I was asked to write an article about our TKD Club competing in the Western Championship on May 10 and I must say I was nervous. Do I try to be funny? Do I write an article that is ”just the facts”? Or do I try to do both. How do I make sure that the people of Chestermere know that 17 local competitors packed into their vehicles on Friday night and drove three hours to Stony Plain in order to be ready for competition at 9 am.
Do I tell them that as a mother and wife of three competitors that I prepared a bag full of healthy snacks, filled water bottles and made sure the uniforms were cleaned. I charged the batteries for my camera and went over everything in my head to make sure that I didn’t forget anything. And as the competition started I was nervous for each and every competitor not just the ones I knew. I know how hard they work to get ready for a tournament.
Lead by head instructor and owner Aimee Maund, the Focus TaeKwon Do competitors, ranging in age from 6 to 49 years old, faced some fierce competition. At Westerns (as it is called by the TKD competitors) the students from different ICTF member TaeKwon Do Clubs across Alberta gather to compete in both Patterns and Sparing. Patterns defined as ”the various fundamental movements done in a set of logical sequence against and imaginary opponent”; and Sparring as ”the physical application of attacks and defense learned from patterns and fundamental techniques against a real opponent.”
At the Competition this year Focus TKD students took home a total of 24 medals. Not everyone won but it is not about winning the gold medal. It is about showing up and representing your club. It is about the hard work that each student puts into practicing and learning new techniques. It may seem like a very serious sport and it is but the experience that my family has had since they started three years ago has been amazing. Focus TKD is a positive environment where people of all ages can learn self-defense through the art of foot and hand fighting. But that is just the beginning. Each student learns respect not only for the senior belts but respect for one’s self and what they can do when they believe. It is a great way for families to come together, learn and get exercise. I would encourage you to come out to a class and give it a try. Contact Aimee Maund for more information www.focustkd.info
