Rio Olympics 2016: Taekwondo's golden girls set to shine at World Grand Prix

Jade Jones and Bianca Walkden lead Great Britain squad for the World Taekwondo Federation World Grand Prix in Manchester this month

Olympic champion Jade Jones and World gold medallist Bianca Walkden head up Great Britain’s squad for the World Taekwondo Federation World Grand Prix in Manchester from October 16-18.

GB Performance Director Gary Hall has named 16 athletes – including six wild cards – for the final competitive outing on home soil before next summer’s Rio Olympic Games.

World Championship silver and bronze medallists, Damon Sansum and Wigan’s Rachelle Booth, plus European Games winner, Charlie Maddock also get their latest opportunity to impress.

London 2012 poster girl Jones has already qualified the -57kg spot for her country but the world number one is looking for a rare victory in front of a Manchester crowd.

She finished with bronze at the 2012 European Championships and has two silver medals to show for her previous Grand Prix appearances in the city.

But after victory last time out at the Grand Prix in Samsun, Turkey, the 22-year-old is hungry for more success. And the GB chief believes his Newton Heath-trained squad can use the home crowd at the Regional Arena on the Etihad Campus to its advantage.

“The atmosphere will be like a cauldron so I am looking forward to some great performances because the team is in a good vein of form,” said Hall.

“There is added pressure as it is on home soil but it is great preparation for Rio. We have got one of the strongest squads in the world and once we get them into the Grand Prix arena they go out and give it their all. And they will be in front of the Manchester crowd.

“We are looking to them to give us that additional boost and drive. It is a passionate taekwondo crowd and we hope it will happen again this time.”

Heavyweight Mahama Cho and London 2012 bronze medallist Lutalo Muhammad struck gold when Manchester hosted the inaugural Grand Prix in 2013.

Welsh star Jones won silver but was Britain’s only medal winner at last year’s Manchester World Grand Prix.

“That’s sometimes how sport plays out,” added Hall. “We had four quarter-finalists and some very close matches which shows the level of competition.

“There will be top players in every category so it will be a tough challenge. But our athletes will love that.

“This tournament is important on so many fronts. Jade has qualified for a spot at -57kg for Rio but it is still very close in some categories.

“The athletes are also fighting for the future as these ranking points will carry over into the next Olympic cycle. So, for the wilds cards we’ve selected, it is important for them to make a mark so they can get into next year’s Grand Prix.

“Our team did extremely well at the last Grand Prix in Turkey, particularly the girls who smashed it.

“Now, it’s Manchester and the team is really up for it. It is going to be a massive three days for us.”

Original article:http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/other-sport/rio-olympics-2016-taekwondos-golden-10201655

Pioneering Grandmaster Looking To Bring Tae Kwon Do Unity

Is the Unification of ITF and WTF Taekwondo Possible?

Grandmaster Han Sam Soo (centre of picture), one of the pioneers of Tae kwon do, who had introduced the martial art to Jamaica in 1974, said the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which recognises the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), should once and for all "reach a compromise" to accept the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) into its fold.

Han, 71, was recently honoured by ITF-affiliated Jamaica Taekwon-Do Association at a ceremony in Mandeville, Manchester. Now retired and living in Canada for the last 26 years, Han was sent to Jamaica four decades ago by the founder of tae kwon do, the late General Choi Hong Hi, who was born in Korea before the North-South divide.

Han, also a Korean, spent three years in Jamaica establishing tae kwon do, training early pioneers, now masters, Claude Chin and Peter Lue, but left in 1977 due to what he described as a "civil war".

"Otherwise, I would have stayed. I like Jamaica. During this visit, I see Jamaica has not changed, very happy and relaxed," he said.

FORMER STUDENTS

He was elated to see his former students upholding the principles of 'tae kwon', "foot and hand technique to defend yourself and others", and , 'do', "the way of life based on the tenets of tae kwon do - courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit".

However, Han was visibly sad that the martial arts General Choi founded in 1955, split into three different ITFs plus the WTF.

"The WTF was started in 1973 in South Korea after General Choi left the country for political reasons. General Choi was born in Korea when it was one Korea, but went to Japan to study. He joined the Japanese army then the South Korean army," Han explained.

"When General Choi moved from South Korea to Canada with the ITF, South Korea decided to call themselves World Taekwondo Federation, just to kill the general's organisation," he pointed out.

WTF-style tae kwon do debuted as a demonstration sport at the Seoul 1982 Olympics in South Korea, embraced by the IOC, and has remained an Olympic event since, closing the door on the origins of the sport, ITF-style tae kwon do.

"WTF should have used a different name. It's like calling a beer a whiskey, saying it's the same alcohol. The IOC knows ITF is the original tae kwon do but are holding hands for profit. We have to make a compromise and change the rules. All they are doing is slowly copying the ITF style," he pointed out.

"However, money and politics talk. The WTF is controlled by South Korea. General Choi and myself had met a few times with Juan Samaranch. He knew but didn't want to recognise ITF because of money and politics," Han added.

The late Samaranch served as the seventh president of the IOC from 1980 to 2001.

Meanwhile, General Choi's ITF splintered into three groups shortly before and after his 2002 death. One is located in North Korea, where he had gone in 1980 and had started teaching the art in 1981. This was much to the displeasure of his son, Choi Jung Hwa, who, after his father's death, started his own ITF, now headquartered in the United Kingdom.

The third piece of the ITF puzzle, based in Alicante, Spain, to which the Jamaica Taekwon-do Association is affiliated, was explained by Han as General Choi's then vice-president, Pablo Trajtenberg, being elevated to president, "western people who wanted to stay out of the politics", he added.

HAN'S RETURN

Now a travelling statesman in tae kwon do, Han returned from a 10-year hiatus after Choi's death to join forces with the general's son's ITF as an advisor.

However, he said he is open to "help any member of ITF". "I will go anywhere to help tae kwon do," he said.

Han is also an advisor to the 36-member council Global Taekwon-Do Federation International (GTFI), headquartered in Malaysia. Its members are from 20 countries including USA, Spain, Armenia, Russia, Canada, Malaysia and others.

GTFI is a professional tae kwon do body formed to bring all tae kwon do groups together without politics or other restrictions, which, its website said, "has destroyed many tae kwon do organisations.

"We are waiting to make one banner, have one big world championships," Han said, with, at last, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

Original Article: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/sports/20151005/pioneering-grandmaster-looking-bring-tae-kwon-do-unity

Ju jitsu and The Suffragettes: How they fought back using martial arts

How The Suffragettes taught themselves Ju Jitsu

The film Suffragette, which is due for release, portrays the struggle by British women to win the vote. They were exposed to violence and intimidation as their campaign became more militant. So they taught themselves the martial art of jiu-jitsu.

Edith Garrud was a tiny woman. Measuring 4ft 11in (150cm) in height she appeared no match for the officers of the Metropolitan Police - required to be at least 5ft 10in (178cm) tall at the time. But she had a secret weapon.

In the run-up to World War One, Garrud became a jiu-jitsu instructor to the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), better known as the suffragettes, taking part in an increasingly violent campaign for votes for women.

Sick of the lack of progress, they resorted to civil disobedience, marches and illegal activities including assault and arson.

The struggle in the years before the war became increasingly bitter. Women were arrested and, when they went on hunger strike, were force-fed using rubber tubes. While out on marches, many complained of being manhandled and knocked to the ground. Things took a darker turn after "Black Friday" on 18 November 1910.

A group of around 300 suffragettes met a wall of policemen outside Parliament. Heavily outnumbered, the women were assaulted by both police and male vigilantes in the crowd. Many sustained serious injuries and two women died as a result. More than 100 suffragettes were arrested.

"A lot said they had been groped by the police and male bystanders," says Elizabeth Crawford, author of The Women's Suffrage Movement: A Reference Guide. "After that, women didn't go to these demonstrations unprepared."

Some started putting cardboard over their ribs for protection. But Garrud was already teaching the WSPU to fight back. Her chosen method was the ancient Japanese martial art of jiu-jitsu. It emphasised using the attacker's force against them, channelling their momentum and targeting their pressure points.

Read the full article here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34425615

By Camila Ruz & Justin ParkinsonBBC News Magazine

Martial Arts Summer Camp For Kids

SUMMER camp with a twist came to Worcester in July as children enjoyed a mix of exciting martial arts activities.

Participants "absolutely loved" the sessions - which featured elements of karate, kickboxing and boxing as well as fighting with bo staff weapons - at St Mark's Church hall in Orchard Street.

The special day was organised by Worcester Martial Arts and Fitness, which specialises in giving boys and girls aged four to 12 a taster of martial arts in a safe environment led by qualified instructors.

Steve Nettleford, chief instructor, said: "All of the children absolutely loved it.

"The sessions went really well and - by combining martial arts with sports activities and fun games - it was great fun.

"We aim to provide something for every child and to ensure they all go home saying 'wow, that was cool'.

"And we've got lots of ideas to make the sessions even better."

Worcester Martial Arts and Fitness provides weekly family kickboxing, boxing and 'little ninjas' classes at St Mark's Church hall.

Anyone interested in attending should visit worcesterkarate.co.uk or call Mr Nettleford on 07538 926175.Another summer camp will be held on Tuesday, August 25, from 10am to 3pm.

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Martial Arts Insurance Fraudsters Avoid Jail

A couple who 

fraudulently claimed at least £17,000 after lying to parents that the Tiger Martial Arts Academy they ran was properly insured, have narrowly avoided jail.

Cash-strapped Jenifer Duncan and Joanne Fuller failed to ensure that the community centre in Aylesbury from where they ran classes, had the proper indemnity insurance needed in case any of the children left in their care had an accident.

A court heard the pair had told parents whose children attended classes appropriate insurance was in place.

They further lied on leaflets and flyers advertising classes, by stating all staff had undergone full criminal records background checks, when none of them had been assessed.

Andrew Kendall, prosecuting, told Amersham Crown Court the majority of parents would have refused to send their children to the classes had they known no insurance or CRB checks were in place.

He said the lowest amount the pair would have falsely claimed due to their lies was £17,388, based on the smallest average class size and the lowest total they charged to parents.

Mr Kendall added however that, based on the highest average class sizes and the largest amounts Duncan and Fuller charged to parents, the figure could be as high as £48,438. He told the court: “The prosecution can’t put a specific figure on it.”

He said no insurance was in place at the community centre for over a year after the previous policy expired. Fuller, aged 50 years, taught some of the classes while wheelchair-bound Duncan, aged 41 years, was involved in the administration of the company, Tiger Martial Arts.

Mr Kendall told the court: “Over a period of around one year, both defendants falsely represented to the local authority and parents of children who attended their classes they had a policy of indemnity insurance to cover injuries that may occur during classes.

“Over two years they said all instructors had the relevant checks from the criminal records bureau. These representations were repeated to many parents. The CRB representations were included in the leaflets and adverts for the classes. They were both false and dishonest.

“Initially the couple had appropriate insurance. It is apparent that that insurance expired and they then provided a document saying they were covered. The local authority contacted the provider, who said the document had been forged.”

After trading standards officers became involved, the pair were prosecuted and they admitted three counts of fraud by false representation.

The couple still run the club and Steven Garrett, defending, said: “Some of the parents were quite happy to allow their children to continue attending the classes after the insurance was renewed.

“It is almost impossible to put a financial figure on this - once you take into consideration the various expenses, it’s an artificial figure. The figures are hypothetical.”

He added the leaflets that falsely alluded to instructors having received CRB checks came from a parent franchise company the couple had bought the lease from and they continued to use the flyers they had been given. Mr Garrett said there was “no legal requirement” for instructors to undergo the checks, although there is also no suggestion any of the instructors failed a test.

Mr Garrett said: “They have had significant financial difficulties in the past, which probably contributed to the commission of these offences.”

Judge John Cole told the pair: “I am sure the lion’s share of parents wouldn’t have allowed their children to join the class and pay had they known there was no insurance and instructors hadn’t been CRB checked. The result of these offences is children were put in your care doing a contact activity on the false representation there was insurance when there was not.

“This is a very dangerous thing to do. It’s not only dishonest, had one of those children had an accident in those classes they would have been uninsured.

“I take the view these offences were caused by chaotically bad administration. You started out legitimately insured but you let it lapse.

“I have just about been persuaded that a custodial sentence can be suspended, but believe me it’s been by a very narrow margin.”

Duncan and Fuller both had their nine month prison sentences suspended for 24 months. Both will also undergo supervision for 12 months and were ordered to pay £1,000 each in prosecution costs.

Fuller must also undergo 250 hours of unpaid work, while Duncan will be subject to a curfew order for three months.

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New Range of Wooden Boards from Breaking Boards UK

Wooden Breaking Boards from Breaking Boards UK

Check out the newest kids on the martial arts block specialising in wooden breaking boards for martial arts.

Breaking Boards UK are offering 4 basic thickness boards:

0.8cm thick boards suitable for kids and beginners

1.2cm thick wooden boards which are great for older children and improving adult students

1.8cm martial arts boards that are ideal for higher grade adults

2.5cm (1 inch) break smash wooden boards that are designed for very experienced adults and Dan grades.

Sold in packs of ten boards, these offer all martial artists a great aid in measuring progress in the learning journey. Designed to show how technique, speed and power can be combined in a visually appealing demonstration that has that 'wow' factor and keeps students coming back to class to continue to train and improve.

Visit Breaking Boards UK and order your boards!