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4.10.2019 / 2 coments

Training with Legends in UK

Let me start with a brief summary for impatient readers: I was really lucky during my last business trip. I joined 2 trainings of the Thames Valley Pro Taekwon-Do school and I had a chance to briefly chat with Master Andy Whiteley and his students
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For sure, I do not have to introduce Master Andy Whitely to senior Taekwondists but for those less aware, including myself, Andy Whiteley is an ITF Taekwon-Do Master VIII Degree, International Instructor, Examiner, Umpire, Technical Director ITF France.

Now, let me share the whole story step by step and I’m sorry that it is a bit longer because it was quite an interesting experience.

Right after booking a hotel in Reading, UK, I checked whether there is a Taekwondo gym nearby. To my surprise, there was one approximately a mile away. I wanted to contact the school and see whether I could join them for a lesson. I did not scan their website deeply. I only booked a free trial and submitted the contact form with my brief introduction and an ask to exercise with them. Except for an automatic confirmation, I did not hear back from the school.

My work schedule was tight but on Tuesday evening, I caught a taxi and managed to get to the gym. Well, I got exactly to the location where the gym was marked on Google maps but there was nothing except for offices and empty halls. Fortunately, I bumped into a gentleman who told me that it must be across the street in the leisure center.

I sighed. I spotted a few guys wearing ITF doboks. I went to the nearby changing room and quickly changed my dress. I entered the gym. There were a few black belts and I was guessing who is leading the lesson. I was directed towards Master Andy and I asked for a permission to join. I was pleased by the friendly welcome from Master Andy. Always and every time, Master Andy was very kind and friendly.

The warm-up started and more and more black belts started joining the training. It became clear why the lesson was marked as “advanced/elite”. To be precise, the reason why the word “elite” was there was obvious. Out of 11 students, 6 were III Degree or higher! There were: 2x VI. Degree, 2x IV. Degree, 2x III. Degree.

The lesson was focused on special techniques (t-ki). It started with “classic”: twimyo yop chagi, twimyo dolmyo chagi (180). There were also techniques which I had never tried before - e.g. twimyo dolmyo chagi (380) from the spot (nunja sogi).

Next, we practiced jump kicks over a hurdle. We had to stand in ninja sogi, perform a technique, jump over a hurdle and land in ninja sogi again. Performing this exercise with dollyo chagi was easy but with bandae dollyo chagi, it was a different level, at least for me.

The last exercise was focused on special techniques performed while running and jumping over a high hurdle. We practiced twimyo dolmyo chagi (360) and nomo chagi. After a while, Master Andy interrupted the exercise and highlighted frequent mistakes. He stressed that it is important to be able to perform techniques with both left & right legs, run straight to the target, not to change the length and frequency of the steps close to the hurdle, not to run sideways, hold hands close to the body while performing the kick which improves the accuracy of the hit.

At the end of the training, we exercised patterns. We started with II Degree patterns: Kwang-Gae, Po-Eun, Ge-Baek. Higher grades continued with a few of their Tuls. I appreciate personal corrections which I got from Master Andy (ap joomuk ollyo jirugi, sonkal dung, breath control and nomo).

It was an excellent training but what was the most special and unforgettable was the warm welcome from Master Andy and his students.

During a short interview with Master Andy, I learned a few interesting facts about his very successful Taekwon-do career.

His first World Championships was in 1990 Montreal Canada where he got Bronze in Tul. Following this, he was invited by ITF to attend Special International Instructors Course in Moscow, Russia (then Soviet Union). It was a unique one year course offered to top 50 athletes across CCCP. Then, he graduated to IV. Degree in 1992.

He used to attend both World and European Championships and got many bronze and silver medals there. Since 1998, he was also a national coach. He found it difficult being a coach and competing at the same time. Therefore, he focused on coaching only later on. His last World Championships was in 2006 where he got Silver and Bronze at VI Degree.

In 2007, he achieved Master status. He is the founder of a very successful Thames Valley Pro Taekwondo school. Within the last 10 years, his school has been top 3 in prestigious UK championships (English Open, Welsh Open, Scottish Open, London Open and UK Open) - similar to Sonkal, right :-). He can remember Ondrej and Sonkal from the last Scottish Open very well.

During the training, I managed to briefly chat with a veteran Ralph. He started practicing Taekwondo when he was 60 and in his 66 he was preparing for II Degree! He knows the Czech Republic because he visited it during a motorbike trip across Europe.

When exercising in pairs, I learnt a few interesting facts about Spencer. He is III Degree. He started when he was only 4 and he has been practicing Taekwondo for 17 years! His special techniques were amazing!

At the end of the training, Master Andy invited me to another training lesson in Wokingham. He tried to arrange a lift for me. However, it turned out that it is possible to get to Wokingham from Reading in 10 minutes by train. This sounded like a better option to me because I was not sure about my work schedule for the next day and I did not want to bother anyone.

Actually, before leaving the leisure center, I had a brief talk with Laurence, VI. Degree. He started exercising in 1982 and he got black belt before Master Andy :-). He spent several years in China and after 11 year break he returned back to Taekwon-do and is an instructor in Thames Valley Pro Taekwondo.

On Wednesday, after finishing my work, I hurried to the hotel to quickly pack my belongings and ran to the railway station. When I got off the train, I hit the road heading to the gym. I had to get across whole Woking. Again, the gym was in a leisure center and again, I struggled to find it :).

Fortunately, the lesson started by 30 minutes later than I thought. So, I was there as the first one.

The lesson was focused on basic techniques and patterns. Again, I got a lot of corrections. I appreciate that Master Andy reviewed my Kwang-Gae Tul and provided very specific clarifications.

When the lesson was over, it was time to say goodbye. I was glad that I could exchange a couple words with Master Andy and I learned a shocking fact. Although he is exercising like he was 30 and looks like 40, he is 53 years old! So, this is a great challenge for me: I want to be at least in half the shape like Master Andy when I’m 50.

It was an honor to exercise in such a great Taekwon-do club. Everyone was very friendly and I’m obliged also to the father of one of the students who gave me a ride and took me back to Reading on Wednesday night.

Related photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/b4tgc7x8QaxSpUdJA
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Coments (2)


Miroslav Novák

vloženo 9.10.2019 at 11:16
Zajimave to fakt bylo. Specialy muzu urcite popsat a muzu se pokusit priblizit se tomu, jak to melo vypadat :-)

Martin Svitek

vloženo 8.10.2019 at 17:43
To muselo být zajímavý, někdy mi ukážeš ty speciály ;o) Díky za článek.

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