Newsletter 1/2011 Winter Camp in Szczyrk
The next successful edition of the Central Winter Taekwon-Do Camp was held in Szczyrk, Poland in the term 22-28 January 2011 at the initiative of two leading Polish clubs LSKT Lublin and MKS Lewart Lubartow.
61 Taekwon-Do enthusiasts from 8 Polish clubs: Feniks Arete Rybnik, Garda Warszawa, Mokotow Warszawa, SKST Szczecin, WKT Warszawa, ZAK Biala Podlaska, LSKT Lublin, MKS Lewart Lubartow and Docklands Taekwon-Do School from England, Kingdom School of Taekwon-Do from Ireland came to a beautiful town called Szczyrk situated in southern Poland in the Beskid Slaski mountains. The town is a popular winter sports centre and the main training centre for Polish Winter Olympic athletes. The training sessions were conducted by two well known coaches from MKS Lewart Lubartow. Master Jerzy Jedut (VII Degree) – Technical Director and Vice-President of Polish Taekwon-Do Association, former Polish National Team Coach, Chief Instructor of MKS Lewart Lubartow, teacher of many World and European champions. Mr Jaroslaw Suska (VI Degree) – four times World Champion IV-VI Degree patterns and seventeenth-time European Champion in patterns, the best Polish and European technique practitioner, Instructor of MKS Lewart Lubartow.
The organisational matters belonged to Master Tadeusz Loboda (VII Degree) – President of All Europe Taekwon-Do Federation and Polish Taekwon-Do Association, Chief Instructor of LSKT Lublin. He received help from two tutors: Mr Mariusz Cieslik (III Degree) and Miss Anna Siwinska (III Degree) from his club. Participants were divided into two groups – beginners/children (colour belts) conducted by Mr Suska and advanced (blue to black belts) - by Master Jedut. There were four 1,5 hour training sessions a day (2 sessions per group). The main issues at the two morning sessions (for both groups) with Master Jedut and afternoon class with Mr Suska were to improve Taekwon-Do techniques, stretching exercises, exercises improving and strengthening physical condition. All of them were interlaced with theory, ‘Do’, ethical issues, and fun and relaxing exercises as well. The afternoon class with Master Jedut was devoted in particular to free sparring drills.
Master Jedut and Mr Suska were available as well at evening individual consultations for everyone who wanted to improve their patterns or particular movements and techniques. They spent many hours teaching and correcting people who were never fed up with Taekwon-Do. Eager for every piece of knowledge of Taekwon-Do, after every supper campers stayed in a long line. It wasn’t only idle waiting. People were actively listening and observing Master Jedut and Mr Suska correcting other students or they were practicing some techniques and pattern movements with friends who were higher degrees and had more experience in Taekwon-Do. Hundreds of repetitions of the same movement didn’t discourage the persevering and aware TKD practitioners of their imperfections. On the contrary, it was rather a mobilization and every little progress galvanized them into further work. ‘The happy people and people in love do not measure the time’ (Polish proverb) – just like Master Jedut who always has to leave our camp dojang last. Also at his classes people always knew what time training session started… but they never knew what time it would finish. Well, everyone who knows Master Jedut knows that he is really in love with Taekwon-Do from over thirty years and he is ‘crazy about his lover’.
Besides the practical part of the camp, the participants also had the opportunity to watch videos from the most important Taekwon-Do competitions (European and World Championships, World Cups) and seminars with Gen. Choi Hong Hi.
I have to mentioned, that there was not only Taekwon-Do practiced in Szczyrk. Before the afternoon people had a choice: Taekwon-Do class or skiing and snowboarding. The skiing group was divided into two divisions. There weren’t colour belts in force… but instead colour of slops. It is pretty interesting that the colour of routes at slopes are marked quite similar to Taekwon-Do belts. So, the green and blue routs were designated for beginners, red tracks for more advanced and black routes (dangerous sometimes) for the best skiers and snowboarders! Beginners went with Master Loboda and more advanced in winter sports with Mr Suska. People, who chose Taekwon-Do class in the morning, also had some ‘skiing attractions’ on their way from the hotel to the training hall. They had a chance to watch ski jumpers at their training! This year (and the previous one) campers were living in the ‘Adam’ hotel, situated in the centre of Szczyrk and around 15 minutes walk from the training hall (sports hall of primary school in Szczyrk). The ‘Adam’ is a lovely guesthouse and a physiotherapy and rehabilitation centre, set with a big and bright canteen-restaurant, a lovely cafe, a sports hall, a medical surgery and a room for physiotherapy and rehabilitation sessions. The participants were accommodated in cosy single or double rooms equipped with tv, radio and bathroom. The food was lovely and no one went hungry throughout the Camp. For people who wanted to try some specialties of South Poland there were lots of restaurants and inns in Szczyrk.
The only minus (or a plus) was a lack of access to the internet. There was one computer with internet access in the café… but there wasn’t a queue at all. Between trainings classes, skiing and meals there wasn’t much time for ‘online surfing’. People preferred to spend their free time for conversations with friends and making new friendships or playing table tennis, basketball and volleyball or else watching some interesting and famous films. On the last day of camp students from LSKT Lublin and MKS Lewart Lubartow built together a beautiful snowmen which was a great model at the photography session. Actually… a very short photo session because of the cold!
The camp traditionally ended with an exam. This year it was a big day for three willing students. After a very hard grading, which was observed by other campers, two of them were promoted by Master Jerzy Jedut and Mr Jaroslaw Suska.
The final impression of the Winter Taekwon-Do Camp in Poland was very positive. It was really successful and well worth attending the training camp. I would like to congratulate and thank Master Tadeusz Loboda, Master Jerzy Jedut and Mr Jaroslaw Suska for giving a great opportunity to meet other Taekwon-Do fans at one place and sharing their knowledge, experience and passion with their Taekwon-Do friends.
- Marianna Karczmarczyk, Garda Warszawa, Poland
First of all I would like to thank Master Jerzy Jedut for an opportunity to take part in such a great training camp, for all his help and support. It is a wonderful idea to organize camp, where people practicing Taekwon-Do from every place in Poland and abroad could come and meet in one place and train together. Thanks to Master Tadeusz Loboda for his perfectionism and excellent organization of camp. I’m here with my family: my husband who trains Taekwon-Do as well, my 4,5 year-old daughter Zuzia and a 9 months old daughter Gabrysia. This is our third Winter TKD Camp. We are very grateful for organizers they give us an opportunity to have a family trip, where we can participate in training sessions. Our children are not a problem for instructors throughout the classes. My impression is very positive, like every year. I can train with people from different clubs. Many of them are very good competitors and it is really good experience to have them as partners in sparring drills or free sparring. I really love training sessions conducted by Master Jedut – the whole schedule, considered exercises, always right warm up to prepare your body for a class and minimize possibility of injuries. Every day is something new and interesting. The whole camp improves your shape (form), technique and gives you great experience. Also, I’m preparing for my black belt grading and individual consultations with Master Jedut are very helpful. I see big progress with my techniques. For me, as a mother of two children, this camp is like a ‘springboard’. It’s a great way to spend time with my family and friends connected with Taekwon-Do. -
Malgorzata Szczodrowska, Kingdom School of Taekwon-Do, Ireland
I really love Taekwon-Do Camp in Szczyrk. I like the intensity and very high level of whole training program. I am very happy I could improve my patterns, technique, speed. I’m also tired but this is a very positive tiredness. I would like to come next year and bring friends from my club as well. -
Lukasz Kubiak, Feniks Arete Rybnik, Poland
This is my third Winter Taekwon-Do Camp in Szczyrk. We have very good conditions here, the sports hall is very close to our hotel and an additional refurbished little sports hall in our hotel. Master Loboda’s organization of camp is perfect. The food is very tasty. Classes and individual consultations are conducted by professionals. This is a very attractive camp in many different ways. I love training sessions where I really ‘play and can enjoy them’. The camp is my very important preparation and stage for ‘competitions season’. Classes conducted by Master Jedut are on the highest professional world level. There is always something new that I can use in my sessions too. I’m here with my students. They are happy and very pleased about the camp every year. They like training sessions, the place and other extra activities like skiing, playing table tennis, volleyball, basketball, and watching films. Also I am fond of individual consultations and always try to push my students as much as I can to enjoy them. Master Jerzy Jedut is the best instructor, my number one - an example of perfectionism. -
Grzegorz Szalkowski, Feniks Arete Rybnik, Poland
For me, Winter Taekwon-Do Camp in Szczyrk is the most offing training camp I take part in. This camp helps competitors prepare for tournaments. They are well prepared for competitions in patterns and sparring, in every way. It applies to me as well. I haven’t been training as much as I would like to lately because of my job. After this camp I feel I coming back home in much better physical condition. An organization is on top of things. Everything is perfectly prepared by Master Tadeusz Loboda. We have the best instructors: Master Jerzy Jedut and Mr Jaroslaw Suska. We torture Master Jedut till very late on individual consultations every evening. He can explain everything very well and teach you every technique, every movement. This man always finds right way to get through his students. I remember my first consultation with Master Jedut. I asked to correct Hwa-Rang. I did first movement… and he said: ‘Let’s try from the beginning. Saju Jirugi, please.’ I did first movement of Saju Jirugi and made three mistakes. But thank to work on every detail I am a second degree today. For me, my colleagues and instructor in my club, Master Jedut was always the role model in Taewkon-Do. Also, our hotel is super, food is delicious, lots of other interesting activities. It’s not possible to be bored. You can go skiing, shopping or explore Szczyrk. Our youth watch some interesting movies. They watched ‘Asterix and Obelix’ yesterday and today ‘Avatar’ will be on the screen. Well, there are not the only advantages on this camp. There is one minus here – the camp is too short! -
Mariusz Cielik, LSKT Lublin, Poland
I took part in Winter Camp as a participant and student, and as a tutor. For me, as a student, this camp was a last and very important preparation for the nearest season. We could improve our sparring skills, technique and patterns on training sessions and individual consultations. Trainings were really well prepared. We practiced for example strength combinations, motor coordination, balance, speed and many other things. At evenings our instructors, Master Jerzy Jedut and Mr Jaroslaw Suska, were available as long as they were needed to help with individual consultations. We were watching some videos from important competitions and seminars with General Choi, from Master Jedut’s huge video collection. As a tutor I could see that a whole group was well motivated and mobilized to work and learn. The organizers had no problems with the youngsters. Because the food was so good it didn’t give any of us the chance to lose a needless weight for the nearest competition. We all had a lot of fun outdoor playing with snow. We built a beautiful snowman named ‘Toudi’ and had a cool photography session with him. -
Kaja Moskaluk and Justyna Szajuk, MKS Lewart Lubartow, Poland
Throughout the Winter Camp, besides of Taekwon-Do trainings, we had an opportunity to try other sports like skiing and snowboard. People who have never tried winter sports had a help from ski and snowboard instructor on the slope. The lessons were paid by the camp organizer. During the camp everyone who wanted, learnt skiing. On our way for morning TKD training sessions we were lucky to see ski jumpers training on three ski jumps. Also, we could play basketball, table tennis, watch movies and enjoy Szczyrk in our free time. Everyone wanted to win table tennis game with Master Jedut… but he was too good…
More photos on www.tkd.lewart.pl soon.
