Taekwon-Do competitions return!

The long awaited competition is finally here, and when the time has come, the parents too have joined and filled the sports hall in Yoqneam. The regional pattern competition for the center and north areas, eight in number, has taken place, in the presence of the Israel Taekwon-Do Association's vice president Sabum-Nim Mario Cosacow, and the Senior Vice President Sabum Jorge Orman.

The Pattern (Tul in Korean) is an arranged series of practical attack and defense exercises from and toward different opponents, which improves and strengthens the student's control of the techniques of the martial art, and in understanding them.

First to compete were the youngest and newest, starting from white belts and the age of four and five. Later on it was time for the veterans and so the colors of the students ranks have changed along with their age. The record holder, in this case, is Uri Dvir from Katzrin, who continues on practicing at the age of 68!

Towards the end of the contests, a show has been presented, designed and performed by Sabum Christian Waimberg II Degree and Sabum Dor Saidof I Degree, which included pre-arranged sparring, and received wild applause. Then the duo of Ido Fridmann and Tomer Yeger performed a pattern, followed by a coordinated group pattern, performed by Yotam Sadan, Roi Bar, Nimrod Rockman, Alon Gilda and Yuval Rockman.

After that spoke the manager of Yoqneam's community center, and the General Secretary of our organization, Sabumn-Nim Leonardo Oros-Duek. Then the student Lee Hershko was called to the center of the stage, who had received together with her father, Professor Danny Hershko, a gift from the International Taekwon-Do Federation: the book "Quadrathlon, Taekwon-Do ITF". The book had been sent as a present to Lee's father, Professor Avraham Hershko, commonly known as the chemistry Nobel prize winner, who has agreed to support the Israel Taekwon-Do Association!

Later on, it was time for the black belts to compete, and then all the participants gathered for a group picture. As usual, no student has left the hall with empty hands, but instead held certificates and trophies, and a wide smile. Until the next National Competition, and if not any sooner, then to the World Cup in Brighton, England, to which a respectable number of students already cannot wait.

Leonardo Oros Duek
General Secretary
Taekwon-Do Israel