Training with a Bite – Muswellbrook 2010

By invitation Master Daher spoke first to talk about the earlier days of the IL Shim International Taekwondo Federation. Where most if not all IL Shim tournament competitors were feared as they were superior in the ring. Highly driven by discipline and respect for their instructor and themselves, not to mention their hunger for a good hard fight to win.

After warm-up we were straight into it!

First, concentrating on foot work, getting the body and feet to move in the quickest and most effective ways to enable a good counter attack when moving. Also emphasising the importantance of your breathe. If you are not breathing correctly you will tire too quickly.

2nd, we moved into the feel of contact sparring, practicing sparring combinations with contact to a protected area at first to feel the contact before moving into contact sparring. Too often we are afraid of getting hit, and without the contact training it is difficult to tell your mind that you will not feel pain! It is just a shock. With this kind of training the shock becomes less and less until you don’t feel anything anymore……. Then you are ready to fight.

After lunch everyone was treated to a session with Master Daher. Whom firmly touched back on to the discipline and respect side of training. Your actions show your discipline and respect, using a strong and confident voice.

For instructors it is difficult to teach those whom do not respond. It is your responsibility and duty as a student of taekwondo, whom is there to learn from the instructor, to focus and respond with respect.

Respect what your instructor does for you so you can do for yourself!! The weakness in your technique is the weakness in your discipline…

Senior Members remember that you are to set an example!!

And Instructors must demand total focus & respect to get the results!!

After the speech came the work to put the key elements into practice with fundamental movements and the 5 elements of movement (Signwave, Back Motion, Action Reaction, Twist  & Breathe….)

If any of the Key Elements are missing you loose parts of your power and performance….

We finished the afternoon with more sparring techniques. To include the all important hands (No Gaps) philosophy. Followed by continuous (No Gaps) and contact sparring.

For dinner we all enjoyed a quiet get together at the local RSL where everyone could mingle.

Sunday was the big day for sparring! Well done to everyone for their participation and enthusiasm.

Thank you to Master Daher, Mr Christensen and to Gail Hayden for getting this happening for us out of sheer passion and commitment.

On behalf of all students present, we now owe it to you to put this into every day practice.

By Sally Clark-Petrassi

IL Shim Newcastle