2013

I don't think I blogged in 2013. It was a busy year for me. Having gotten and new school to coach with the number of students and sessions growing every term within the same academic year. From one session to two sessions and now I have four sessions of CCA all in the same school.

I have also coached a team of 7 for the World Taekwondo Hanmadang in Korea in 2013. Being first time in participating in a big scale event, we managed to win 1 silver and 3 bronze. No gold but still an achievement nonetheless. It was from not winning that I learned a lot but the time spentin preparing the team. The process of getting the team ready physically and mentally for the competition in such stature. All my participants and first-timer in an international competition. Yes, they had won medals in domestic event but competition at international scale is totally a different ball-game.

During the process of coaching, I had the opportunity to correct my basic taekwondo techniques based on the poomsae requirement in Hanmadang competition, I had to view and review videos on the correct movements in order for my students to perform the entire poomsae with minimal mistakes as this was how poomsae is being judged. Look for mistakes. The least mistake the better.

I had students who took part other events such as all-round breaking and jumping high kick. To teach and to coach the techniques are not difficult but to get the techniques right to win a competition is a challenge. A lot of time spent in getting the techniques right and accurately hit the target with enough force so that in the real competition the board can break. I had to be constantly motivate them and encouraged them that they can do it.

At the end of the day, we did well.

The year 2013 was also a memorable year for me due to the arrival of my second child in May. It was a great bundle of joy for me and my family to receive her. Her arrival had take more of my time from blogging. Sleepless night, diapers changing etc all over again but it's all worth it.

Then it was the 2nd Malaysia Kukkiwon Cup being held in November. Again more time was being spent in preparing a team to participate in this championship. I had a bigger contingent this time around and a better result too. Thanks to the determination and resilience of my students in this championship.

Here are some of the 2013 moments:

Kukkiwon Black Belt Certification

Black belt certification by Kukkiwon, the World Taekwondo Headquarters is the only black belt certificate that is recognized around the world. There are many other Black Belt certificates out there being distributed either by own dojangs or local associations which can only be recognized by themselves. Their own instructors or Master themselves acquire Kukkiwon Black Belt Certificates while their students are given the other black belt certificates. This is an unethical practice by the instructors and masters as a martial artist, we should hold highly on our ethics and integrity.

I always encouragemy students to apply for the Kukkiwon Black Belt Certificates at least for their 1st Poom/Dan to get themselves internationally recognized as a Black Belt Holder from Kukkiwon. Then it's up to them whether to apply for the next certificate or not.