Taekwondo practitioners learn new techniques

A day’s clinic has been organized in Kumasi by the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) in collaboration with the Ashanti Regional Taekwondo Association, to sharpen the skills and expose taekwondo practitioners to new techniques of the sport.

The exercise, led by Grand Master Jeremy Yoon, a Technical Instructor of the ITF, supported by Kenneth Lee and Young Lee, both Black Belt holders and experts in the sport, introduced the practitioners to new trends in the martial arts discipline.

The participants were drawn from taekwondo clubs and basic schools from across the region.

They were taken through sparring techniques, axe, back, jab, hook, push, side, spinning hook, roundhouse and double-roundhouse kicks.

They were also taught how to block punch, counter-kicks, stances (sogui) and hand attacks.

Grand Master Yoon, in an interview with the GNA Sport, said taekwondo sparring had become the more acceptable norm in the training of practitioners.

It is now the preferable choice – overtaken the use of hitting pads or static practice dummies, since it helps practitioners to gain confidence and utilize their skills in real life situations such as in competitions or when under attack.

He said the ITF was currently working with affiliated associations in the West African sub-region, including Togo and Cote d’ Ivoire, to sensitize instructors on the different training methodologies to bring their practice to standard.

The Federation is eager to build their competency on the rules and regulations associated with the sport in order to enable their trainees to be competitive in international competitions.

Mr. Simon Koku Gluikpor, the Regional Taekwondo Coach, advised the trainees not to use their expertise in martial arts to bully innocent people.

He appealed to corporate bodies to come to the aid of the association by donating training kits and other equipment to facilitate its activities.