As part of their preparations for the World Championships in Germany this year, the New Zealand team management contracted Mr. Willy van de Mortel to assist with the initial squad development.

Mr. van de Mortel spent a weekend in Taupo at the New Zealand team camp where he conducted sparring seminars and coaching for 45 students who are trailing for selection to the national team.

This was followed by a further three day sparring intensive seminar in Auckland at which many of the students from the Taupo camp were also present.

The final trial will be held in March at which time the New Zealand team to compete at the 2005 WC will be selected.

  

Mr. van de Mortel will return to New Zealand on April 28th for 12 days where he will continue the coaching program with the WC team and also conduct several sparring seminars nationwide.

The New Zealand Team Manager, Greg Skinner, described Mr. Van de Mortel as a "long term, integral part of the plan to raise the competitive sparring level in New Zealand".

Mr Skinner further added that Mr. Van de Mortel was involved with the New Zealand Junior team at last years JWC in Italy where several medals in sparring were won and that the 2005 WC team management and coaching were looking to continue the progress.