Twenty-eight of Trinity Taekwon-Do Academy’s youngest members took part in a kids-only tournament on Dec. 5 at W.G. Murdoch High School in Crossfield.
The purpose of the tournament was to give four to seven-year olds (known as L’il Kickers) the chance to gain tournament experience.
“Four clubs participated in the tournament, and there were 55 participants in total, so there was a lot of representation,” said Trinity instructor Brenda Peacock,
“In the International Taekwon-Do Federation, they don’t do the L’il Kicker tournaments, so, we put it on to teach kids the basics, since they’re not usually included in the big tournaments.”
What events did the children participate in at the tournament?
“We taught them a pattern each, and we also taught them how to spar,” said Christian Blazina, another Trinity instructor.
“Everyone started off with a bye-sheet, and then we gave out medals for gold, silver, and bronze. Then, those kids who didn’t win a medal got participation badges or victory medals as we call them.”
“In patterns, you have three judges and they see who is trying to do what they were taught and who was focused,” said Peacock.
“Some of the kids throw one punch, and then they kind of lose interest, it’s a bit like a deer in headlights, but it’s all meant to be fun.
“It shows them what the ropes of tournaments are like.”
Does participating in tournaments help to make the kids more enthusiastic in training?
“It gives them a bit of a boost for training,” Blazina said.
“They were all amped up to be training tonight and they all had a great time. I think it definitely increases their enthusiasm.”
Was this the first tournament for most of the participants?
“For a lot of the kids, this was their first tournament,” Peacock confirmed.
“Some of them have been in Taekwon-Do for two or three years, but for the majority it was their first competition experience.”
“It was the biggest tournament we’ve ever had for the L’il Kickers,” Blazina said.
“This specific tournament at Crossfield was the first time we had ever gone to it, and now we’ll be having another tournament coming up sometime in Bragg Creek, which is an in-house tournament between Trinity and Horizon Taekwon-Do who are based in Airdrie.
“The L’il Kickers will be going to that, but all levels up to black belts can participate as well.”
Where do the L’il Kickers go next in terms of advancing through the ranks of Trinity?
“The L’il Kickers have 30 minute classes on Monday nights, and then progress to transition classes which are hour long sessions once a week,” Peacock said.
“That prepares them for what is expected of upper level belts and older kids (seven and up).
“Those are meant to prepare them for the two one-hour classes we have every week, it’s a little more structured.”
Upcoming events that Trinity members will be taking part in include the Trinity-Horizon Inter-Club Competition which is taking place in Bragg Creek on Mar. 12, and the ITF Western Canadian Championships on May 13-14 in Regina, Sask.
“The Inter-Club Competition is designed to give club members experience and get comfortable in a tournament setting,” said head Trinity instructor Cam Macdonald.
“Then, they can move on to larger scale ones, such as Provincials and Nationals.”
For more information on Trinity Taekwon-Do visit www.trinity-tkd.com
