Newsletter 2/2012 Interviews with Champions
There are only a few hours before TKD ITF European Championships 2012, which will take place in Maribor, Slovenia this year. Everyone who is going to this most important European tournament is probably packing their bags with gloves, washing and ironing doboks, charging batteries for cameras, and trying to relax. From Friday, 20th of April we will watch best national competitors fighting for the European Champion titles. There will be many well known contestants, among whom are Ana Anastassiadou, Rudolf Grega, and Jaroslaw Suska, whom I mentioned because last year was really good for them in TKD. I got the chance to talk to them some time ago, the results of which you will find below. Stay tuned to the AETF website for the interview with Mr Jaroslaw Suska, which will be published after the Euros.
Date of birth: 13/12/1973
Degree: VI Dan
Country: Germany
Coach: GM Ung Kim Lan
Ana Anastassiadou
- Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
My name is Ana Anastassiadou, I am 37 years old 6th Degree from Germany. I’m a doctor and I deal with an X-Ray. I‘ve been in National Germany Team for very long time.
- When and how did you get yourself involved in Taekwon-Do?
I started because of my brother and my friends. They were practicing Taekwon-Do, so I thought that I should try as well. I tried this martial art and really liked it. So I started training and my adventure with TKD has lasted for over 20 years. Now it seems to be both my life and work.
- Do you remember your first competition?
I was competing in an international competition in World Championships in Malesia in 1994. I had a really great time, the competition was a very big event for me. That was something different, something I had never seen before. I was 1st Degree at that time.
- Now you hold 6th Degree black belt. How many European and World Champion titles have you collected in your career?
I’m 10 times European Champion and 2 times World Champion.
- What is your best memory connected with Taekwon-Do?
Getting my first title of World Champion in Poland in 2003. That was really something special. Every time when I get the title of champion is special for me.
- Who is your idol in Taekwon-Do?
My instructor Grand Master Lan Ung Kim. I started training with him and he is still my coach. I’m very proud of it.
- What do you do when you are not practicing Taekwon-Do? What are your hobbies?
Taekwon-Do is my only hobby. I work a lot, what little time I have left is filled with TKD. There is no more time to share for other hobbies.
Date of birth: 26/12/1986
Degree: II
Country: Slovenia
Coach: Mr Tomaz Barada
Rudolf Grega
- How does it feel to be a champion? Last year I saw you win the finals twice. First time during the World Championships and second time during the European Championships; and you seemed extremely enthusiastic, happy and emotional every time.
I’m the kind of man who likes to be happy in general. Every time when I win a competition I am over the moon and it always seems that I’m happier than everybody else in my team.
- Who was your most challenging opponent at the last European Championships in Bratislava?
It was Looi Hong, member of Irish Team, in quarter-final. Also I had to fight against him at the last World Championships in New Zealand.
- How much time do you spend preparing for the tournament?
It seems to me that I’m training all the time.
- When, why, and how did you start practice TKD?
I started at the age of 6 or 7. My friend encouraged me to start. She took me to Mr Barada’s gym. I saw a training session, tried it, and really liked it. So, I started to train too.
- What is your most important achievement in Taekwon-Do?
The World Champion title, which I won in Wellington in New Zealand, is my most important TKD achievement. I won also -71 category in sparring at the last European Championships in Bratislava in Slovakia. So, the previous year was very good for me.
- Do you practice other parts of TKD?
No, I practice only sparring.
- Do you remember your first fight?
No, unfortunately I do not remember it, but I have a recording of it somewhere.
- What are your best and worst memories of Taekwon-Do?
My best memory is getting the title of World Champion title in NZ, which I mentioned earlier. The worst memory is also connected with this tournament. It was an eye injury. I was struck with an elbow by the guy from Germany in semi-final. With this very uncomfortable injury I had to fight in the final, so that was really bad for me. My morale was low and I couldn’t fight as I wanted to.
- Do you have your own philosophy or a way of training?
Yes and no. My coach is Tomas Barada and he has got his own philosophy. I just trust him completely and follow his philosophy. The only thing I can say is that I always try to do my best.
- Do you have other hobbies?
Apart from TKD my hobby is football. I like to watch as well as play. I’m from Maribor, which is really good at the moment, so whenever I can I watch the team from my town playing football. I play with my friends just as a hobby.
- Do you have an idol in Taekwon-Do?
At the moment this is only my coach Tomas Barada.
- What are your nearest TKD plans?
The European Championships this year will take place in Maribor. This is my town, my country, so I’m really prepared for the competition and looking forward to competing.
The quarter final fight at the last European Championships in Bratislava with Looi Hong that Rudolf Grega mentioned is available at this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3SChwa08g0&list=UU197bTPO8ZISbekuzz6ZWjg&index=11&feature=plcp courtesy of PZTKD Live (http://pztkdlive.pl).
Online registration for the European Championships is already closed and the gallery with all names and other information are available at the http://euros2012.pztkd.lublin.pl.
Good luck to all competitors who are going to Slovenia for the European Championships 2012.
