Father, son duo bring home the hardware
It’s pretty satisfying for Phillip Peters to see his sons share his passion for taekwondo.
Originally, it was his eldest son, Reed, now 27 and a second-degree black belt living in New Brunswick, who Phillip trained alongside. On April 20, his 11-year-old boy, Derek, took part in his first competition and the father-son duo from Millbrook made waves bringing home four medals from the TriStar Taekwondo tournament in Ingersoll.
Representing Peterborough’s Blue Wave Taekwondo, Derek Peters dazzled the audience with a gold medal in poomsae (forms) and a bronze in kyorugi (sparring). Phillip Peters, 53, won bronze medals in both kyorugi and poomsae.
“Derek showed an amazing amount of concentration given that there were eight rings simultaneously active and there was a lot of cheering and a lot of crowd participation,” Phillip said. “I didn’t know how he would react in that environment. When you’re in the class it’s easy to concentrate because it’s not nearly as chaotic, but he was able to flush out all the noise and focus on what he was doing. He was able to outdo seven other competitors at the same level.”
It might have looked easier than it was.
“It was quite the experience,” said Derek, a Grade 6 pupil at St. Catherine Catholic Elementary School. “It definitely felt a lot more social than normal. It was a little bit hard to concentrate because I’m used to it being a little bit more quiet. I think my main goal was just to put that all aside and focus on the target.” It was tough for Phillip to watch. “It was nerve-racking, but I was definitely proud to see how hard he was trying and how much effort he was putting into it. As a parent you always want to help but you can’t. As soon as they enter the ring it’s all them. There is nothing you can do but watch. You’re a spectator on this emotional roller-coaster. You’re a passenger. You can’t get in the driver’s seat. It was thrilling to see how well he did.”
Derek said it was “quite the surprise” when he was declared the winner.
“It made me feel pretty happy,” he said.
Phillip, general manager of Lakeland Multitrade — an industrial design company in Cobourg — has trained in numerous martial arts for 40 years and holds a black belt with the International Taekwondo Federation and he is working toward his black belt with the World Taekwondo Federation. Derek started training two years ago and holds a blue stripe.
“It kind of runs in the family,” Phillip said. “My youngest son grew up seeing my oldest son and I doing it so he said he wanted to try it. He did and he’s never skipped a class. He always wants to go and is enthusiastic.”
“It’s a good sport. It feels like it was made for me,” Derek said.
Blue Wave master sensei Marcelo Sarkis said both Peters are great representatives for the non-profit club.
“Their achievements serve as a source of pride and inspiration for the entire Blue Wave Taekwondo community,” Sarkis said. “With their indomitable spirit and passion for the martial arts, the Peters duo exemplifies the true essence of taekwondo — unity, perseverance, and excellence.”
“Marcelo is the best teacher I have ever had the pleasure of working with,” said Phillip Peters. “He is text book for every move and every position you need to be in to execute properly. He is so consistent. There is always high energy intensity and discipline. He mixes in a lot of fun. It makes it enjoyable to go to class, not only for me but my son as well.”
The club trains every Tuesday and Thursday at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre.