National success for Medicine Hat Taekwondo instructor

A local taekwondo instructor recently won a silver medal at the 2017 Canada Open International Taekwondo Championships, which took place in Montreal.

Annie An, a fourth degree black belt taekwondo instructor at Fire Dragon Taekwondo, placed second in the Poomsae division, which focuses on technique.

“This is a really big event,” said Master Mark Pellerin. “There was really people from all over the world at this event. This is one of the higher ranked events, meaning this is some of the best there is out there.”

Living and working in the Hat, Pellerin says An was very happy to take home a silver medal.

“She was very excited,” he said. “This is something she’s been working for her whole life. This is really her lifestyle, it’s what she does. I think the second place finish is very good, and it’s great to see someone from Medicine Hat win something on a national stage.”

Pellerin says the Poomsae division focuses purely on technique and not the actual combat of taekwondo.

“Every little thing matters in this division,” he said. “Everything down to how your toes are pointed, it’s very easy to lose points. Think of doing a backflip. Lots of people can do them, and it can work — just like in a movie fight scene. But in the Poomsae division, you have to do a perfect backlflip with everything lined up perfectly.”

The Fire Dragon Taekwondo group has more than 300 members, and has operated in the city for many years.