The POL-ITE Taekwondo Championships were successfully staged on 22 and 23 January 2011 at Temasek Polytechnic for students of Polytechnics and Institute of Technical Education.
The inaugural event hosted by Temasek Polytechnic was organized by a team from the school under the supervision of its coach Mr Michael Ho. The chairman of the organizing committee was Benjamin Teo and the secretary was Lai Hai Mei. Their hard work resulted in a well-run competition.
More than 250 black belts including Management members, examiners and senior taekwondo exponents attended the coach seminar held on 20 February 2011 at ITE East College. The event was kicked off by Mr Milan Kwee, President of Singapore Taekwondo Federation (STF), who took the opportunity in his opening address to explain the direction of the organization.
Mr Kwee went on to showcase medalists and other national representatives who had brought honors to Singapore in the recently concluded Commonwealth Taekwondo Championships and Asian Cities Taekwondo Championships. It was for the participants who were mostly coaches to see for themselves how far their students could go if they were to nurture their students well. It was also for them to appreciate that the success of the national athletes started with them.
The applause from the seminar participants would certainly go a long way in motivating the national representatives to excel further for Singapore.
The seminar continued with talks on coach ethics, what’s new in ‘kyorugi’ and what’s new in ‘poomsae’. For coach ethics, the participants learned about their roles in character building and sport safety. If they failed in their responsibilities, they would succeed in ruining their students’ lives. What’s more, the STF could not achieve its vision of making better persons and citizens through the sport and promoting the art and sport widely.
A lot of new information was offered for ‘kyorugi’ and ‘poomsae’. But not all of it could be explained thoroughly because of time constraint. The practice time was also inadequate for the participants to understand the variations in the various basic and poomsae movements and appreciate the sets and speeds of poomsae. As a result, the participants were advised to read the notes, practice and seek clarifications from the STF if required. Follow-up courses would also be organized for the coaches to have more in-depth understanding of what’s new in ‘kyorugi’ and ‘poomsae’.
The hours chalked up at the seminar can be used for the NROC updating.
All eligible coaches, who have not done so, are requested to submit two passport-sized photographs and the undertaking form for their passes to be processed.
The STF records its appreciation to all participants for their co-operation and desire to be better coaches.
The 10th Asean Taekwondo Championships will be held from 7 to 9 April 2011 in Cambodia.
Due to the short notice given by the organizers and with barely 6 weeks to the tournament, selection trials for the poomsae and kyorugi events would be held on Sunday 20 February 2011 at 3.30pm at the STF National Training Centre (Block 80 Lorong Limau #04-191 Singapore 320080).
Coaches who are interested to field players for the trials may register them on the spot at 3.00pm at the training centre. All participants must be SINGAPORE CITIZENS and are STF poom or black belt holders. A copy of the attached Player’s Undertaking and the player’s blackbelt card/certificate must be submitted during registration.
Weigh-in would be conducted for kyorugi players at 3.30pm and the trials would commence at 4.00pm. The poomsae selection trial will start at 3.30pm.
All performers must know the poomsae from Taeguek Sa-Jang to Sipjin.
The panel of selectors will comprise any 3 of the following senior technical members.
Mr Lim Teong Chi
Mr Steven Soh
Mr Chin Khee Shin
Mr RA Jeyaraman
Mr Lee Thiam Poh
Mr Tan Kok Heng
Shortlisted participants will be required to fulfill the training requirements averaging 12 hours per week
The player’s undertaking form must be signed by parents for participants under the age of 21 years old. They will not be allowed to participate in the trials if they do not comply with the administrative requirements.
The trial would be open for observation by participants and their accompanying coaches only. If you require any further information or clarification, you may contact the Secretariat at 6345 1491.
With the blessings of the Singapore Taekwondo Federation, 5 senior members from Yi Dojang broke the Guinness World Records.
Patrick Tan Yong Chen, Stephen Pang, Chan Kok Pheng, Quek Boon Hock and Ang Soon Chuah took 2 weeks of planning, preparation and training to achieve the feat of smashing the most vinyl records in 30 seconds. The number of very flexible vinyl records broken – 38! The earlier record set in 2002 was 23.
The record breaking event was accomplished through the co-operation of EMC Corporation (United States) and Yi Dojang Martial Arts on 14 January 2011 at EMC Briefing Centre.
Said the head of the team, Patrick, “We operated under a ‘veil of secrecy’ as the event details could not be divulged in view of a slew of worldwide record breaking events concurrently planned by the event sponsor.
“Great emphasis was focus on teamwork and strict mental and technical disciplines. We endured great challenges during the preparation process. We were delighted that we were able to tame the challenges and a new world record of breaking vinyl records within 30 seconds was convincingly rewritten.”
The venue for the Coach Seminar scheduled for Sunday 20 February 2011 from 9.00am to 1.00pm will be at ITE College East, 10 Simei Avenue, Singapore 486047. A map of the venue is provided below.
The seminar will be in the hall on the 3rd floor. To get there, participants should enter the school by the main entrance where the security post is, head straight to the technology block to take a lift to the 3rd floor and walk along the corridor to the hall.
Registration of attendees will start at 8.30am. All participants are reminded to be punctual.
If you have not registered for the seminar, please do so by 11 February 2011. All black belts are encouraged to participate.
In response to numerous requests, the STF has decided to organize a coach induction course for coaches who wish to obtain the professional coach pass. The details are as follows.
Date : Sunday 27 February 2011
Time : 2.30pm to 5.00pm
Place : National Training Centre
Fee : $60
Eligibility : STF blackbelt holders
Closing Date: Friday 25 February 2011
Participants who have successfully completed the course may apply for the appropriate coaching passes if they possess the relevant qualifications.
Those, who have attended the induction course and have not applied for the passes, should attend the coach seminar if they wish to apply for the passes after 1 March 2011.
20 players boarded the plane to Chennai, India on 26 January 2011 to compete in the 5th Commonwealth Taekwondo Kyorugi Championships and 3rd Commonwealth Taekwondo Poomsae Championships. They returned separately on 1 February 2011 and 2 February 2011 with a total medal haul of 5 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze medals.
The medals came from the following.
– Samuel Lee Wei Kang (Gold – Individual, Pair & Team)
– Kang Rui Jie (Gold – Team / Silver – Individual)
– Chelsea Ann Sim Shu Zhen (Gold – Team / Bronze – Individual)
– Sherman Wee Li Sheng (Gold – Team)
– Chiew Wenqi (Gold – Team)
– Jason Tan Junwei (Silver – Male Under 58kg)
– Jacqueline Quek Jie Lin (Silver – Female Under 73kg)
– Chua Juan Juan (Bronze – Female Under 46kg)
– Nurul Shafinas Bte Abdul Rahman (Bronze – Female Under 53kg)
– Charlotte Tang Xue Ting (Bronze – Female Under 62kg)
Mr Milan Kwee, President of the Singapore Taekwondo Federation, who was at the championships as a VIP guest, witnessed the exploits of the players. He was visibly delighted with their efforts and enthusiasm to bring honors for Singapore.
He said: “Although some of the players could have done better, I am pleased that they had given their best not only in the competition but also in helping the organizers in the physical arrangements of the field of play. What’s more, they had also demonstrated tremendous sportsmanship.”
The kyorugi players would be leaving for Hongkong this weekend for the 15th Asian Cities Gold Cup Taekwondo Championships. The STF wishes them all the best in the championships.
The closing date for the Coach Seminar is 11 February 2011. You are aware that a late payment fee of $30 will be imposed to deter late submission. This is because the organizers require the final numbers to decide on the venue for the seminar. Your co-operation to meet the deadline will be appreciated.
You are aware that club leaders and non-pass holders who are black belts can attend the seminar for their general knowledge.
The earlier decision to allow the non-pass holders to apply for passes without attending the induction course has been rescinded. It is believed that it will be better for them to attend the induction course to have a better understanding of their responsibilities as coaches.
We apologize for any misunderstanding and inconvenience caused.
Dr Tan Eng Liang, Chairman of the Singapore National Olympic Council Special Training Assistance Committee, and his team visited the National Training Centre on 19 January 2011 to observe the preparation of the national ‘kyorugi’ and ‘poomsae’ squads for the 2011 Sea Games in November in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Mr Milan Kwee, STF President, and some members of the Management Committee were present to welcome Dr Tan and the other members of his team. After the taekwondo salutation given to the visitors, Dr Tan was introduced to the four World Peace Corp coaches who were currently guiding the two squads under the supervision of the Chairman of the Coaching Committee. Following which, the visitors were briefed on the preparation plan.
After learning about the plan, which included issues which required assistance, and observing the training of the squads, Dr Tan was visibly happy with what he heard and saw.
