29.10.2003 / XIV. Sonkal sport camp

Training for Czech Republic National Championship

From Friday 24th to Tuesday 28th of October 14th Sonkal training camp took place in one of our favorite locations Frýdštejn, which we pretty adore not only because of its rich breakfasts and great sauna. Nine trainings in 5 days was dedicated mainly to sport preparation before National championship which is approaching (it will take place this weekend in Třeboň). Together with sport preparation it was of course (at least I hope) few nice days with good friends which gave us new experiences and opportunity to take rest from Prague life in hurry (rest only for our psychical parts, our bodies got sore after first trainings :o)) ).
Nice bonus was arrival of taekwondoists not only from Sonkal, but whole training camp have stayed with us Petra Tošnarová from Hwa-rang Prague (very successful national team exmember) and Honza Klaška from Won-hyo Třebon. But not only them – from behind the seas 4 taekwondoists had arrived to train with us. Parisi Mark (36 years) IV. Dan (Us national team coach), Henry James (26 years) III. Dan (professional taekwondo trainer and US national team member), Lang Joseph (22 years) II. Dan (US national team member ) and Hallinan Stephen (23 years) II. Dan from Ireland. According to their words, they really liked our training camp and want to come
back next year. After Peter and Luena from Switzerland which comes to train with us in summer, they are second foreign guests in a row. We hope that participants from foreign countries are going to become traditional part of our camps, which will provide opportunity to share experiences, ideas and to train together.

As always we had trained two times per day, 2 hours each training. Because of fact, that this was mainly preparation for approaching sport event, first training was dedicated to patterns(individual and team) , power breaking and special techniques and second only to sparring. Guests were very helpful here, because we had 6 new and very skillful opponents. Mainly for seniors and juniors which knows each other in sparing very well it gave to our trainings new dimension.

Part of last training on Tuesday our trainers passed on American colleagues. They dedicated about an hour to exhibition and then training of their step sparring system for 10.-6. grade.
James Henry, who take role of chief instructor for this training, show that his life is really devoted to taekwondo. He is graduated tkd instructor, but his skills and knowledge is shown mainly in his actions. We may compare this kind of practicing with our ylbo matsogi connected with hosinsool techniques in more realistic speed then our grade holders practice in. Pretty the same exercising could be seen in first Korean masters exhibitions (nowadays grandmasters). Exhibition and training was appreciated by big applause and satisfaction of all taekwondoists in dojang.
Then we only took fast lunch before leaving to aquapark Babylon in Liberec. Unfortunately, after 4 hours here, older members of Sonkal were to tired to show our guests how does the night Prague live, as they promised few days before. Sorry guys, I hope that next year we will enjoy this idea to :o)

I wish a good luck at a national championship and see you on next camp.

Written by Martin Svitek.