Taekwondo gets fourth course

The St Vincent and the Grenadines Taekwondo Association is enjoying its fourth technical developmental course since 2000.{{more}}

The ten-day course, which is taking place at the XPert Computer Conference Room and targets both youngsters and senior members, is being conducted by Seok San Kim of Korea.

The sessions run daily, with the youngsters attending in the morning and the adults, in the afternoon.

At a press conference held last Friday morning at Olympic House, President of the Association Glenroy Gaymes said they are using the course to attract more persons to the sport.

“We are extending an invitation to all; Mr Kim will not be here not only to impart his knowledge to the regular trainers, but we are trying to capitalize on the opportunity to gain more students and from the perspective of Taekwondo, you are always welcomed,” Gaymes said.

Gaymes said that apart from the technical aspects of the course, the Association will be utilizing Kim’s expertise in the field of refereeing.

Kim is a seventh degree black belt and an international Taekwondo referee.

“One of the areas [in which] we are weakest is the competitive part of Taekwondo and we are lacking there and according to the WTF rules, you can only be an accomplished referee from fourth dan up and there are two fourth dans in St Vincent and the Grenadines; so Kim is going spend some time with us as coaches and with the participants, so that they can understand the procedures which are required,” Gaymes stated.

President of the National Olympic Committee Trevor Bailey, revealed that this is the forty-ninth technical course accessed by St Vincent and the Grenadines since becoming a member of the International Olympic Committee in 1987.

Bailey said that the cost of the Taekwondo course was put at US$8,000.

The course started last Saturday and ends July 23. (RT)