In the wise words of Rocky Balboa, life isn’t about how hard you can hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.
Cochrane’s Trinity Taekwon-Do, a martial arts school, put Rocky’s words into practice at the 2024 Alberta Provincial Taekwon-do Championships in Airdrie last weekend.
The Dojang’s students earned 36 medals at the championships, including eight gold, 11 silver, and 17 bronze medals.
Twenty six of Trinity’s martial artists, sent to represent the Dojang at the event, earned the impressive medal collection.
Trinity also sent four full-time umpires to help out at the championships.
Cameron Macdonald, the Dojang’s head instructor and head coach at the competition, was blown away by his students’ performances.
No doubt!
Above and Beyond
Trinity teaches its students about tenacity and the spirit of never giving up.
The Dojang’s lesson certainly paid off, with many of its students giving 110 percent to earn a win in their overtime matches.
“I saw this time and time again, so the students did really well,” Macdonald told the Cochrane Eagle.
Trinity’s adult students, Maddie du Toit and Mark Orcutt, showcased their exceptional skills and determination by earning gold medals in intense sparring competitions. Their achievements were a source of pride and inspiration for the entire Trinity Dojang.
Shiloh Snoeij, one of Trinity’s yellow belts, won a third gold medal. Taekwon-do athletes are awarded different-coloured belts based on their skill and experience.
A yellow belt is one grade above a white belt given to beginners. Snoeij’s belt might be yellow, but his performance at the championships was golden.
However, Trinity’s students have no time to rest on their laurels.
“We have six athletes going, five colour belts and one black belt, going to Regina this weekend for the North American Invitational Taekwon-Do Tournament,” said Macdonald.
The Way Of The Foot And Fist
Trinity’s students faced off against 350 competitors at the provincials in Airdrie.
Still, the stage will be even bigger at the 2024 North American Invitational Taekwon-do Championships in Regina, Saskatchewan.
The invitational championships invite black belts and coloured belts from clubs in North America, the Caribbean, Mexico, and other invited countries.
From May 18 to May 19, Taekwon-do athletes will compete in several events, ranging from team sparring to individual patterns (see video below.)
The 2024 Championships are a battleground for experienced Taekwon-do athletes to showcase their talent and hone their skills. Trinity has been hard at work preparing its students for the competition.
“We’ve been doing extra competition classes and getting people ready for tournaments. I just think it’s a great testament to our team in their coaching and everything else,” said Macdonald.
Taekwon-do isn’t as simple as hitting your opponent. Taekwondo roughly translates to ‘the way of the foot and fist.’
Athletes must use both their feet and fists to score points. However, only straight punches using the knuckles of a tightly clenched fist earn points.
Similarly, kicks only count if delivered using any part of the foot below the ankle.
Gam-jeom, or penalties, are declared when an athlete punches to the face or punches/kicks below the waist.
With adrenaline pumping, athletes must strategically plan their offence while focusing on their defence.
Most of the matches at the 2024 Championships will be split into two rounds lasting up to two minutes each. The athlete with the most points at the end of a match is declared the winner.
Trinity’s students will be competing against incredibly talented athletes worldwide this weekend.
Win or lose, Macdonald is grateful for the hard work and dedication his students have put into preparing for the 2024 Championships.
