SOUTHERN COUNTIES OPEN TAEKWONDO CHAMPIONSHIPS 2009

We are taking a team to the above competition this Sunday 22nd November.

If you would like to take part please attend training this Wednesday at Caterham.

Competition Venue:

Totton Recreation Centre

Water Lane

Totton

Southampton

SO40 3GX

15th UTF London International Open

We have some fighters taking part in the 15th UTF London International Open on Sunday 15th November. If you would like to come and support our fighters the full address is:

K2 LEISURE CENTRE
K2 Crawley, Pease Pottage Hill, Crawley, RH11 9BQ

By car:
The entrance to K2 is off the A23 Pease Pottage Hill near the Broadfield Stadium.

There is free car parking on site for leisure centre users.

Fastway Buses 10 and 20 stop near the K2 centre on Southgate Avenue and at Broadfield Stadium

This is an all day event so feel free to drop in at any time.

A Change To The Rules

As most of us know some of the best and entertaining sparring is done in lessons and not competitions. This is due to fighters being over concerned with gaining or giving away every point.

In my opinion the worst change ever made in competition rules was to display the scores. Before this change was made fighters did not know who was winning so kept fighting to the very end.

I think it is unlikely that this rule will ever be changed back, however, the WTF have recently revised the rules again to encourage fighters to display a greater range of techniques. (Fighters take note)

I think these changes will suit Chung Yong fighters and I am pleased to see that the WTF are working hard to move away from the tip tap one point at a time style of fighting that has made modern Taekwondo boring to watch.

I have listed some of the more important changes below. They make me smile and I look forwards to seeing Chung Yong’s fighters in action soon.

• a smaller 8m by 8m contest area – this will reduce the competition area and the rationale is so that players will have to commit to more fighting rather than use space to move around,

• 3-points for a legal scoring head kick – this will encourage the use of more difficult kicks and more spectacular actions from the players to chase the points and score more points, and enhancing spectator viewing and enjoyment value and at the same time also increasing taekwondo’s values by showcasing its spectacular techniques,

• 2-points for "body turning(rotating)" kicks, eg back kicks, spinning turning kicks, jumping back kicks – as above this will increase spectator viewing and enjoyment value and also increasing taekwondo skills presentation,

• penalizing the use of the leg to block an attacking kick by lifting the knee – this will reduce the incidence of injury and encourage fairer match play rather than impeding good attacking technique,

• abolishing the 7 point gap or 12 point ceiling for winning matches – there are views that support and also not support this. While it allows matches to continue irrespective of point scores, it does not give allowance to stop matches early for any miss-matches or if a player is being outclassed,

• introducing the 5 second rule to commence the count down clock before warning a player/s for not engaging in technical exchange – this will quicken the pace and ensures there is more constant fight engagement, and this will give more spectator value for viewing fighting action,

• the use of a video replay system to rule on a challenge to a point or points scored or not scored (just like in tennis) or any rule infringement whether given or not given by the officiating referee or judges – this however will be limited to events that have the video capture or video reviews systems,

• the competition supervisory board can now over-rule the match decision if there are proven grounds of incorrect factual judgment.

13th London International Open

Date: 15th November 2009
Location: K2 Leisure Centre, Crawley

If you would like to take part I will be taking entries this Wednesday at the Caterham Class.
Entry fee is £25
Also you will need to know your weight in Kg.

Lesson strarts at 7pm.