Woo Kim Taekwondo instructors Richard Dobbs and Anne Koke led a group of 35 students down to Parksville to compete at the Vancouver Island Taekwondo Championships last weekend.
"We had a large number of first-timers at this tournament. It's really exciting to see how the students react to the pressure of competition, says Sabumnim Dobbs. "Everyone performed exceptionally and win or lose, we always learn something and come out better for it."
And win they did. With 14 gold, 29 silver and 18 bronze medals the students came out shining.
Leading the way was national competitor Jonathan Blancas who brought cheers from the crowd with his exciting style. Blancas finished second in sparring and first in forms in the senior male black belt division. Also of note was Noah Duncan who won gold in the competitive junior male black belt sparring division in a nail-biting finish.
Next up for the Woo Kim Taekwondo club is the belt test on June 2. Grandmaster Gil Woo Kim, a WTF 8th degree black belt, will be in attendance making this a formal belt test. As many as 90 students will test and nine students will be testing for their black belts. Spectators are welcome to come by the Comox Recreation Centre on Sunday, June 2 to view the test.
Comox Valley Woo Kim Taekwondo offers classes year round for both adults and kids with registration happening in the spring, summer, fall and winter. To register contact the Comox and Courtenay rec centres and their recreation reporter guide. For more information contact Dobbs directly at 250-897-2452 or go to www.cvtkd.com.
– Comox Valley Woo Kim Taekwondo