A victorious year
2017 has been a busy year for Victory Taekwondo, and it is not slowing down anytime soon.
They started the year with a Black Belt test, testing two students to 1st Poom or Jr. Black Belt, just two days later the team went to provincials in Halifax and brought home eight provincial champions, including the two brand new Black Belts, Samuel Swinamer and Olivia Mckenzie.
Following provincials, in March they went to the Atlantic Canada Taekwondo Games and the Annapolis Valley Taekwondo Challenge. In April they went to the Cape Breton Open followed by the East Coast Cup, and most recently the team went to the Handmadang (Martial Arts Festival). In total, the team has brought home 42 gold medals, 46 silver medals and 46 bronze medals. A very successful year so far!
In addition to the tournaments, Victory Taekwondo has been a part of the first annual Run for Cystic Fibrosis, held in Bridgewater, and was invited to attend a training camp held in preparation for team Nova Scotia, which will head to Calgary May 26 to 28 for nationals.
As the tournament season slows down for this team, the training does not. Both instructors, 4th Dan, Master Sherry Kozlowski, three time national silver medalist, silver and bronze medalist at Olympic Carding, and 3rd Dan Angel Kozlowski, three time national competitor and Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, will attend a Poomse seminar in Halifax on June 11 as part of their NCCP (National Coaching Certification Program).
NCCP is a requirement for coaches when taking students to national and international competitions, as well as being members in good standing with the Maritime Taekwondo Union, and both instructors sit on the board of directors.
The students will continue to cross train with other schools in the Halifax and Antigonish area, as well as attend the 2017 Atlantic Taekwondo Training camp in PEI this August. Both instructors like to provide their students with as many opportunities as possible to train with national champions and national competitors as they prepare them for the Xavier Taekwondo Championships, held in Antigonish in October, Nationals 2018 and three students - Doug, Dahlen and Logan Doubleday - who are preparing for their Black Stripe test. They will also attend nationals when they achieve the rank of 1st Degree Black Belt.
Victory Taekwondo has moved to a new permanent home, now in the County Fair Mall, New Minas. This move was necessary to provide students with the opportunity to train more frequently and be able to invite other schools in for cross training. This is an excellent training space and the whole taekwondo family loves it.
Throughout the summer you will find Victory Taekwondo having fun with their new 20/20 Armour, that is due to arrive in July. Stop in and see the new space anytime.