6.8.2003 / 1st Summer camp Taekwon-do ITF with Master Hwang Ho Yong

Reportage by Martin Svitek

In days from 31st July to 3rd August 2003 first training camp with master Hwang Ho Yong (VIII. Dan) took place at Ostrava college given by Marek Lazor (II. Dan, chef trainer of Il-Dong Taekwon-do School Ostrava). At first I want to truly thank for organizing such a great event.

About 40 taekwondoists from 1. kup to III. Dan came, including few taekwon-do schools chiefs and former national team members. Whole camp was dedicated to taekwondoists who are preparing themselves for next degree tests. Trainer Pavel Bareš (II.Dan), Martin Hlůže and Martin Svitek (both 1. kup) took part representing Sonkal.

Every day was composed from two 2-hours trainings and one evening
theoretical lesson.
Master Hwang had tried to recapitulate and explain whole system of taekwon-do teaching starting with basic techniques and explaining of the theory of power, movement and basic principles, through patterns, system of sparring finishing with hosinsool and tando matsogi (self-defence against unarmed opponent and opponent with knife). Despite of fact that main part of trainings was dedicated to „basics“, I think that everybody enjoyed it and got lot of experiences. Master Hwang´s trainings was led in good-mood and with smile, although they were pretty hard (our toboks were permanently wet whole camp and our legss became stone after first two days :o) ).

During theoretical lessons master Hwang tried to answer our questions about techniques, principles, taekwon-do in the Korea and in the World and about himself too. The only problem was that lot of participants were passive, but I hope that only because their shyness and not because their lack of interest.

At the end of the camp every group (1. kup group, I. Dan group…) practiced their patterns in the view of rest of participants and master Hwang himself, who marked their practicing by points. Take the view of II.Dan group and mainly of III.Dan „group“ composed only from Radka Heydušková (Dlouhá) was pleasure for everyone. Radka Heydušková took applause for their great practicing and also master Hwang´s appreciation.

Finally I want to say that this camp was the greatest taekwon-do experience for myself and has given me even more motivation to train taekwon-do. I hope that I will meet more taekwondoists at this kind of camp next year , maybe even better one.
Sonkal members shoul look forward to new ideas and training methods which Pavel Bareš, as a trainer, hopefully will share with us because of experinces he has earned.

Few notes, master Hwang often ephasized ( as I have understood) :

hips start to move first, it give the power to technique

breath shouldn´t be loud, but with energy and make abdomen contracted to prevent injury from opponents attack

make long, relaxed movements, don´t do short, spasmodic moves

use blocks and sidesteps in order to stay in close distance, only then you will be able to fight effectivelly (I thing real fight, not sport sparring)

Few photos given by Marek Lazor.