13.9.2010 / 20 years of Taekwon-do in Velešín

I took part in another exercise-demonstration-social-taekwondo event during weekend 3.-5. September, so I am going to write a few lines about it.

Takwon-do school Velesin celebrates 20th birthday this year (exactly in December), I got to know from federation Bulletin and wrote congratulation email to Milan Prokeš (IV. Dan, big boss of Velesin school and apropos person I do really respect). He probably took pity on me and invited me for whole event – demonstration, concert, raut and seminar.

Way out of Prague with Radek Kolář (taekwondo Pardubice) was fine (hour of waiting in traffic jam...on F
riday noon, I though people normally work on Friday :o? ), we spent afternoon with motto: „back to nature“ visiting crocodile zoo in Protivín (they have 21 of total 23 World crocodile species there!) and then zoo in Hluboká (they have bears fed by grass and bread and many excavators there). We were looking forward to hard evening training, to move our bodies a bit after long journey, but Master Hwang came and dedicated it to demonstration training. I forgot how sharp is he, when focusing on presenting taekwondo. We practiced model sparring with Radek not to show it after all, because Master decided we (III. Dan holders – me, Radek Kolář from Pardubice and Zdeněk Rubeš from Tong-Il České Budějovice) should show Po-eun tul. Small comment for those of our students who likes to answer my corrections with „you’re black belt, you know everything“ - we practiced it for at least 10 times, Master was getting more and more unsatisfied finally saying „No dinner today, only practice“ and turned away. But it was nice after all, it is good to feel that you don’t know much, that there is long way in front of you. Despite of Master’s words we got dinner and drank a bit, it was nice preparation evening.

Time passed quickly on Saturday: final training for demonstration on regional seminar (Rostislav Kaňka, VI. Dan, took care of those who did not participate in demo), fast lunch (we tried to be fast, but cook was not) and then celebration itself. Few speeches, show of old school photos with interesting stories by Milan Prokeš (he was honestly moved – that is also one of the reasons why I respect him so much), short banquet (public did compete in some special games, but I got food, so I didn’t care...I am very focused when eating :o) and then demonstration itself. I did participate, so got no photos and cannot really tell if it went well, but I think audience liked it. Check Taekwon-do Velesin website in future ( www.tajky.cz ) they may put some video there. More taekwondoists outside Velesin took part – for example Rostislav Kaňka (VI. Dan, ex-national team coach) with his wife Šárka (IV. Dan), Martin Zámečník (V. Dan, Czech Taekwon-do ITF federation president), Jaroslav Vomáčka (IV. Dan, national team coach) with his wife Věra (IV. Dan), Tomáš Kuba (III. Dan, Il kyok school boss), Radek Kolář (III. Dan, TKD Pardubice leader) and few more.

I really wanted to feel some fresh air after whole Saturday spent inside buildings (with vision of long party) and Martin Zámečník took me to golf course to try his new favorite sport. I have to say, that I enjoyed it even though I was not good. Maybe I have just wrong comparison because Tom from Velešín tried golf also for his first time, but looked like new Tiger Woods. We returned slightly after 9 P.M., party wasn’t really started, but it changed soon. Everyone enjoyed talking both nostalgically and optimistically, talking about history and also about future, we also danced a lot listening to Fontanela band (so I wear knee brace now and my hamstrings hurt so much that I think about Velesin during every kick above waist – too much of expressional dance probably ;o) ). They were really good, able to play nearly everything and my ears always enjoyed it.

Summarized - It was another taekwondo event, that makes me sure that I spent lot of my leisure time doing the right thing (taekwondo).

PS: Milan, thank you for invitation and hospitality.

PSS: I with to Velesin Taekwon-do school at least same great celebration in next 20 years and to our Sonkal school to have such active instructors, so enthusiastic black belts and so many students that really enjoys practicing taekwondo. We will see during our 20 year anniversary celebration.

Martin Svitek