Last weekend Radzyn Podlaski (East Poland) was the capitol of Polish Taekwon-do. The 21st Senior Polish Championships were held there from 13th to 15th June 2008. 171 competitors from 32 clubs took part in those championships.

The best clubs, from the left: 2nd place - LKT Legnica - Mr. Lukasz Stawarz, 1st place - Lewart Lubartów - Master Jerzy Jedut, 3rd place - LSKT Lublin - Malgorzata Rogaczewska, 4th place MKS RAT Radzyń Podlaski - Mr. Janusz Wlizło, 5th place - Matsogi Ciechanów - Mr. Michał Korzybski.

In this most spectacular event for Polish Taekwon-do environment three clubs climbed on the winners’ rostrum in the general medal classification. The first place took MKS Lewart AGS Lubartów leaded by Master Jerzy Jedut - 6 gold, 4 silver and 10 bronze medals. The second place went to LKT Legnica, coached by Mr. Lukasz Stawarz - 4 gold, 4 silver and 2 bronze medals. On the third platform stood LSKT Lublin leaded by Master Tadeusz Loboda - 4 gold, 2 silver and 5 bronze medals.

Mr. Jaroslaw Suska 5th Degree (three times World Champion, 16th times European Champion) won for the 17th time the most prestigious category of the male pattern IV – VI degree.

The teams from Lubartów led in the most spectacular team sparrings. The domination was shown especially in the team male sparring where Lewart Lubartów - team 1 and Lewart Lubartów - team 2 both got to the final.

The best female competitor became Malgorzata Rogaczewska (LSKT Lublin) with 2 gold and 1 bronze medals. She won, for the 13th time, the title of Polish Champion in the female sparring up to 70 kg and the female power test as well as she took third place in the female pattern 2nd -4th Degree. Only this bronze medal decided about her winning in the overall female classification as Marzanna Pawlik from LKT Legnica also got two gold medals winning in the female pattern 1st Degree and sparring category up to 52kg.

The best male competitor was Lukasz Sudak from WSKT Wroclaw with 2 gold medals won in both categories: male sparring up to 80kg and the male power test.

The competition stood on very high technical and organizational level. Mr. Janusz Wlizlo, coach of MKS Radzynska Akademia Taekwon-do in Radzyń Podlaski, who was the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, prepared the championships very professional. The new sport hall build only 6 months earlier could hold four rings for fights and two additional rings for special techniques and power breaking. The medals were very nice. All winners got great trophies and prize gifts like e.g.: TOP TEN safety equipments, MP3 Players, printers, computer speakers, home cinema systems, etc. All participants received T-shirts with logo of the Championships. Much information about the tournament was included in occasional edition of the local newspaper “GROT”. Also authorities supported the organization of this event with their presence on the championships.

During the final gala on Saturday evening, apart from the finals of the higher degree patterns and almost all individual sparring categories, the audience could also enjoy the Taekwon-do demonstrations performed by the group from Wroclaw, as well as the local children group “Show Dance”.

   
   

See medal results (MS rtf, 86 kB) and the general medal classification (PDF, 21 kB).

The next important tournament in Poland will be the Polish Open – International Junior and Senior Polish Championships held from 21st to 23rd November in Lublin (Poland).