4.3.2009 / Nitra Cup (info pack)

The glory conquer out of Czech borders

Three cars with few of Sonkal competitors left Prague after Friday lunch heading to Slovakia. They represented our taekwon-do school at Nitra Cup.

Journey was deadly long so we took some rest eating few chickens in Brno KFC. We got to our four-wheel darlings after crispy wings and chips (ok, Kristýna took just vegetable salad – healthy food rules :o) and continued to Slovakia. We got there at about 7 P.M. After short stray we got to hal
l and check it. We were surprised how big it was and especially with great seats – no pillows below buttock needed like in Třeboň. Then we went to hotel at Nitra suburb, one bathroom for two rooms was fine. Scary surprise was that we have to get up really early. We played billiard after dinner and I have to thank Martin that he paid it for us.

No one was fresh in the early morning, but finally we got up and enjoyed good breakfast at 7 A.M. We hurried to cars then, it was COLD, -9 Celsius.

Competition itself started at 8:30 A.M. All of us were surprised and disappointed by number of foreign competitors. We thought of big international event, but there were just few competitors from Prague and Frýdek-Místek (so Czech republic), Slovakia, Hungary and Poland. Mmmm I have to say that I don’t remember anyone from Poland.

I will write down something about competition itself. We had 4 umpires: Vláďa, Martin, Theo and apprentice Pavel Šnábl. He did well during his referee premiere. Ondra took role of both photographer and coach.

First on schedule were kid patterns where our Michal Hamouz got bronze medal. Atmosphere was just tuning, we were the only one that encouraged competitors by shouting at the beginning.

Michal Zacharuk showed great skills in patterns and got gold medal. Then our girls showed themselves in their full Sonkal beauty. Veronika Holečková won, Kristýna Hudková was second and Kristýna Štěpánková got bronze medal in female patterns 4.-3.kup.

Trio Martin Beneš, Pavel Šnábl and Tomáš Vodička took all places in male senior 2.-1.kup. Last patterns gold medal waited for Vláďa Švanda in male senior I.-III.Dan.

Lunch break started after patterns. We were not afraid of crowds in local restaurant and enjoyed our meals. Few of us saw Korean instructor for Slovakia – Ri Kum Chol, who came to 3 young competitors, encouraged them and wish them to enjoy their meal. Gentleman as taekwondo instructor should be.

Power breaking was program just after lunch. It was for the first time in Slovakia, when power breaking was part of competition. Michal Zacharuk showed his power and got gold in junior category.

Sparring of kids and juniors was nice to watch and especially kids fought like lions. One of our lions Michal Zacharuk got second and third place in categories he started in. They use special rule in Slovakia. If there is low number of competitors then there is no KO system, but all competitors fight each other. That was the reason why Kristýna, Veronika and Kristýna Štěpánková fought each other few times and showed great fights. If you want to know exact results, check „Succeses” in menu on the left side.

Michal Zacharuk was anxious waiting and looking forward to his fights. He did well again and got silver medal in highest category after fighting all of his opponents (system mentioned above). Tomáš Vodička fought in -78kg (seniors) and lost after one draw with future winner of this and higher category. Tomáš Šnábl fought in same category as Tomas Vodička and was near to gold. He lost after two draws in final.

Most of Sonkals were curious about our Self-defense. There were just two teams and chief umpire told us that rules had not to be followed perfectly. We did not have to do all obligatory techniques and time limit was cancelled. Other team was happy from this info and practiced first. They did good job. Our appearance is in video gallery, so judge it on your own. We finally won and Korean instructor congratulated us with smile and said that Vláďa should become a movie actor ?

Team patterns were last category. We defeated team from Slovakia with our Joong-gun tul. I have to mention our perfect “machine-gun” (techniques performed one by one with very short delay…hard to explain – translator)…I know who did not see it will not trust it ?

I will mention one thing at the end. Coach from Slovakia told to his colleagues with funny tones how he considered the best school title as evident goal for his school, but he forgot our team patterns, so we were the ones.

We again checked how crispy are wings in KFC in Brno and then traveled home. Tired, but happy, that Sonkal was the best again.

Tomáš Vodička