The boys where to go up to compete at the STA Queensland Championships but these was canceled at the last moment. It was just lucky i knew friends up in Queensland who told me about this comp.

I phoned the organizer and explained the problem and she let the boys enter at the last moment. It was a good day with the boys coming away with 3 Gold anf 2 Silver. Matthew also competed in the High Jump front kick. he won this with a height of 2.36metres.

On the Saturday the boys had a day out at dreamworld where they relaxed and had a great time.

Click here to see more pictures

On Saturday 31st July & Sunday 1st August , 5 members from the club entered the Taekwondo Victoria Selection Championships.

All of these members came away with Gold

• Matthew
• Zac
• Brandi
• Declan
• William

That means the club has another 5 Champions. These members can now go to the nationals in Canberra at the end of October. A big well done especially to Zach as it was his first Gold medal.

Click here to see more pictures

A big well done to all members with 4 members having their first major tournament.

It was a big day but a good tournament. We had experienced students and 2 new students who had their first fight.

All did very good with the club getting

7 Gold
6 Silver
3 Bronze

This was a good lead up to the up and coming Victorian Championships.

A big thank you to Ryan and Matthew for coaching and all parents who helped out on the day.

Click here for Olympic Taekwondo Championships picture gallery

The New Zealand Open was a very successful event for our club.  All team members did well with gold medals going to Ryan Howard, Michael Beinat and silver to Matthew Wansink.  A link to the gallery and complete day by day summary of events follows:-

New Zeland picture gallery

DAY  1.

Everyone arrived at the airport where we had a great start to our trip.  First Virgin Blue had all their computers down so check in was done manually and we had a 2 and half hour wait to get checked in.  Once we got through and got on plane we then had another 1 hour wait while they checked the bags.  Finally we got away.

3 hours later we finally arrive in New Zealand and we went off to pick up our transport. Once we had it we were on our way and would you believe it we hit a big traffic jam so another long wait.

We arrive at our accommodation and after unloading our luggage it was off to find something to eat.  Our first meal was in a Mongolian style restaurant and it was all you could eat and didn’t the boys go wild lol. (they weren’t the only ones)

We arrive back to our cabin and off to bed.  It had been a very long day.

DAY  2.

Everyone is up early and ready to go.  We arrive at the venue only to find it wasn’t open so we had to wait with everyone else.  Once we got inside it was off to weigh – in then off to get some breakfast as the Poomse was on first.  We arrived back and started our long wait for the fighting to begin.  Finally at about 1.30pm we got under way. Matthew was up first.  He won his fight very easily so made his way into the final.  Matthew’s final fight was against another Victorian boy and after losing a bit of steam in the 3^rd round was beaten by a couple of points.  It was a very good show by Matthew who really took it to his opponent.

Then it was Michaels (black belt) turn.  He was up against a tough opponent but managed to get through and win to go into the next round.  Before his next fight Ryan got into the ring for his 1^st fight.  After a bit of a shaky start he came through and had a good win to send him into the final.

Then Michaels 2^nd fight came up. This time he was up against a very experienced fighter who won the Korean Open. This was a very tough fight for Michael as it was only his 2^nd fight since he came back to the club and after 2 rounds I stopped the fight only for his safety.

Ryan’s opponent pulled out injured so Ryan went on to win and became the Club’s 1^st International Champion.

Then Michael had to fight off for 3^rd place but he was really tired but still went in there and put up a good fight, unfortunately losing also to another Victorian.

Then it was waiting around for the medal presentation.

Then finally at 9.30pm we left the venue to head home and get some lovely McDonlads and Pizza for tea, as they were the only thing open.

Once back at the cabin and after eating tea we sat around for a while before heading off to bed.

DAY  3.

Another early start but once at the venue it was Michael’s (blue belt) turn to fight. After a lot of moving around I managed to get his fights up first. Michael was straight into the final. When his turn came he won his fight and did a great job of beating his opponent and gave the club its 2^nd International Champion.

As it was still early and we had the rest of the day to kill we decided to head into Auckland and had a nice lunch at the port side.  It was then that Michael (black belt) and his mum went wild and got excited as they found a New Zealand Rugby Shop.

After lunch, some of the boys wanted to go bungee jumping so it was off to the Harbor Bridge.

Ryan, Matthew, Jim (matts dad) and Michael (black belt) got ready for their big jump with the rest of us watching. I can tell you it was pretty scary up there especially as I was afraid of heights.  But all of them went through with it which made me very proud of them for having the guts to do it, even if I did think they were all mad.

So back to the bus and off to the airport for our trip back to Australia.  While waiting for our plane the boys decided they were hungry so off to good old McDonalds. Young Michael I have never seen anyone eat so much.  Chips and 3 yes 3 wraps as well as ice cream and then on the plane eating again. I would hate to have been near him that night.

IN SUMMARY.

It was a great trip but very tire ring but all the boys did their club and Australia proud. It was also a good learning experience for them and they will only be better off for it.

The things us Instructors do to keep everyone happy especially as Michael and Matthew gave me nothing but crap all weekend lol. Like finding my bed sheets had gone missing then getting into bed and finding ice cubes under the sheets.

There were other clubs from Victoria and NSW there and I must say not taking anything from the New Zealand fighters, but the Australians were much better fighters and had more style and aggression.

I would like to thank Michaels mum and Matthews dad for all the support they gave me during the trip and just in case anyone thinks of going away again with Michaels mum be ready to shop lol.

There is a link to all the fights so please have a look at our boys in action.

Glyn

May 1 – OTU/STA Referee Seminar, Australian Institute of Sports Netball & Basketball Hall, Canberra, ACT

May 2 – ACT Junior and Senior Open Championships, Australian Institute of Sports Netball & Basketball Hall, Canberra, ACT

June 6 – WTF World Cup Team Selection Trials, Australian Institute of Sports Netball & Basketball Hall, Canberra, ACT

July 10 – OTU/STA Referee/Poomsae Judging Seminar, Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre, Homebush, NSW

July 11 – NSW Junior & Senior Open Championships, Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre, Homebush, NSW

July 24 – OTU/STA Referee Seminar, State Netball & Hockey Centre, Melbourne, VIC

July 24 – WTF World Poomsae Championships Selection Trials, State Netball & Hockey Centre, Melbourne, VIC

July 25 – Victoria Junior & Senior Open Championships, State Netball & Hockey Centre, Melbourne, VIC

August 7 – OTU/STA Referee/Poomsae Judging Seminar, Altone Park Leisure Centre, Beechboro (Perth), WA

August 8 – Western Australia Junior & Senior Open Championships, Altone Park Leisure Centre, Beechboro (Perth), WA

August 21 – OTU/STA Referee/Poomsae Judging Seminar, Logan Metro Indoor Sports Stadium, Logan, QLD

August 22 – Queensland Junior & Senior Open Championships, Logan Metro Indoor Sports Stadium, Logan, QLD

September 24 – STA Sparring & Poomsae Selections Trials for Oceania Championships, State Netball & Hockey Centre, Melbourne, VIC

September 26 – STA National Sparring & Poomsae Championships, State Netball & Hockey Centre, Melbourne, VIC

November 29 – December 2 – WTF International Referee Course and IR Refresher Seminar, Noumea, New Caledonia

December 4-5 – 2010 Oceania Taekwondo Championships, Noumea, New Caledonia

“After much work, our STA National Events Committee, chaired by Warren Hansen, has secured some of the top sporting venues in Australia for these events,” notes STA Chairman Steven Howard. “We are particularly excited about holding the Queensland Junior & Senior Open Championships in the new $17 million Logan Metro Indoor Sports Stadium located in the heart of Crestmead in Logan City, which is centrally located between Brisbane and the Central Gold Coast.”

In what should be an exciting weekend of sports festivities, the STA Selections Trials for the Oceania Championships, and the STA National Sparring & Poomsae Championships, will be held in Melbourne over the AFL Grand Final weekend. “Our events will be held on Friday and Sunday that weekend, giving athletes, coaches and families an opportunity to enjoy the festivities and excitement of AFL Grand Final Day in Melbourne on Saturday,” comments STA Director of Events Warren Hansen. “Plus, for those interested, they may even be able to take in the game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.”

“We are also pleased to announce,” adds STA Chairman Howard, “that all STA sparring events will include Para-Taekwondo athletes. We feel this is an important step in making Taekwondo an all-inclusive sport for all Australian athletes, of whatever capabilities or limitations.”

In addition to the above schedule, STA is also currently making arrangements for Junior & Senior Open Championships in both South Australia and Tasmania. Announcements on these events will be made as soon as the details of dates and venues for each event are confirmed.

“It is important for all athletes and coaches to note that the STA Board is considering a policy, to take effect with the Selection Trials for the Oceania Championships and the STA National Championships in October, that all athletes entering STA selection events or the STA National Championships must first have competed in their respective STA State Open Championships,” states STA Director of Sports Daniel Trenton. “The previous policy of opening the STA selection events to all athletes will likely no longer apply.”

Details on the OTU/STA Referee and Poomsae Judging Seminars will be distributed in due course. “By conducting these seminars across Australia, STA aims to upgrade the standard of referees and judges to a consistent level across the country,” explains STA Chairman Howard. “We will have OTU Certified Instructors conducting these seminars in each locale, bringing the latest techniques, rules and interpretations from the WTF.”

Regards,
Steven Howard
Chairman
Sports Taekwondo Australia
Athletes First

• 15 New Yellow Belts
• 6 New Blue Belts
• 1 new Red Belt.

Everyone did really well and the group that went for Blue Belt stood out and was the best group we have had for a long time.

A big thank you to Michelle and Courtney for the help they gave during the gradings.

• Updated membership fees can be found on the Membership Fee page
• Updated syllabus forms on the Syllabus page
• The club oath has been added to the Forms page