29.9.2012 / 18th Junior, 27th Senior, 4th Veteran & 2nd Youth European Championship2 coments

Tomáš Vodička´s first European championship

On Sunday 13/5 we left Prague bus station Florenc and traveled to Brno where Kristýna, Martin Brabenec and Aneta Sequensová joined us. Rest of national team came from south Bohemia at half past 12 and after buying some basic food and drinks we continued to Sofia, Bulgaria.

Our journey was really long and ways how not to
get bored differed. We reached Dedeman hotel in Sofia at half past seven on Saturday. Everyone attacked bed and slept till lunch. Lunch was very colourful each time. Plenty of desserts was the best part. Behaviour of some competitors, especially from Ukraine was the worst part.
I won´t forget hotel swimming pool, because me, Jirka and rest of national team newbies had to pass funny tasks - synchronized swimming in groups of four - both on ground and in water :o) Everyone did well and me and Jirka played favorite water game - touchlast with seniors. Last but not least I won´t forget how good we looked, because no-one was allowed without swimming cap.
First two days of championship were not so intensive, so we had time to see what Sofia offers. Mostly it was lot of mess and shattered buildings, electric wire just half a meter above our heads and markets in the most strange places. But after all, Sofia is interesting city, but contrast of old, destroyed and modern is really striking.
Competition of kids and seniors started on Wednesday, but only till noon, so we had time for easy trainings, Thursday was the same, because of AETF congress. Opening ceremony was opened by majorettes, then representatives of each country entered with national flags. Ceremony was finished by show of Bulgarian singer with her group dressed with long poles on their shoulders and heads, round their waist strange cow-bells were attached. Good to see on photos :o)

I had strong national feeling when representatives came with flags, rest of ceremony was not so interesting.

During first two "short" days, Jirka Huml had his premiere on international competition in I. Dan patterns. He did really well and was really close to medal. Interesting and strange was, that this category started on Wednesday morning and finished on Thursday noon, not because of high number of competitors. As this was also my first time on international competition I was confused from way of organization, many categories took two days and for example female junior team was preparing for their patterns competition for two days and finally competed on third one. I believe that organization in Czech republic is one of the best.

First two days were dedicated to patterns. Most of performances was different that I am used to, mostly Ukrainian, Russian and Bulgarian competitors practiced with no or nearly no sine-wave, with many mistakes in techniques, but with great and sharp power. What was often enough to win their category. Sport sparring started on Friday. Breathtaking was seniors´ -64kg and -71kg, lot of emotions, great skills. I was impressed by how professionally and in light way Ukrainian and Russian competitors fought. Their stepping and ability to use reverse kicks (that were compulsory at this tournament) were admirable. They don´t use many techniques, but are able to use favorite two or three with perfect timing and power and then just crush their opponent. Last days were dedicated to power breaking, special techniques, self-defense and team sparring.

As I´ve said before, Jirka did well in patterns although without medal achievement, but there were no reason for sadness, because he together with junior male team became Ruropean champions in patterns. Then he also started in individual sparring and did well, but lost with Ukrainian competitor in first round. Kristýna, as last year´s European champion started in -64kg where after hard and tiring fights got 3rd place. Adding 3 silver medals for team patterns, sparring and special techniques, she may also be satisfied. I was part of veteran self-defense together with Roman Havlíček, Josef Jarma and Zdeněk Vavruška, where we got gold medals for good acting :o)

From 32 countries Czech national team got 4. place overall - 16 gold, 19 silver and 21 bronze medals. Detail information at http://taekwondo.cz

Of course there were after-party to celebrate everything that was worth celebrating. And we did :o)

Tomáš