Comox Valley Woo Kim Taekwondo's junior and senior students braved the BC Ferries, the cold and their own nerves to compete in the BC Taekwondo Championships on March 13.
Sabumnim Richard Dobbs is an excellent coach and led his athletes to win a combined total of 14 medals at Capilano College in North Vancouver.
Junior Competitors:
Isabelle Smerchanski - bronze in forms, silver in sparring.
Eve Roberts - silver in forms, gold in sparring.
Jade Matthews - silver in forms, bronze in sparring.
Abby Duncan - bronze in forms, gold in sparring.
Noah Duncan - fourth in forms.
Senior Competitors:
Sara Smerchanski - silver in forms and silver in sparring.
Bonnie Roberts - gold in forms and gold in sparring.
Jonathan Blancas - gold in forms and silver in sparring.
“We encourage our students of all belt levels to try competing in poomsae (forms) and sparring for their own, personal growth. It is only in challenging ourselves, be it yellow or black belt that we improve our taekwondo skills by using and demonstrating the techniques that we train so hard to develop," said instructor Richard Dobbs.
"You never know how you are going to react until a kick is coming right at you. We are hoping to have a big turnout for the Vancouver Island Championships in Parksville on May 11. It is less intimidating sometimes for the athletes to compete in a smaller, more local venue."
Comox Valley Woo Kim Taekwondo offers classes year round for both adults and kids with registration in the spring, summer and fall at both the Comox and Courtenay rec centres under instructors Richard Dobbs and Anne Koke.
For more information, contact the Comox Rec Centre at 250-339-2255 or the Courtenay Rec Association at 250-338-5371.
– Comox Valley Woo Kim Taekwondo