Last weekend over 100 Comox Valley Woo Kim Taekwondo students were put through their paces at the belt promotion test. Kids and adults showed off their techniques in front of their peers and a large audience.
Grandmaster Gil Woo Kim, a 9th degree black belt, was in attendance and had praise for the Comox club. Among those promoted were four new black belts: Koltin Chang, Kai Dittrick, Benjamin Ly and Douglas Smith.
"Testing is nerve-racking for the kids. It places them out of their comfort zone and teaches them how to react under difficult situations," says Richard Dobbs, head instructor of Comox Valley Woo Kim Taekwondo. "Having a goal there and seeing the kids moving towards their next level... it's amazing to see them rise up to the challenge. It shows how important the goal-setting process is."
Traditional Taekwondo teaches the core values of courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit. Sport Taekwondo is an Olympic sport and involves competitive contact sparring matches. Both are important but are very different from each other. The skill and experiance showcased at the test should not deter anyone from trying the sport. There are students in the club who have started their martial arts career in their 30s, 40s and 50s.
Woo Kim Taekwondo shuts down this summer apart from two separate week-long camps for kids. Be sure to look out in the Comox Valley Rec Reporter for the September registrations as the classes fill up very quickly. Richard offers intro to Taekwondo, Taekwondo Tigers (5-7), Junior classes and Adult classes thru the Comox and Courtenay Recreations centres. Call Richard Dobbs 250-897-2452 for more information.
– Comox Valley Woo Kim Taekwondo