2008 Scottish Open
Barry Hamilton, NI Children & Cadet Kyorugi Team Coach, was greatly impressed by the ability and courage of young Dan B. in his first cross water competition at the 2008 Scottish Open held on the 16th March. Dan made easy work of his first two opponents with two K.O.'s. Barry said he personally felt sorry for the other children but was very pleased for Dan. Unfortunatley in his third fight Dan met a guy who was obviously placed in the wrong weight category and Dan suffered an arm injury which Barry thought was severe enough to call it a day. Dan was keen to fight on but Barry made the corect call and got him checked out by the paramedics, were he proved to be okay.
Taekwondo Paralympics
Also the TANI 3 year plan examined looking at a club for deaf people. I have had a number of hearing impaired people training in my children's club.
Please advise Bertie Nicholson if you are interested in attending.
12 January 2007
This comes following a photo and small article included in the Sunday News in November.
All great news for Taekwondo - check it out!
Download the SCNI magazine excerpt here!
Kyorugi training in 2007
It's a great opportunity for clubs and players alike - so get your most promising talent to these sessions! All players are welcome - the more, the better and the longer we can keep the class running.
Map of UUJ - how to get there
![Map of UUJ - how to get there](javascript:maps("../images/photos/UUJMap.jpg");){kind=link}
Mark Gallagher, Kyrougi secetary, spreads the word to commence a plan of action:
"I'm seeking for all instructors' co-operation this year in making a bigger and better Northern Ireland taekwondo team.
This is an exciting time to be involved in taekwondo, with as well as being an olympic sport, it has now been recognised by the commonwealth games commission, and NI has already picked up commonwealth medals and hopes and will try our best to again gold and improve the medal count in the next Commonwealth Championships in Canada 2008.
With there being 3 competitors from each team allowed to fight in each weight division, we should be sending all potential players to sparring training. Players will need to start their competitive training now to be in with a chance of going to Canada.
Existing NI players and coaches have picked up so much knowledge through competing and training camps in Loughborough over 2006 - I feel that everyone wanting to compete should be taught this knowledge.
Any coaches with ideas on how to improve the N.I team then please feel free to tell me. Lets build a bigger, better and stronger NI team for 2007."
15 November 2006
This will only be possible with the 75% financial support of the Sports Council N.I. who have £40m to spend on facilities that could be used for training camps, etc. for teams attending the 2012 London Olympics.
Keith has already visited warehouses on the Boucher Road, Belfast. So we are talking big buildings, and big money...in the hundreds of thousands.
Keith is talking to the SCNI to see what they think. TANI had already been approached by the SCNI if we thought we could do this and have attended presentations on the subject.
The centre will probably have to be Belfast based to attract sufficient numbers and in a 'neutral area' or somewhere close within easy travel distance. If you see any building that would suit then lets us know!
Some more great news for Taekwondo in Norn Iron!
14th & 15 October 2006
The Commonwealth Taekwondo Championships takes place over 14th & 15th October in Brisbane, Australia. The players have all have worked tremendously hard and are buzzing with anticipation.
A special thanks goes to the Sports Council for Northern Ireland who without their considerable financial support and confidence in our ability to produce a viable team, NI would not be represented. We wish the squad all the very best in the biggest competition in which a Northern Ireland Team has competed!
Full Squad (UTANI & ITU players), from left to right: (back) Glen Culbert (NI Team Coach), Gareth Whyte, Mark Gallagher, Barry Hamilton, Brian Kerr (Assistant Coach) (front) Karen Robinson, Seaneen Topping
The National Anthem
A world famous tune for the NI National Anthem - download a composition of the Londonderry Air (tune to Danny Boy) that is the de facto NI National Anthem to be used when the guys and girls pick up their Commonwealth Taekwondo Championships gold medals!
Don't play it more than once or you will be singing it all day!
download Londonderry Air - if you dare (right click and 'save link as' / 'save as')
The Special Logo
To mark this special occassion a NI Commonwealth Championships Team logo, based on the logos of the NI Commonwealth Games Federation and the 2006 Commonwealth Championships, was commisioned.
It now adorns the team tracksuits and the white uniform (dobok) of each player...
May they wear them with pride!
October 2006
> Mark Tame
> Mark Gallagher
> Gareth Whyte
These players will be "enjoying" close examination from sports scientists at the Sports Institute for Northern Ireland (SINI) based at the University of Ulster at Jordanstown (UUJ).
Ian McKeown (Performance Services) will be organising for the guys to go through the following steps:
> Physio screening with a sports physio at the UUJ Clinic to determine any areas of weakness or injuries, a sort of a sports health check.
Estimated schedule: early of week 17 - 21 July 2006.
> A fitness test to be carried out to determine levels of fitness.
> Drawing up of a personalised fitness training programme based on the findings of steps 1 & 2.
> A sports nutrionist will also be ensuring they eat well to support the level of training.
All of this does not come cheap and would not be possible without the support of the Sports Council for Northern Ireland.
SINI have never carried this out with Taekwondo members before so it will be great to show them something special!
September 2006
TANI would like to advise that the new BTCB Anti Doping Rules have just been released. TANI was pleased to make available a copy of UK Sport Model Rules, following discussion with Renee Lavery of UK Sport, to the British Taekwondo Control Board/Sport Taekwondo UK so as to ensure that the sport of Taekwondo follows the same set of Rules and Regulations in regards to
Anti-Doping.
The TANI/BTCB(NI) constitutions will be amended to state that "BTCB(NI) adopts the Rules and Regulations of British Taekwondo Control Board/Sport Taekwondo UK".
Download the .doc
August 2006
If any squad/association coaches want to attend please advise Bertie Nicholson.
These workshops are targeted at existing or future
elite coaches in taekwondo. The first guest speaker is Peter Shakespeare, a Talent ID guru who works with British Rowing.
Prospective coaches can register online at www.sini.co.uk/gaininganedge
Download the .pdf
NI Kyorugi Team Athletes: Mark Gallagher, Gareth Whyte, and Douglas Burke along with NI Kyorugi Squad Coach, Glen Culbert, were put through their paces by Sports Scientist, Ian McKeown (Performance Services Assistant UUJ) on Tuesday 23rd August. With one unfortunate athlete taking time out to relieve himself of the contents of his stomach! (Editor: We won't mention who, to save any 'sick' jokes at his expense!)As reported by Ian, "I seem to have a good record getting people to be sick! 2 in 2 days! In terms of fitness the boys are good, the majority of the tests show that there is room for improvement especially through power, this will come with strength training. Overall I was very happy with the levels and the attitudes. The guys seem very eager so hopefully this is only the start of things to come."
Using this information as well as the results of the physio screening done previously Ian will start into strength and conditioning training for the guys.
In the meantime if you want to improve your specific fitness for Kyorugi start working on power, speed and speed endurance.
TANI Coaching Director, Bertie Nicholson, on behalf of the BTCB(NI) will be meeting with Mr Ian McKeown - Performance Services Assistant, from the Sport and Recreation Services Dept of the University of Ulster at Jordanstown on Wed 9th August to finalise plans for NI Kyorugi Team members to benefit from sorts science/sports medicine specialists at the Univeristy. This marks another step forwards in the accelerating improvements in the approach to competition preparation.
June 2006
We are pleased and honoured to have the following gentlemen take up these important positions:
> Secretary General
Mr Barry Hamilton (UTA(NI))
> Honorary Treasurer
Mr Steven Best (Heart of N. Ireland)
> NI Poomsae Team Coach
Master Glen Culbert (UTA(NI))
> NI Kyorugi Team Coach
Mr Paul Gibson (UTA(NI))
Also appointed was Mr. Mark Tame as Honorary Secretary NI Kyorugi Team.
We were also pleased to welcome Heart of Northern Ireland into the BTCB(NI).
This is a new body and is led by My Neil Best and Mr Steven Best.
1st April 2006
This
squad
get
together
will
see
the
first
Cadet
(-12
yrs)
get
involved.Speak to Shaun Heath if you have some talented youngsters.
Sat 1st April at University of Ulster,
Jordanstown (tbc)
Promising 9th kups and above are welcome to this open session where techniques and tactics from British Olympic Squad training in Loughborough will be explained.
Cadets (8-12 yrs) (amended rules)
14.00 - 15.00
£3.00
Juniors (13 yrs+) & Adults (18yrs+)
14.00 - 16.00
£6.00
*
Bring
own
WTF
equipment
*
Bring
proof
of
insurance
Click
here
for
map
to
UUJ
(adobe
pdf)
Click
here
for
more
information
(document)
It
was great
news when
Mr Nigel
Hudson
(Poomsae
Director
UK) formally
advised
Master
Glen Culbert
(5th Dan)
of his
successful
application
for the
role of
NI Poomsae
Coach:"Dear Master Culbert
It is with great pleasure that I write to you on this occasion, following my recent appointment as Director of Poomsae UK it is one of my first duties to select and put in place National and Regional Poomsae training, to this end I can now officially confirm your position in this structure as the Northern Ireland Regional Poomsae coach. After our recent meetings and conversations I am sure you shall fulfil this role admirably.
It is vitally important that all our regional coaches along with our National coach are working to the same template and to this end there shall be a meeting for all regional coaches along with the National coach and myself on Sunday the 5th of March. Nigel M Hudson (Poomsae Director UK) For and behalf of the
BRITISH TAEKWONDO CONTROL BOARD (WTF)"
The NI Squad are very lucky to have Master Culbert in this role, being one of the few coaches, either in the UK or Ireland, to hold the International Poomsae Juding qualification. Also Master Culbert, being in the UTA, has as his instructor Master Shin (8th Dan) who is a technical advisor to the UK Pomsae Squad.
download selection criteria (.doc)
download poomsae training notes
Medal success in Belgium @ the 23rd Open Challenge Cup
Douglas Burke - bronze
Darren Hunter - gold
This is our first medal success in Europe.
British University Championships
Barry Hamilton - Bronze
Barry was beaten by one point (7 to 6) resulting from points given to his opponent as a result of extremely poor judging.
British Squad Training @ Loughborough
Mark Gallagher and Gareth Whyte enjoyed excellent training from the Mexican National Coach. Mark came out top on a number of speed tests.
It is rewarding that the speed training we have been using is working.
Belgium 12th March 2006
ouglas
Burke
and
Darren
Hunter
competed
in their
firstinternational kyorugi competition in Europe.
Click here for more information (document)
10th/11th March 2006
Mark
Gallagher
and
Gareth
Whyte
enjoyed
some
excellent
trainingover the two days in the National Centre in Loughborough University.
6th - 10th Feb 2006
Monday
6 February
- Friday
10 February
2006 Mark Gallagher and Barry Hamilton will be spending a whole week training in
the National Taekwondo Centre in Loughborough University with both elite
squads.
Look out for sparring classes on their return!
National Technical Championships 2006
Sunday
27th
- Sunday
29th
January
2006Mansfield leisure centre, Mansfield
Doors Open 9.00 for 9.30 prompt start
Master Culbert will be looking for medal winning competitiors from the
Irish Open and North West Open to attend.
Click here for more information (document)
3rd Dec 2005
Following
the
highly
successful
session
with
Gary
Hall
andn
John
Wright
Diaz
the
NI Squad
Members
will
share
the
knowledge
with
club
instructors
and
potential
squad
members. 2.00-4.00pm @ UUJ
It
was
brilliant
news
coming
from
the
British
National
Championships
held
at Loughborough
University
on the
20th
November
that
two
of our
up and
coming
junior
kup
fighters
had
got
first
place
and
been
announced
British
Junior
Champions.Douglas
Burke
(16
yrs)
(left)
and
Darren
Hunter
(17
yrs)
both
members
of the
UTA(NI)
are
new
additions
to the
Northern
Ireland
Squad.
This
gives
us all
great
encouragement
that
we are
on the
right
path
for
further
victories.Attendance at the Nationals was only possible with the support of the Sports Council for Northern Ireland.
27th Nov 2005
Everton
park
sports
centre,Great Homer St,
Liverpool,
Awards for 1st - 4th places
(see document for more)
*Closing date for entries 22. Nov.2005 - No exceptions!*
August 2005
Gareth,
2nd
Kup
from
Carryduff
Taekwondo
Club
has
been
invited
by the
NI Korugi
Coach,
Shaun
Heath,
to join
the
NI Squad.
Following an impressive display against more seasoned players and having just turned 16 its a nice birthday present!
August 2005
Sunday
28th
August
was
the
first
NI Poomse
Squad
training
class
of the
new
season,
held
in the
Queen's
University
Belfast,
PEC.
As hoped it brought a large spread of grades, ages and a strong interest from ladies.
"There are high hopes for the squad.", said Master Culbert, "The standard with Northern Ireland is quite good and we should do well especially with poomse now being standardised.
August 2005
Mr Paul Gibson
(3rd
Dan)
and
former
two
times
British
heavy-weight
champion
held
a fight
class
for
the
Valley
Club
with
the
juniors
and
adults
on Tuesday
23rd
August,
Valley
Leisure
Centre,
Newtownabbey.
Bringing along a few speed training 'toys' there will be a rush for 'bungee' cords in Belfast as well as tennis balls to practice accuracy of back kicks with. (Paul did advise for people to hang their tennis balls somewhere safe like a garage not in doorways!)
August 2005
Sat
6th
August
saw
the
squad
traini\ng
move
to University
of Ulster
- Jordanstown
Campus
(UUJ)
on a
permanent
basis.
The
facilities
are
excellent
within
the
large,
airy
hall.There are sufficient mats to have a full ring and enough space and equipment to carry out fitness training such as plyometrics. Also very important is that being based within UUJ will hopefully encourage final year students from the Sports Science Dept within the UUJ to help us. Creating a Loughborough for ourselves!
July 2005
Three
players
from
the
NI Korugi
Squad
literally
took
a hand
at a
semi-contact
competition
organised
by the
TAGB
for
their
clubs
in Northern
Ireland.
Well done to Jonathan and Paul for coming away with golds and Darren with silver, especially when considering Scottish and English squad players were competing.
Germany
January 2005
Master
Glen
Culbert
represented
the
UTA(NI)
at the
WTF's
International
Referee
Poomse
course
held
in Stuttgart.
The course ran over five days, seven hours a day intensive Poomse training with a practical and written test at the end. The course was held in advance of the forthcoming WTF World Poomse Championships.