2016

This year marked the 20th year that I have been full-fledged instructor with having my own classes and am still actively looking towards achieving bigger goal. Although I have been instructing/coaching for 20 years but I have not manage to reach my full potential and also no able to have my students/athletes to scale the greatest height due to the the taekwondo political conflict that is going since 1990. This is sad and frustrating as the martial art/sport is being politicised due to greed. Greed for money and power. I have do a lot of grassroot development mainly focusing on the fundamental training such the students/athletes basic physical, mental and technical development. However due many split factions in the country, the best is not able to represent the country as he/she is not affiliate to certain club or organization. There are no open selection and if you are not affiliated the certain club or organization, then your students/athletes are not allowed to participate. By setting up this criteria, the country has actually halted progress.

Coaches and athletes are constantly frustrated and upset with these kind of terms and conditions that discourage the development of the art and sport in the country. When once upon a time we were a force in the region, now we are just a participant which does not produce threat to our neighboring country in our regional game.

I will still continue to do what I do as I believe that the passion i have in my work although not able to reach the highest level, I am still able to inspire the students/athletes to develop to be of strong character and good individual.

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.

24th Foreigner Instructor Training Seminar - Day 3

Day 3 is the last day of the seminar. The actual duration of the seminar if to be taken in Korea will be 5 days and because they were here in Malaysia to cater to our limited time, hence it was being squeezed into 3 days which is also stressful in our part. There will be a test at the end of the seminar to certified us as qualified instructors. If we failed then we are not a qualified instructor form Kukkiwon. The test comprised of theory and practical, theory test were from the theory session and practical is of any two poomsae that was taught. The grandmasters can evaluate our basic motion from the poomsae.

Before the test, we continue with our seminar at 8.30 am with roll call followed by senior poomsae training of  higher DAN, Chukwon and Hansoo. These were new to me as I had never learned these poomsae before so I struggled quite a bit. However, at the end of the session I know the poomsae but was not able to master it yet since there were new to me. So more practice is required.

After the poomsae session we had the theory session of courtesy and practices in Taekwondo such as how one should be wearing the uniform, the appropriate practice in the dojang and etc. I did learn new things from the class.

After lunch we continue with sparring practice. Today we worked with partner on application of the footwork and kicking techniques. It was a session that everybody really into.

After that we were ready for the test starting with the theory test. As for the practical test, we were lined up according to our seniority five-by-five. The junior will do the test first and after they finished they need to go out of the hall so by the time the master-level (6 & 7th DAN) turn, only they were in the hall.

Upon completion of the test, all the participants gather for the closing ceremony of the seminar. There were speeches by the President of the Kukkiwon and the organizing chairman.

Day 2

Day 2, session starts at 8.30 am with roll-call for attendance then we gone to continue with the senior poomsae practice. This time we spent 2 hours on Taegeuk 8 all the way to Taeback. The grandmaster spent a lot of time in correcting our stances i.e. too wide, too long, knee position etc.

The theory for the day is on Promotion test. The grandmaster explained on how the promotion test is being conducted and how is it graded. Also only the Kukkiwon Black Belt certificate is recognized internationally. No other black belt certificate other than the Kukkiwon's is recognized.

In the afternoon, we were drilled on how to teach kyorugi. The kyorugi master emphasize on the footwork first before kicking. After mastering the footwork, then the basic kick comes into play. He taught us the correct way of executing the dollyo chagi (roundhouse kick) and the back kick. A lot of movement training involved.

After the sparring session, we continue with the senior poomsae of Pyongwon to Jitae. Again the grandmaster emphasis on the stances, the execution of the advance technique, the breathing and the head position. Upon completing the senior poomsae, roll call was again being done to ensure nobody skip any of the sessions so that they participants are really present and gone through the entire seminar to be certified.

24th Foreigner Instructor Training Seminar - Day 1

Day 1 was the opening ceremony by the Deputy Minister of Youth & Sports of Malaysia and also speech by the President of Kukkiwon.

The first session was the briefing by the President of Kukkiwon  followed by theory session by Grandmaster Kang on Taekwondo basic motion of stances, hand techniques and leg techniques. The theory included the 'measurement' of the stances. Later we have a  practical session of the basic motion. The basic motion was to 're-align' the basic motion that we had been 'misguided' all this while. The 'misguidance' such as the proper movement of the basic such as stances, punches, blocks and other hand techniques.

Grandmaster Kwon then went through with us on the history of Taekwondo which tell us the martial arts involved in the different era till the evolution of Taekwondo.

Later of the day, there was another practical session on Taekwondo poomsae from Taegeuk 1 till Taegeuk 7. The whole poomsae session was 3 hours long as the grandmaster had to correct everything that we had been taught wrongly.

The day end with roll call to mark our attendance.

24th Kukkiwon International Instructors Training Seminar

I attended the 24th Foreigner Instructors Training Seminar by Kukkiwon in IYC, Malaysia from 18- 20 June 2012, which is the first time the seminar was held outside of Korea. The seminar supposed to be a five days seminar but due to time factor, the seminar was completed in three days. It was an intensive seminar with the the test being held on the 3rd day of the seminar. 

There were plenty of new information and knowledge that I had gathered from the seminar. To simply put it, I FEEL REBORN FROM TAEKWONDO. My love and passion for Taekwondo are lifted to the next level.

I will write more about the seminar in my next post.

Students' Loyalty

I have been asked about my students' loyalty in a conversation with my fellow instructors/coaches as many of my students who had started university/college will stop practicing taekwondo and almost all of them will never return to taekwondo once they had stopped. Whereas they still have students who came back and continue practicing taekwondo although they are in the working force.

Actually I am not sure how is this relevance to loyalty. Our students have their own mind and when they are in college, they more or less know what they really want. This question come about as I am short-handed of instructors/coaches to help me with my classes. I do hope that my students can continue to practice taekwondo and also able to help me with my classes but they do have their own things to do, own dream to pursue and other interest too.

I do have students who further their studies oversea and never return. Some who had started working and pursuing their career. There are also those who had lost interest in taekwondo due to doing it for too long. Some who just want to get a black belt and many more....

Whatever the reason they have, we cannot determine their loyalty just because they stop practicing. I still have students came to visit me whenever they are back home, contact me through whatever mean they have, text me etc. which is good enough for me to know that they still do remember me.

I do not need all this loyalty thing, but just the thought will do me just fine.

Student's Success

Last January 2012, I've sent three of my students for the Selangor state sports championship 2012 or SUKSES for short. All were involved in the Poomsae event and they all brought back a medal each. It was one of the highest achievement that any of my students had achieved and I am proud of their success.

In any other time that any of our students achieved success in anything be it in championship or in life, we as coaches can't help but to be proud that we know them and had a hand in their success. Not to take any credit from their own hard work and efforts but we too apart of their life other than their family members, teachers and friends.

Long Time

It has been quite awhile since I last posted in here. The last time my post was on a championship that I was organizing. The championship went well and all the students gone home happy. There were two main events, namely individual fitness and individual poomsae. The events were divided into gender and age-group to be as neutral as possible.

 The championship was considered a success being the first time that I organized it by myself. Really appreciate all my adult students who came and help out in the championship.

Will plan to have a bigger one this year and hope it'll materialise.

Organizing Championship 2.0

Today will be the day that I'll be organizing a championship for my students for the first time. I have thought of it for awhile and this time I actually take the bull by the horns and get it done. I've done the groundwork, get all the work done and today will be the day that determine my competency level.

I've targeted 100 participants and now I have slightly more than 70 participants, almost 30 short of my target. Nevertheless, the show must go on and I have my finger-crossed.

I'll post the outcome here.

Wish me luck people.

LET'S DO IT BABY!!!!

MSSS 2011

This year MSSS was held in Kuala Selangor. I started my journey there from home at 6 am adn went to pick my students an left for Kuala Selangor at 6.30 am. The last time that I've gone to Kuala Selangor was more than 10 years ago, so I have no idea how to go there. One of my students gave me the direction the other there but I still not confident enough. Anyway, I use the highway and followed the road sign all the way. It was quite a long journey and it took me more than an hour to reach there.

Once arrived, I told my students to settle down while I look at the bout chart. Copying my students bout number and all, then I go and meet up with them. All these while I have not had anything to eat yet. The organizer called for team manager meeting and I went down to the ring for briefing.

At 9.00 am, the MSSS began. Those involved in Poomsae will get ready in Ring A while gyorugi students will have to wait for the bout number. My first student who competing is bout number 10 in ring C and another suppose to be bout 12 in Ring E. Nevertheless, all went for warm up and stretching to get their 'engine' started. When Ring C was on bout 5, my student will have to get fully ready in gear and wait near Ring C.

Then all of the sudden my student name was called from Ring E for bout 4A. We were stunned and get all the gear and ran to the ring to show that he was here otherwise he would be disqualified. I got him suit up in the ring. He was neither warmed-up or ready to fight. He went in and fought. He lost. He was frustrated. I was frustrated. I went to the secretariat table to protest. They told be it was in the new bout chart. I demanded them to show me the 'new' bout chart. They showed me and there wasn't any bout number 4A. I then demanded an explaination and at this time the organizing chairman came and ask me what's the problem. I explained to him the unfairness of changes the bout without informing beforehand. He apologized but I couldn't accept it. This in UNFAIR. But there was nothing I can do about it.

Then came bout 10, another student went in and fight. He didn't fight as he fight in class. Probably anxiety and nervousness. He lost 2-1. Close fight, though.

The poomsae event was on-going. My students next fight was a long way to go. Bout 41, 51 and 52. Watching my students did the poomsae. After that all of them came back up to the stand. Waiting for the judges to tabulate the result for qualification to finals. Results out, 4 out of 8 students made it to the finals. The organizer decided to combine the male and female due to low number of participants. In the finals, the participants will require to perform their poomsae one-by-one.

By 12.30pm, the tournament stopped for opening ceremony. Speech after speech by the VIPs and the tired participants and coaches listened and falling asleep one-by-one. Once the opening was done, it was lunch time and competition will resume at 2 pm.

At 2.30 pm, the results of the poomsae event was announced. All of my students went our for lunch and yet to return so they were unable to collect their medals. The officials passed the medals and results to me. Once they return from lunch, I presented the medals to winners with unexpected response from them. It was quite an unexpected result. Nevertheless I still happy.

We continue to wait for the next bout and after more than 2 hours, it's their time to get ready to get into the ring. We done enough warm-up and kicking. One went in and fought. After a close contested match, there was no score of both side. So sudden death was needed to determine the winner. Still scoreless. Finally it's time for the judges to decide the winner. My student won. Quarter-final.

Later another student turn to fight. His opponent was taller than him, he was a bit worried and I tried my best to encourage him. He went into the ring and fought. His opponent was a bit scare as my student have power in his kicks but after he got kicked to the head, he kinda lost it. I tried to motivate him during the break. His opponent was much more superior due to being more experience. My student lost. Still I was happy with his performance.

Next the quarterfinal match, my student concern that his opponent was taller. I motivated him and he went into the ring and fought. He tried to get his head but got kicked on his head instead.

Scoreline after 1st round was 7-0. After the break he went in and fought more aggressively and the tie was 2-2 but he lost 9-2. Still it was a good fight.

It was a really good experience for my students in this competition as this is an eye opener for them. There were good fighters as well as bad fighter. What they lost was only lack of experience and this competition is a good platform for them to gain experience.

All in all I was proud of you guys no matter what the results. For me, the result is secondary, the important thing is your performance.

WELL DONE, YOU GUYS !!!

Also Mentor

As a Taekwondo coach/instructor, our role not just limited to just that. We are also a mentor to the students. As a mentor, it is also part of our responsibility to help to guide these students to be a better individual. Not just focus to improve them in taekwondo.

Mentor as in guiding them ans assisting them whenever they're 'lost' direction in their life. We just another avenue for them other than their parents or family members to seek advice and guidance. Then we must try our best to assist them. Due to this we ourselves have to keep in touch with the latest happening in the social world, education etc. Provide them with the best advice possible and also provide them with options or choices that they can choose. Then let them decide on their own.

I, personally had provide advice and guidance to many of my students who have since either graduated or undergo undergraduate or postgraduate studies. There are a few of them who requested me to be their referee, which I'm gladly agree. They turn to be a better person. Those who graduated end up doctors, lawyers, engineers, business owners etc. I am very rpoud of them and i wish they are proud of me too.

So our role as a taekwondo coach/instructor is not just limited as coaching taekwondo skill, we also coach them about life skill and survivor skill. Students should not be shy to interact with their coaches as these coaches might be able to guide you in life.

Taekwondo Oath

After all these year of training taekwondo, only recently I found out that there's actually a taekwondo oath. I'm not sure if this is a official taekwondo oath or just something that created by someone or some organization. Anyhow I find this oath to be something all taekwondo practitioners should be abide to.

• I shall observe the tenets of Taekwondo.
• I shall respect the instructor and seniors.
• I shall never misuse Taekwondo.
• I shall be a champion of freedom and justice.
• I shall build a more peaceful world.

Sixth DAN Grading

It's been quite awhile since I took my 6th Dan grading. It was on 17 April 2011 and I was not even in my best shape then. Anyway, it was really a last minute decision and I'm glad that I took it. I was the only coach that take his grading during the centralized grading as many high-dan grading is conducted behind closed door. I feel that as a coach you should not be shy to sit for your grading in front of the juniors or your students as it is an indication of your confidence in your own ability. Doing the grading behind closed door only indicate that you do not have the confidence to show your ability.

However, although I was not in my best shape, I tried to perform to the best I can and luckily I made it through. I have passed my 6th Dan grading and now I need to write-up my thesis in order for me to apply for my Kukkiwon certificate. As I have not really write thesis for a long time, hence it is actually not easy. I have the idea in my head, but to actually bring the idea into paper is really hard. Anyhow, I have completed 4 out of the required 10 pages which is a good progress. I intend to complete my thesis by end of next week.

Running A Business

Setting taekwondo classes is like running a business taekwondo coaches also businessman trying to sell taekwondo to the people. Ironically your students are actually your clients or customers. However, most of us taekwondo coaches are better in teaching than running a business. We are technically people which have difficulty in dealing with administrative paperwork such as setting up database of your students, preparing proposals, selling your 'business' to corporate and filing.

Ideally, we just want to teach the students well and have someone doing the administrative for us but then again we too need to be business-savvy as taekwondo is our business, hence we need to run it like how business does, whether we like it or not. Learn to be a businessman while making sure our

product is still the best.

Keep learning technically and also increase your business sense cause what the use of a good product which you cannot sell.

The Five Tenets of Taekwondo

Although I have been practicing Taekwondo for more than 20 years, I am still learning and today I realized that after all these years I have never really look into the other aspect of Taekwondo which is the non-physical side. Many time I have been teaching on the physical aspect while have not really teach tenets of Taekwondo. Only today that I realized there actually have the tenets FOR TAEKWONDO.

The Five Tenets of Taekwondo are:

1. Courtesy - which covers respect of one another, be polite to one another

2. Integrity - upholding one's principle at the same time able to differentiate between right or wrong, being honest

3. Preseverance - always be patient, the time will come.

4. Self-Control - able to control one's emotion

5. Indomitable Spirit - Have a strong will to never give up

World Championship 2011

Last week the World Taekwondo Championship was held in Korea and I managed to catch some of the fights. It's actually been awhile since I watch any competitive sparring and although I do aware of the changes in point system, I have yet to watch any match with the new body protector point system.

Anyway, the first match I watch was the fly weight male and I was deeply disappointed on how the fight has become. It was not as it used to be. There was just too much hanging the leg and pushing kick instead of the old school roundhouse kicks and all. I understand that the body protector is more sensitive towards pushing than hitting with the in-step. The fight has becoming more ITF style.

Luckily, the female category was more interesting to watch as they create more actions than the males'. Also the heavier weight category provide more interesting watch than the usual lighter weight category.

Promotion Test

Promotion test or grading is the the time to determine when the students is able to be upgraded to the next belt. Many a time we, coaches prepare them by teaching them the poomsae and other components that require for the promotion test. However, it is also a time when the coaches do feel stressed by the performance of the students as they are some will end up not doing well in the test. They perform well to earn them the spot for the grading but when the actual time for the grading, many would not be able to do well as anxiety, nervousness and also the feeling of overwhelmed get the better of them.

Then the coaches will be stressed up seeing the students not performing up to mark. I, personally hate that feeling but just can't control it. Although we know that we have done our part, still it is our responsibility to ensure that they are able to do well. Failing which it is our job to find out the reason behind their dismal performance and rectify it so the next time it will be better.

Make Money or Make a Living?

As a coach we too need to survive, therefore we charge a certain amount of coaching fees in order for us to pay our bills, bring food to the table, provide for the family etc. So are do we make money or make a living?

They are coaches who just interested in making money and they are some who just want to make a living from coaching. Also they are some who wants to make money the proper way or ethically.

There are many unethical coaches who just coach to make money as these coaches charge a high price for non-quality coaching to the athletes/students. They just want volume, therefore they conduct classes with more than a hundred students by themselves or the most with another coach. In actual fact, they just there to collect fees and let the black belt students run the class for them. Mind you, those black belts also pay fees to train NOT to teach. How then can you justify their charges? They charge the students to be coached by their peers from the same school.

Then ethical ones get 'killed' by these unethical coaches as people will generalized us to be like them. Why they want to pay us the same amount if we are like them, which in fact we are not. We provide good coaching and at the same time we also need to earn a living. And coaching is our life. It's in our blood. We love doing what we do, and hope at the same time to make some money the ethical way to provide for our family etc.