Don's Health Fitness Wellbeing

Contestants and Qualifying Country Tickets for Taekwondo and 2008 Beijing Olympic Games

2nd February 2008

The final numbers are in. I don't have yet the final breakdown of the actual contestants that have qualified, though remember the qualification birth is awarded to the country and not the participant. There is always a contentious issue particularly in Korea where they hold selections again to see who they actually want to send.

Here is a breakdown of the the number of tickets earned for participation per country. A country can't have more then 4 tickets for the Olympic Games.

Australia : 4 places
China : 4
Chinese Taipei : 4
Germany : 4
Korea : 4
New Zealand : 4
Turkey : 4
United States : 4
Venezuela : 4

Brazil : 3
Cuba : 3
Great Britain : 3
Greece : 3
Iran : 3
Italy : 3
Mexico : 3
Morocco : 3
Spain : 3
Thailand : 3
Uzbekistan : 3
Vietnam : 3

Canada : 2
Colombia : 2
Cote d'Ivoire : 2
Croatia : 2
France 2
Kazakhstan : 2
Kenya : 2
Malaysia : 2
Nigeria : 2
Philippines : 2
Puerto Rico : 2
Sweden : 2

Afghanistan : 1
Argentina : 1
Azerbaijan : 1
Benin : 1
Canada : 1
Costa Rica : 1
Dominican Republic : 1
Ecuador : 1
Egypt : 1
Gabon : 1
Guinea : 1
Honduras : 1
Israel : 1
Japan : 1
Jordan : 1
Kyrgyzstan : 1
Libya : 1
Mali : 1
Marshall Island : 1
Nepal : 1
Netherlands : 1
Norway : 1
Peru : 1
Portugal : 1
Qatar : 1
Senegal : 1
Switzerland : 1
Tunisia : 1

When the official list of Contestants is published by the Olympic Committee I will be sure to have them up and published here.

Results for WTF European Qualification Tournament 2008, Istanbul, Turkey.

31st January 2008

So all the final Qualification tournaments for the upcoming 2008 Games are finally over. Host Turkey earned four berths for the taekwondo competition at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games after two days which concluded on Jan. 27th.

European taekwondo powers Spain and Germany clinched three places each for the Beijing Olympic Games, while Great Britain, Greece and Sweden won two tickets each through the two-day event.

Eight countries grabbed one ticket each through the qualifier for the Beijing Olympic Games. They are Portugal, Azerbaijan, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Italy, Croatia, Israel and Norway.

The results are:

Men’s -58kg category

1st : Pedro Miguel Moreira Povoa (Portugal)
2nd : Tyrone Robinson (Great Britain)
3rd : Juan Antonio Ramos Sanchez (Spain)

Men’s -68kg category

1st : Servet Tazegul (Turkey)
2nd : Daniel Manz (Germany)
3rd : Dennis Bekkers (Netherlands)

Men's -80kg category

1st : Bahri Tanrikuku (Turkey)
2nd : Rashad Ahmadov (Azerbaijan)
3rd : Aaron Cook (Great Britain)

Men's +80kg category

1st : Jon Garcia Aguado (Spain)
2nd : Leonardo Basile (Italy)
3rd : Nikolaidis Alexandros (Greece)

Women’s -49kg category

1st : Hanna Zajc (Sweden)
2nd : Manuela Bezzola (Switzerland)
3rd : Sumeyye Gulec (Germany)

Women’s -57kg category

1st : Martina Zubcic (Croatia)
2nd : Azize Tanrikulu (Turkey)
3rd : Bat El Getterer (Israel)

Women's -67kg category

1st : Sibel Guler (Turkey)
2nd : Mystakidou Elisavet (Greece)
3rd : Pinar Budak (Germany)

Women's +67kg category

1st : Rosana Simon Alamo (Spain)
2nd : Karolina Kedzierska (Sweden)
3rd : Nina Solheim (Norway)

Results of 2007 WTF Oceania Taekwondo Qualification Tournament

Monday 14th January 2008

If any of you have tried to find these results you may understand why it has taken me so long to find this. Maybe I was just looking in the wrong place but here it is.

Well done Matthew Beach! You make me proud. All that training in London together must have paid off. Congratulations.. now go and win it!

Men's -58kg Category
1st : Ryan Carneli (Australia)

Men's -68kg Category
1st : Kismet Logan Tane Campbell (New Zealand)

Men's -80kg Category
1st : Anju Jason (Marshall Island)

Men's +80kg Category
1st : Matthew Francis Beach (New Zealand)

Women's -49kg Category
1st : Andrea Melissa Kilday (New Zealand)

Women's -57kg Category
1st : Hye Young Cheong (New Zealand)

Women's +67kg Category
1st : Amy Ash (Australia)

(no match for Female -67 kg)

Arnold Schwarzenegger:
“The last three or four reps is what makes the muscle grow. This area of pain divides the champion from someone else who is not a champion. That's what most people lack, having the guts to go on and just say they'll go through the pain no matter what happens.”

Results from the Pan-Am Olympic Taekwondo Qualification Tournament

Tuesday 11th December 2007

The 2007 WTF Pan American Taekwondo Qualification Tournament took place on Dec. 8th and 9th 2007 in Cali, Colombia.  The tournament drew 85 players from 34 countries.

Venezuela came out as the most successful country with four berths for the taekwondo competition at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the United States and Brazil clinched three places each, while Colombia, Mexico and Puerto Rico earned two places each for the Beijing Olympic Games. Here are the detailed results:

Men’s -58kg category

1st : Marcio Wenceslau (Brazil)
2nd : Guillermo Perez (Mexico)
3rd : Gabriel Mercedes (Dominican Republic)

Men’s -68kg category

1st : Peter Lopez Santos (Peru)
2nd : Mark Lopez (USA)
3rd : Idulio Islas (Mexico)

Men's -80kg category

1st : Juan Sanchez (Puerto Rico)
2nd : Miguel Adrian Ferrera (Honduras)
3rd : Carlos Vasquez (Venezuela)

Men's +80kg category

1st : Angel Matos (Cuba)
2nd : Kristopher Miotland (Costa Rica)
3rd : Juan Diaz (Venezuela)

Women’s -49kg category

1st : Gladis Mora (Colombia)
2nd : Dalia Contreras (Venezuela)
3rd : Charlotte Craig (USA)

Women’s -57kg category

1st : Debora Nunes (Brazil)
2nd : Diana Lopez (USA)
3rd : Doris Patino (Colombia)

Women's -67kg category

1st : Vanina Sanchez Beron (Argentina)
2nd : Karine Sergerie (Canada)
3rd : Asuncion Ocasio (Puerto Rico)

Women's +67kg category

1st : Natalia Falavigna (Brazil)
2nd : Lorena Aida Benitez (Ecuador)
3rd : Adriana Carmona (Venezuela)

Chris Evert:
“If you're a champion, you have to have it in your heart.”

Results from the Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament

Saturday 1st December 2007

The Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament started on Nov. 28th and ran till 30th November2007 at the Phu Tho Stadium in downtown Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The results of the competition are:

Men’s -58kg category

1st : Behzad Khodadad K. (Iran)
2nd : Rohullah Nikpai (Afghanistan)
3rd : Dech Sutthikunkarn (Thailand)

Men's -68kg category

1st : Rasul Abduraim (Kyrgyzstan)
2nd : Dmitriy Kim (Uzbekistan)
3rd : Yu Chi Sung (Chinese Taipei)

Men's -80kg Category

1st : Hadi Saei Bonehkohal (Iran)
2nd : Abdul Qader Sarhan (Qatar)
3rd : Deepak Bista (Nepal)

Men's +80kg category

1st : Chilmanov Arman (Kazakhstan)
2nd : Van Hung Nguyen (Vietnam)
3rd : Akmal Lrgashev (Uzbekistan)

Women’s -49kg category

1st : Ha Giang Hoang (Vietnam)
2nd : Mae-Num Chirdkiatisak (Thailand)
3rd : Sara Khosh Jamal Fekry (Iran)

Women's -57kg Category

1st : Pei Hua Tseng (Chinese Taipei)
2nd : Hoai Thu Nguyen Thi (Vietnam)
3rd : Shueh Fhern Elaine Teo (Malaysia)

Women's -67kg category

1st : Nurkina Liya (Kazakhstan)
2nd : Mary Antoinette Rivero (Philippines)
3rd : Yoriko Okamoto (Japan)

Women's +67kg Category

1st : Chew Chan Che (Malaysia)
2nd : Nakin Dawani (Jordan)
3rd : Evgeniya Karimova (Uzbekistan)

“Most look up and admire the stars. A champion climbs a mountain and grabs one.”
Anon

Life-Kick needs you!

Thursday 22nd November 2007

So where are we in the Life-Kick: Taekwondo for Schools Program?

The launches we have held so far have been our way of gaining a foothold into the schools. Our aim is to set up us many schools across London as possible while the actual curriculum is being developed and approved. In this way, as soon as the PE and Taekwondo curriculum as been passed we will simply step from a non curriculum position to being apart of the curriculum. We will have been active with the kids at the schools already, have created a relationship with them already and will allow the transition to be that much easier.

When I say we are currently developing the PE Taekwondo curriculum, I mean that the content of Taekwondo as a PE subject will need to be passed by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and National School Board. From there we start  rolling the program out to schools across London as an option to participate in, in addition to the current standard PE curriculum.

We are also currently approaching TV directors and companies to help us produce a series of documentaries on the effect being involved in the Life-Kick Taekwondo program has on troubled youth. Example: Troubled teenager, gang and drug involved, and the transformation that takes place over several weeks and months as he/she gets more involved in the program. The way the teenager interacts more, participates more, starts contributing and being an active participant in the class and in their surroundings. Ideas are flying and producers are very keen to get involved, it’s just a matter of coming up with the right format in the next few weeks.

Its is all very exciting but at the same time also very overwhelming. There are such huge possibilities that present themselves through this program, the impact we can make, the difference we can make, the lives we can touch and help. There is so much we could do! People are continuously adding and suggesting ideas and in many ways Life-Kick has already taken on a life of its own. To be honest, I need more hands and more leaders. If you are reading this, I need YOUR help in continuing to make this happen so we can continue to reach out and touch lives. If you can help or assist in anyway, I would love to hear from you. From instructors, to life coaches, to teachers, media and PR, administrators, the more people we have as leaders on this program, the more we can touch and make a difference. If you really, really want to be involved and are inspired by Life-Kick and what we want to do, but don't know where you could help, contact me anyway, and lets create something! We can do it together.

Dom Helder Camara:
"When we are dreaming alone it is only a dream. When we are dreaming with others, it is the beginning of reality."

Life-Kick Launches at Heaversfarm Primary School

  Monday 19th November 2007

Last week on the 13th of November, we launched Life-Kick: Taekwondo for Schools Program at our second school at Heaversfarm Primary School in Norbury. Once again we started off with a demonstration at the 9am morning assembly led by England Team coach Richard Allen and the children that take part at the taekwondo club currently at the school. I then was asked by the headmistress Susan Papas to give a quick demonstration of my own. I was totally unprepared for that and had the kids laughing, oohing and ahhing. They especially loved it when I tried to kick Richard in the head, he grabbed my leg and I ended up on my back! (All part of the act of course). After wards I spoke again about the Olympics coming to London in 2012, having dreams, believing in your self and in believing in a better future.

It was encouraging to see how enthusiastically the kids responded and how ready the teachers and headmistress were to support the program with the hope that this would be incorporated into the curriculum to positively impact children’s lives.

We have a couple more schools, junior and high school that will be starting on the program within the next few weeks so are very excited with the way our program has been received and taken in by the schools we have approached so far. We are looking particularly now at a high school that is fed by Heaversfarm. In this way, the kids that start can carry on at high school instead of having to find a club to train at. Of course the age group and the potential obstacles are very different but I really look forward to having our first high School on board!

Anatole France:
"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe."

First launch for Life-Kick: Taekwondo for Schools Program

Sunday 10th November 2007

This last week Wednesday 7th of November was the first launch and Taekwondo demonstration for the Life-Kick: Taekwondo for Schools Program at Kensington Avenue Junior School, in Norbury, Croydon, UK.

We started off with a demonstration at the 9am morning assembly led by England Team coach and Life-Kick co-founder Richard Allen. The children that took part, currently participate at the school as an extra curriculum, demonstrated their superb punching and kicking skills (It was received by much oohing and awing). After the demo I had a chance to have a small conversation with the school children about the next big Olympic Games in London for 2012. We also talked about our dreams and in believing we can have anything we want.

I have to say I was incredibly moved by the spirit of the children. I realised just how important we as adults, teachers and role models are in their lives. It was so refreshing and awe inspiring to see ALL the hands go up when I asked ".. who here has a dream that they want to be someday?... who here believes they can have that dream?.." There was no hesitation, no doubt, just a blank canvas for them to create their lives on. I realised what such an opportunity and gift it is to be able to work with children and help them live the lives they can dream of and beyond!

In all, the kids responded with incredible enthusiasm. The teachers and headmistress highly commended and supported the program and were excited at the prospect this would be incorporated into the School curriculum eventually to positively impact children’s lives.

Hodding Carter:
"There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One is roots; the other, wings."

Life-Kick: Taekwondo for Schools Program

Saturday 10th November 2007

The Life-Kick Taekwondo for Schools Program aims to take Taekwondo into junior and high schools across London and the UK. To roll out Taekwondo as the new national and government supported PE curriculum and use the tenants of integrity, respect, discipline, honour, perseverance, self control and indomitable spirit as the building blocks of transformation.

Possibility of the program:
To give our youth a kick start in life and transform them into active, healthy, dynamic and inspired adults.

Mission:
Our mission is to change and save children’s live through the values and philosophies taught through Taekwondo and the Martial Arts.

The program consists of employing Taekwondo coaches, instructors and Olympic athletes into schools as part of a new PE and education program.

Specific goals of the program are to encourage students to resolve conflict productively, avoid participating in gangs, choose drug-free lifestyles, and remain in high school until they graduate.

Taekwondo and Martial Arts training serves simply as the vehicle to instill the values and skills necessary to combat drug and gang-related peer pressures. The core philosophy of Martial Arts stresses the vital importance of a healthy mind and body necessary to lead a productive life.

The Program aims to replace many missing elements of our student's lives including offering a role model, a figure of authority, a chance to set and reach goals, physical and mental conditioning and very importantly, belief in themselves and a feeling of hope for the future.

William Hutchinson Murray
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, the providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way.”

Life-Kick: Giving our youth a kick start in life!

Tuesday 6th November 2007

For the last few years I have often played with the idea of what I would do with myself after competing. Would I just move on, go into coaching, go in at a federation level? I realised this year how much I want to give back to Taekwondo! I have benefited so much and had so many incredible opportunities awarded to me through taekwondo and the martial arts that I count myself incredibly blessed. Where ever my life may lead me, I know Taekwondo and the martial arts will always be a part of my life and for that I am committed to making a difference in the world using my own experiences and teachings to move, touch and inspire.

In May this year I started forming ideas around setting up a Taekwondo foundation, program or initiative. Something that could grow, develop and make a difference. The surprising thing was I seemed to be considering doing it here in the UK. I figured if I could set something up here in London, then I could use the same idea and blueprint to eventually launch in South Africa.

In September this year, the Taekwondo project beat its first heartbeat. I took the plans out of my head, put them to paper and then made them real!

The result is Life-Kick. Our aim: To give our youth a kick start in life!

George Bernard Shaw
“Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will.”