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ITF CHAMPIONSHIP
Author: sensei
International Taekwondo Federation of Australia was represented by six of its members at the Eighth World Championship in Pyongyang, the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea last month.
The World Championship held from September 10th-15th at the International Taekwondo Palace, brought together about 700 competitors and 200 officials from 65 countries. It was the second time Australia had competed in a World Championship as a group, the first time being at Montreal, Canada, in 1990.
Members of the 1992 Australian team included: Donna Smith, Louise Robinson,
Christine Henderson, Dennis Benedet, Nelisoni Taione and Steve EI-Sheikh. Assistant coach was Tom Irelandes.
Official coach of the Australian team, Michael Daher, said it was an honour to represent Australia as a nation at the Eighth World Championship in Pyongyang. He said "it was a great pleasure to be coach of such a disciplined team," which proved themselves to be great ambassadors of their country.
The Australian team was up against a lot of pressure - they were representing their country, individual expectations were high and they lacked competition experience at an international level. But according to Michael Daher, despite these pressures the Australian team performed exceptionally well. "Being members of an Australian team puts you under huge pressure to do really well for your country, for yourself and for those people left behind - if you put all that together, each member of the team really did perform well," he said. "It was their dream to see the Australian flag being raised," he added.
The Australian team did in fact see the flag being raised after Steve EI-Sheikh received a bronze medal in the men's middle-weight free sparring. Steve said he felt proud to represent Australia, especially when watching the Australian flag go up during the presentation of the medals. He said Australia's technique in comparison to the rest of the world was up there with the best and with that in mind he is hoping to get gold at the 1994 World Championship in Malaysia.
Dennis Benedet also did well for Australia, receiving fifth placing in the heavy-weight free sparring.
Out of the events held at the World Championship, including special technique, patterns, free sparring and power technique, the Australian team competed in the free sparring and patterns.
Arriving in a foreign country wearing the Australian colors and being welcomed to Pyongyang by members of the World Championship Organising Committee was a very exciting moment for the Australian team.
Michael Daher said once in Pyongyang, assistant coach Tom Irelandes, was responsible for the team's training. "Tom took the team through their training, preparing them mentally and physically for the tournament." "By opening day the team was in really high spirits."
The opening ceremony took place at the International Taekwondo Palace on September 10, at 3.30 p.m. The one-anda-half hour ceremony included national dancing, a display of gymnastics from the North Korean gymnastics team and a spectacular display of skill by the North Korean Taekwondo team.
The North Korean Taekwondo team performed their fighting skills, demonstrated power breaking, special techniques and self defence.
As part of the opening ceremony, the Australian team marched behind the Australian flag into the International Taekwondo Palace.
''The opening ceremony was one of the most spectacular things I've ever seen," said Michael Daher. Built especially for the World Championship, the International Taekwondo Palace has been recognised as the only one of its kind in the world.
The palace stands over 30 metres high and covers a total floor space of more than 18 thousand square metres. Constructed in the sports village in Chongchun Street, Pyongyang, the palace was built national in form. It was roofed with Korean tiles and the front of its hall was decorated with a big mosaic of Mt. Paekdu. Mt. Paekdu symbolises the indomitable spirit of the Korean people.
Being in Pyongyang representing Australia, however, did not come about without a lot of dedication and sacrifices. During the lead-up to the World Championship the team spent three to four hours, six days a week, training. Their training involved building stamina, perfecting technique, weight training and working on flexibility.
"The team performed exceptionally well all the way and there was no hesitation from any member of the team," said Michael Daher. "Each person put every effort into their training to be prepared for the World Championship," he added. Michael said future competition from the Australian team was ensured by the sacrifices made by the three females of the 1992 Australian team, who left their families and jobs in Ballarat, Victoria, to move to Sydney for championship preparations.
For the Australian team lack of sponsorship also meant financial hardship. After competing in the 1990 World Championship, Michael Daher said he had hoped sponsorship would be received for the 1992 World Championship in Pyongyang. "It still didn't work out for reasons unknown, despite already proving in 1990 Australia was a strong team." "It makes me wonder what would have happened if those team members couldn't have raised the money to go to the world championship - it would have definitely meant Australia would not have been represented."
Michael Daher said the Australian team selected for the next International tournament would be looking for both individual or team sponsorship. "The Australian team is not moving backward it is moving forward," he said.
At the 1990 World Championship in Montreal, Canada, Australia sent its first team of four competitors to the championship.
This year 10 competitors were selected to compete, however, due to injuries and financial difficulties only six competitors made it to Pyongyang.
The next International Tournament for ITF Australia will be the 1993 Asian and Pacific Taekwondo Federation Tournament to be held between September 17th-19th in Tashkent, the capital of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
"Australia presented a very high level of technique at the World Championship - the only problem with the team was lack of experience in competition at an International level," said Michael Daher. "Hopefully we can overcome that in the Asian and Pacific Taekwondo Federation tournament". "The Australian's teams' technique in the World Championship was good enough for them to compete against anyone world-wide." Michael said the Asian and Pacific Taekwondo Federation tournament would be a warmup for the 1994 World Championship in Malaysia.
Team selection for the Asian and Pacific Taekwondo tournament will be in March next year.
Taekwondo was developed 37 years ago by General Choi Hong Hi, currently president of the International Taekwondo Federation.
In an interview with Michael Daher earlier this year, General Choi said Taekwondo had been designed scientifically so it was easy to teach and easy for the student to master. He said unlike other martial arts tradition Taekwondo was one style and one single system.
Michael Daher has been involved with ITF for 21 years and during that time has attended numerous seminars conducted by General Choi. "I realise there is a lot more we need to know about traditional ITF technique and philosophy and at every seminar I find out more about it."
As chairman of technique for ITF Australia and coach of the 1992 Australian team, Michael Daher said his aim was to see every Taekwondo instructor practising the real traditionallTF technique and the real philosophy - not ITF as a word. "A lot of people advertise they are teaching traditional ITF technique, but unfortunately they are not." "To be a member of ITF is something different to being a traditional instructor." "You cannot join ITF for two years and call yourself a traditional instructor - that's impossible."
For Michael Daher protecting the traditional technique and philosophy of Taekwondo, handed down by the father of Taekwondo, General Choi, is important for the growth of Taekwondo in Australia.
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