6.7.2010 / Summer camp of Taekwon-do Academy Slovakia

Slovakian mission was very successful

Joint Czechoslovak training camp 2010

Four Sonkals (members of Sonkal taekwondo school) – Ondra Vrábel, Vladimír Švanda, Pavel Šnábl and Tomáš Vodička went to Stará Turá to compare skills, learn new training methods and also to meet new friends at Taekwon-do Academy Slovakia training camp.

We left Prague at Saturday 3/8/10 short after 8 A.M., weather was deadly hot, but fortunately Vláďa has AC in his car. Only delay on our way to Slovakia was lunch in KFC – tasty chicken :o)

Adrenalin part of our trip started just after we crossed Slovakian border,
because Ondra´s GPS was lazy (did not work), but Ondra was cool: „We´ll check signs and find it as always“ – Vláďa got pretty nervous after few crossroads and turns with no signs, so Ondra got another idea and find old (means like when Slovakia and Czech republic was still Czechoslovakia….so more than 20 years) map. Then way was easier, one rally moment (sharp curve just behind horizon) was not enough to change our good mood and we finally reached Stará Turá. We just have few moments to take walk through town before training.

We started afternoon training with bunch of people there. Even warm-up was unusual for us – running with two knuckle press-ups at every line (some less dexterous individuals- like me – burned their knuckles) then some usual ducks and frogs (sorry, don’t know exact translation – translator). We were surprised that even first training was really hard, we were at our maximum, so some of us looked like just leaving shower. Training was pretty long, I think about 2 and half hours. This was great start and we were curious about what will be next. Dinner was tasty….I have to say that cooks did good job all the time, only breakfast were really ascetic (one (!) piece of bread with two pieces of cheese or ham). Ondra Vrábel had lecture about sport rules in the evening. It was really interesting, because of Ondra´s experiences from international events. Next day morning started with surprise – warm-up was given to yellow belt. Me and Pavel were thinking what it’s gonna be, but then our surprise changed into pain. This yellow belt is former ballet dancer, so his methods were something we did not expect – no warm up, standing up and again sitting between every exercise. So lot of pain, but interesting experience. Fundamental exercises took rest of training which was again pretty hard. We took some nice taekwondo pictures at Beckov castle after lunch. Afternoon training took Vláďa and focused on self-defense, unusual aspect of training was that we trained outside on sand, not in gymnasium (and worst part were mosquitoes…they were like vampires). Me and Pavel spent evening in nice company drinking Kofola (Czech Coke, but better). It was great and our talk about „koroptev“ and „korytnačka“ (first is Czech word for partridge and second is Slovakian word for turtle, it is probably like when American and British people makes fun about how they talk, I hope you can imagine it :o) – translator).

Morning training of our last day was dedicated to sparring and end of it to competition in dodge ball. Winners took huge lollipops. Some fights and sinking in pool was great end and body strengthening for everyone. Then just packing our luggage, thinking about how great it would be if we stay longer and travelling home.

This camp was interesting experience for all of us, comparing skills both in dojang and pool. We trained in different way with different people. I hope that these joint camps will take place also in our country.

Tomáš Vodička