The closing date for submission of application forms is 30 June 2007.
As this announcement will not be circulated by mail to all affiliates, we will be grateful if you can share the information with other taekwondo members.
On 20 May 2007, the Lady Committee presented their first event at the National Training Centre. Organised by the ladies for the ladies of the STF, the competitive sparring workshop (basic) attracted 29 lady participants with brown belt or higher.
This event commenced with speeches by Mr Edmund Tan (Chairman, Marketing Committee) and Mr Milan Kwee (President, STF). Both of them congratulated the Lady Committee for a well-organised event and ecouraged the participants to come forward to serve and support the Lady Committee in their forthcoming events – TKD related to non-TKD related activities.
This workshop was led by the illustrious Ms Chen Peiqi (3rd dan & Class 2 National Referee) who did Singapore proud by clinching a silver medal in the 2003 SEA Games and a gold medal in the 2004 Asian Cities Gold Cup. Peiqi is also the reigning national champion for her weight category.
During the 3 and a half hour workshop, the participants were taught the following basic techniques.
The workshop ended with a lucky draw. Two lucky (and beaming) participants walked away with a new set of uniform worth $120 sponsored by Liang Seng Sports Equipment and a $99 cash voucher contributed by Globewerks.
The Lady Committee would like to put on record their thanks to the STF, sponsors and the workshop leader for their support of the inaugural event.
Chow Pak Hoong and Lim Teong Chin were in Beijing, China from 15 to 22 May 2007 for an assignment by the World Taekwondo Federation as international referees for the 2007 Beijing WTF World Taekwondo Championships.
85 international referees from all over the world were selected to officiate in the biennial event which attracted 1,700 players from 124 countries.
The referees underwent three days of intensive training which included hand signals, practical judging and analysis of transgressions adopted by players. They were also taught the new interpretations of some of the rules for prohibited acts.
In order to ensure that they were physically fit to handle the high-pressure environment, the referees were medically tested.
Despite the effort, the competition was not controversial free. After all, referees are humans. As humans, they made mistakes. What’s more, there were 50-50 situations which the referees had to decide in split seconds. Whatever decisions they made, they were damned.
There were quite a number of protests – some quietly through proper channel while others vociferous with a lot of drama. At the end, none of the decisions made by the referees were reversed. If you remember football legend Diego Maradona’s Hand of God, you will understand why decisions wrongly made by the referees cannot be changed.
Said first-time world championship referee Chow: “The referees had a very heavy responsibility to carry. It was certainly not easy as we had to remain alert and focused on the given tasks at all times. The coaches demanded nothing less from us. I was glad that I had given my best and I felt good after the tournament.”
Lim, who wore the number one tag for being the most senior referee, commented that he was there simply to update himself and provide a service. He got what he went there for and would be sharing the latest development with the local referees in the referee refresher course which had been scheduled to be held on 1 July 2007.
The 1st People’s Association- Singapore Taekwondo Federation Taekwondo (STF) Championships will be held on 23 and 24 June 2007 at Yishun Sports Hall.
The competitions promise to be an exciting event for all taekwondo exponents training in the Community Clubs (CCs) recognised by the STF.
If you are training in the CCs which have taekwondo activities conducted by non-STF instructors, we are sorry you have to miss the opportunity to showcase your skills.
It was something to cheer about. And that was what the participants did at the end of the 1st National Inter-JC Poomsae Taekwondo Championships held on 13 May 2007 at Bedok Sports Hall. They cheered not only for their teams but also their ‘rival’ teams. It was indeed a sight to behold and an atmosphere to soak in as the participants had their moments.
The competition attracted 442 participants from 12 colleges. It was smoothly conducted. Most importantly, there was no protest. The teams should be commended for their outstanding display of sportsmanship.
If the tournament was any indication, the standard of poomsae performance had improved significantly. It also meant that the event was very competitive. In quite a number of categories, the top two were separated by only 0.01 point. There were a number of tie scores which had to be broken by the participants’ presentation points.
When the last prize was presented, it was clear that the top four contenders for the tournament Temasek J C, Victoria J C, Hwa Chong J C and Serangoon J C. The four colleges accounted for most of the top three places. Meridian J C and Pioneer J C are the colleges to watch in future competitions.
At the close of the event, Mr Milan Kwee, President of the STF, handed the tournament flag to the next host of the event, Temasek Junior College. Michelle Chua, Chairman of the college taekwondo club, received the flag on behalf of the college.
Said Ms Wong Liang Ming, STF Honorary Secretary: “All tournaments should go like the Inter-JC competition. The participants were like one big happy family enjoying a party. It was simply fantastic!”
The STF, the organizers of the inaugural event, would like to put on record its appreciation to the following for making the championships a resounding success.
Mr Ho Mun Wai (Director, Singapore Sports Council)
Dr Lee Chee Wee (CEO, Lynk Biotechnologies Pte Ltd)
Mr and Mrs Jack and Sally Hayes (Special Guests from Florida, USA)
Mr Steven Tan (Managing Director, Liang Seng Sports Equipment Pte Ltd)
Mr Louis Koh
All principals and teachers of participating colleges
