Students kick way to medals
Far North Taekwondo students have had fantastic results at the recent International Taekwondo Nationals.
Held in Tauranga, the threestrong team from the Kerikeri Taekwondo Club came away with three golds and four silver medals.
Paea Uluaki from Okaihau won a silver in sparring and a silver in the patterns section, where participants are assessed on a series of movements including particular requirements for stances, punches and kicks.
Sailor Epiha won a gold medal in yellow belt patterns.
In his first time competing in the senior division Bradley Greenwood from Kerikeri won a silver in individual sparring, silver in team power and gold medals for team sparring and team specialty.
He competed in a team with other black belts from Auckland against the other regions including Wellington, Midlands and the South Island.
Coach Tim Couling says he was extremely proud of the boys’ efforts.
‘‘You wouldn’t expect to go to a national competition and have everyone come away with a medal.’’
Couling says the next goal for the boys is their club grading in August.
Greenwood says he is very lucky to have Couling as an instructor.
‘‘I started off as a white belt and now I’ve achieved so much in the sport.
‘‘Every competition I do I dedicate it to my friend who passed away and who also did Taekwondo. I hope I make him proud.’’
Sparring is controlled contact to the head or torso using a variety of kicking and punching techniques.
Greenwood has been competing for nine years and hopes to one day make the Olympic team.
‘‘I also want to go to many more world championship events and also just to keep training and become the best I can.
‘‘I was really happy with the results [at the nationals], I will say it’s in my top achievements in Taekwondo.
‘‘My next goal is to go to the world championships in Ireland in 2017. I would love to get a two times world champion medal.’’
Opua local Riley PhillipsHarris has also tasted success recently by becoming the US Open World Martial Arts Champion 2016.
He was also part of the New Zealand team that won the World Gold Cup.