The fantastic Assisi Taekwondo Warriors led by Sister Linda Sim were at it again. This time they wowed the officials and guests who attended the Charity Dinner on 25 January 2008 at Pan Pacific Hotel.
Their scintillating performances were the result of many hours of preparation. And they were performing better and better each time
Some of their performances were dramatic and thrilling. Others were fun and entertaining. While the ‘explosive’ items drew ‘oohs and ahs’, the less serious items never failed to bring laughter and applause from the crowd.
The demonstration was supervised by six senior black belts from the Singapore Taekwondo Federation (STF). They were Steven Soh (STF 1st Vice President), R Jeyaraman (STF 2nd Vice-President), Tan Cheng Hui (STF Demonstration Chairman), Ng Lee Noi, Wong Liang Ming and Lim Teong Chin.
The Singapore Taekwondo Federation will be organizing a grading preparation workshop for grade 1 to poom belt or grade 1 to black belt. It is also open to those who are going for 2nd poom or dan and higher.
This workshop is scheduled earlier to give participants ample time to correct their mistakes so that they can be ready for the April grading.
The details of the workshop are as follows.
Date : Sunday 24 February 2008
Time : 9am to 12noon
Place : National Training Centre (NTC)
Dress Code : ‘Dobok’
Certification : Certificate of Participation
Fee : $30
Closing Date: Wednesday 20 February 2008
The registration form is attached.
The programme includes mock grading and talks on candidates’ responsibilities and examiners’ expectations.
The Poomsae Coach Course held on 27 January 2008 at the National Training Centre attracted 75 black belts from 27 clubs. There was a good mix of young and not-so-young participants. While the youngest was 16 years old, the oldest participant was 55 years old.
eight-hour course, comprised both theory and practical sessions, was kicked off by Wong Liang Ming, Chairman of the Coaching Committee.
The theory component covered, among other things, competition rules and technical coaching points. For the practical session, the participants went through in detail the steps and movements for Taegeuk Il-jang to Koryo Poomsae.
Although the participants found the course mentally and physically exhausting, they were pleased with the amount of knowledge they had acquired. Mr Milan Kwee, President of the Singapore Taekwondo Federation, spoke to the participants on discipline which was an essential trait for all coaches. He wished them all the best for their tests.
The participants were tested by Chin Khee Shin, RA Jeyaraman and Tan Cheng Hui who assisted Lim Teong Chin in running the course.
The results are furnished in the attached file. If you are a participant and you cannot find your name, it means that you have failed both the practical and theory tests. You have to retake the whole course if you still aspire to be a poomsae coach.
However, if you fail either theory or practical, you have to retake the component on 3 February 2008 at 9.00am at the National Training Centre and pass it to achieve the qualification. The retest fee is $5 which you can pay on the test day. Please call Jolene or Linda at 63451491 to register for the retest.
Those who have passed the course may register for the National Poomsae Referee Course which was announced earlier.
On 11 January 2008, the senior examiners went through a three-hour poomsae refresher course at the National Training Centre. They were followed by 11 examiners and 70 coaches who updated their knowledge and polished their skills on 19 and 20 January 2008.
Like the senior examiners, the others who attended the courses learned about the latest development in taekwondo poomsae.
It was not all lectures. They had to perform 11 patterns while trying to adapt to the new movements, execution and body and arm positioning.
Said Jimmy Tay: “It is quite a challenge to remember the steps and at the same time make an effort to change to the way of executing the strokes.”
Tan Cheng Hui, an international poomsae referee, who was one of the course conductors commented that the participants were very impressive.
He said: “I noticed that the standard of the participants’ performances were quite good. They have certainly improved a lot since the last poomsae course. What’s more, they are able to adapt to the changes very quickly.”
Their students should be proud to know that their coaches are improving themselves for them. Displaying interest in their students, the coaches downloaded the powerpoint presentation to help them impart their newly acquired knowledge more effectively to their students.
With coaches who believe in self-development, the Singapore Taekwondo Federation can rest assured that the standard of the sport can only improve.
Here is a chance for qualified Poomsae Coach to earn their Poomsae Referee qualification.
The 2nd National Poomsae Referee Course will be conducted on 16 and 17 February 2008 at the National Training Centre. The details are attached.
The closing date for submission of application is 12 February 2008. This gives the newly qualified poomsae coach the opportunity to also participate in the course.
Please call Jolene or Linda if you require any further clarifications.
The World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) will be organizing the 8th Poomsae International Referee Seminar from 22 to 26 February 2008 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Members, who are 25 years old or older and hold a Class 1 Poomsae Referee Certification and a 4th Dan or higher Kukkiwon Certification, may apply through the Singapore Taekwondo Federation for participation in the seminar.
Please note that applications from Singaporeans will be rejected by the WTF if they are not recommended by the President of the Singapore Taekwondo Federation (STF).
The course fee is US $300 payable to the WTF through its On-line Banking System on approval by the STF President.
Chin Khee Shin, Steven Soh and RA Jeyaraman believe that in putting their money where their mouths are.
Despite their seniority in the sport, they continue to keep themselves abreast of the latest development.
On 11 January 2008, they attended the Poomsae Refresher Course for Senior Examiners conducted by Lim Teong Chin who is a 1st class International Poomsae Referee and has officiated in the 1st and 2nd World Poomsae Championships held in 2006 and 2007 respectively. The 3rd World will be staged some time this year.
Said Chin: “We cannot tell our juniors what to do if we are not updated ourselves. I am glad to note that most, if not all, STF coaches are keen to learn the latest development in the sport.”
Just like the rest after them would do, the three taekwondo veterans went through both the theory and practical sessions which lasted three hours.
Lim said: “Poomsae competition has a short history. Therefore, it will take a bit of time for poomsae technical development to mature. In the meantime, there are still rooms for improvements. Coaches who do not continue to keep up with the latest will be left behind.”
The Singapore Taekwondo Federation will be organizing another coach briefing session on Saturday 2 February 2008 from 5pm to 7pm at the National Training Centre.
This briefing, which is about the introduction of coach passes, is for coaches who have missed the first two sessions held in October 2007. Those who successfully completed the Taekwondo Coaching Course held in November 2007 may also attend.
For more information on the passes, please read the posting under ‘Tournament’ on 11 September 2007.
Coaches who wish to attend the briefing are required to register by calling either Jolene or Linda at 63451491.
Only coaches who have attended the briefing are eligible to apply for the pass. Those who are qualified to apply but have not done so are advised to submit their applications early.
For easy monitoring, the expiry date of passes issued in 2008 will be 1 March 2011.
The final selection trials for the Teluk Danga International Games (20 to 25 February 2008, Johor Bahru) and 12th Asian Cities Gold Cup Taekwondo Championships (22 to 25 February 2008, Hong Kong) were held on 13 January 2008 at the National Training Centre.
The trials saw a total of 27 players vying for places in the 2 tournaments.The results of the trials are as follows.
12th Asian Cities Gold Cup Taekwondo Championships
Male – Low Chuan Kai
Jason Tan
Chew Kai Jun
Keith Ong
Wesley Ong
Vincent Lim
Female – Lanetar Quek
Zakirah Bte Zakaria*
Tessa Tang*
Teluk Danga International Games
Male – Benedict Ong
Jordan Tay
Saw Teng Sheng
Samuel Lee
Shaun Lee
Female – Ananurmelati*
Zulaikha Bte Zakaria*
Jacqueline Quek
*Provisional
The selected players are to report for training with immediate effect at 7.30pm at the National Training Centre.
