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
The Singapore Taekwondo Federation (STF) has received numerous letters from taekwondo participants or their parents claiming that they were not aware of the different groups. Worse, some of them felt cheated.
Here is an extract of a recent letter from a parent.
“The reason that I am making this request is because the instructor was misleading his clientele. My son, Andrew, achieved ‘Junior Black Belt’ level during his time at your club. However, having recently moved home and located a new taekwondo club, where I thought my son could pick up where he left off and train for his ‘Senior Black Belt’, I was told by the new instructor that the certificate he has is worthless. I paid $50 per month for something which was apparently run illegally and resulted in a useless qualification. I might also add that there is a rather large fee for each of the 10 examination that my son took.”
Don’t be another victim or let your friends or their children be victims.
If your friends or their children are learning taekwondo, you can do them a favour by asking them if they are with the STF, the national sports association recognised by the Singapore Sports Council and affiliated to the Singapore National Olympic Council.
The 1st National Inter-Junior College Poomsae Championships hosted by the Singapore Taekwondo Federation (STF) would be held on Sunday 13 May 2007 at 9.00am a Bedok Sports Hall. This event replaced the annual National Taekwondo Expose which Temasek Junior College organized with the blessings of the STF for 4 successive years.
The inaugural poomsae event attracted almost 400 participants from 12 colleges. They are
Anderson Junior College
Anglo-Chinese Junior College
Catholic Junior College
Hwa Chong Institution
Innova Junior College
Jurong Junior College
Meridien Junior College
Pioneer Junior College
Serangoon Junior College
Tampines Junior College
Temasek Junior College
Victoria Junior College
Poomsae, which inculcate the values of patience, perseverance and self-discipline, are growing in significance because the World Taekwondo Federation is actively promoting poomsae competition with a view of eventually having poomsae adopted as of the events for the taekwondo competition in the Olympics.
The overwhelming response augurs well not only for Singapore when the international profile of poomsae is elevated but also for the colleges which are collectively trying to convince the Co-Curricular Activities Board to accept the event as an inter-school tournament.
The STF would like to put on record its appreciation to all principals and teachers of participating colleges for their support.
It is a show for the family! It is a show which taekwondo exponents should not miss! It is a show worth watching!
It is: JUMP – A comic martial arts performance.
Combining physical comedy and taekwondo, JUMP is a high-octane martial arts extravaganza hailing from Korea that features gravity-defying stunts such as slick acrobatics, sword-fighting and wall-walking.
The show will be held on 30 June and 1 July 2007 at 2pm and 8pm each day at Esplanade Theatre.
If you are not in the category of child (4-12 years old), local students or senior citizen (55 years old & above), you can get a 10% discount for up to 4 tickets by producing your STF black belt card when you purchase the tickets from any SISTIC agents.
The STF has also arranged with the event organizer, Century Events, for members of the cast to conduct a workshop for our black belt and poom members. It will be held tentatively on 28 June 2007 at 7pm. More details will be announced once it is finalized.
