Smashing time had by all at tourney
Smashing boards with their bare feet was just one of the techniques a group of Taekwondo enthusiasts perfected on Saturday. Two hundred timber squares were systematically chopped using feet, hands and flying leaps into the air as Taranaki Taekwondo members enjoyed a day of learning unusual and weird techniques taught by fifth dan instructor Brendan Doogan, of Auckland,
A round of applause followed each successful break or fall, as the 45 participants, ranging from youngsters of 7 and 8, to adults in their 70s, and many in between, learned new holds and self defence moves.
Breaking the boards was a good way to check if they were using the correct technique when they practised kicks and hits using rubber pads at normal training, spokesperson Kirsten Livingstone said.
‘‘You can't learn if you're not enjoying it.’’
Kirsten Livingstone
The Taranaki club differed from many other martial arts clubs in that members were not training for competitions or tournaments so they could concentrate on learning skills along with fitness and self defence, she said.
Fun days were held several times a year, she said.
‘‘We are into having fun, having a good time. You can’t learn if you’re not enjoying it,’’ she said.
Livingstone had been training for 24 years with the club, which holds four sessions a week for different ages and levels.
‘‘We have an awesome group of people, from the older generation to young people and it’s a family environment. There’s no egos.’’
The club’s junior class was attended by between 30 and 40 children, and many of them moved up to the senior group as they progressed.