Taekwondo on the rise

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Taekwondo Association is making a concerted effort to increase the number of persons practicing the artform. With twenty-four active members currently involved in the discipline, the need to increase these numbers is one of the focus points of the association’s president Glenroy Gaymes.{{more}}

The president made this clear last Wednesday at Union House, Lower Middle Street, as the association held a Press Conference and Demonstration.

He said that the association will be spreading its wings to include clubs from the rural areas.

Gaymes said that the membership drive is one part of the thrust to get the sport greater recognition.

Taekwondo, a Korean sport, was introduced here in 1977 by Albert Maloney (deceased). The sport has gone through its ups and downs, which is why the current executive is trying to maintain a more conspicuous role in the sporting landscape of the country.

Such was the prominence of the sport that St. Vincent and the Grenadines participated in the 2003 Pan Am Games reaching the quarter finals, followed by a creditable outing at a regional championship a year later in Barbados. With four black belt holders at present, Gaymes is hopeful that from the current batch of practitioners that a female black belter will emerge.

Three of the four black belts were on hand to receive their certificates from President of National Olympic Committee.The recipients were Gaymes, Chief Instructor Otto Ragguette and 15 year-old Delroy Gaymes.

And a demonstration of some of the techniques, a sparring session and the breaking of board with bare feet gave an insight of the wealth of expertise that exists among the present exponents.