Elite duo are island star attraction

TOWNSVILLE hosted taekwon- do heavyweights Carl van Roon and Trent Hayden for the Sun Soo ITF Taekwon- Do sparring camp on Magnetic Island earlier this month.

Kiwi national and Auckland resident van Roon, an eight- time world champion and elite taekwon- do coach, made his third visit to the north to deliver a coaching clinic to students from across Australia.

“This is our biggest camp to date, and we will have to cap numbers next year,” said host Nigel Paul, Sun Soo ITF Taekwon- Do Master Instructor and 7th Dan. “As word has spread about the impact van Roon makes on your sparring ability, we are seeing more and more athletes from southern states travelling to Townsville to participate.”

Hayden is the number oneranked Australian ITF fighter. Hayden worked alongside van Roon to deliver sparring drills and tactics.

Sun Soo ITF Taekwon- Do is preparing to send a team to the World Cup in Melbourne next March, and the UTF World Championships in Brazil next August, and van Roon’s coaching will be a boost.

“It was brilliant to be back in Townsville, and clubs such as Sun Soo that make the effort to bring in expertise, whether myself or others, show that they are serious about the progress and development of their students,” van Roon said.

“I have witnessed a huge lift in the sparring ability of the members, and VRMA is pleased to be a part of that.”