Małopolska Open Youth Taekwon-do Championships – competition report
Małopolska Open Youth Taekwon-do Championships – competition report
There has never been a competition like this! On 16 and 17 May 2026, the first edition of the Małopolska Open Youth Taekwon-do Championships took place at Western Camp Resort in Zator. A total of 140 competitors from 7 clubs in 4 different voivodeships appeared on the mats. The tournament was organised by Krakowskie Centrum Taekwon-do in cooperation with the Polish Taekwon-do Union.
Patronage and partners
From the very beginning, the event could count on strong support. Łukasz Smółka, Marshal of the Małopolska Voivodeship, assumed honorary patronage over the tournament, for which we would like to express our sincere thanks. Koleje Małopolskie became a partner of the competition, allowing participants to reach Zator comfortably by train. The journey from Kraków to Energylandia takes less than an hour – without traffic jams, stress or discomfort. We particularly appreciated this when it turned out that the May weather had entirely different plans for us.
Saturday – the rain did not stop anyone
The weather was not kind this year. It rained during the first part of the day of the competition, but the competitors still arrived in fighting spirits. All events took place according to schedule.
The youngest children opened the competition, appearing on the mats as early as 10:00. Before their turn came, however, they had to go through registration – a height and weight measurement that was the first real competition procedure for many of them.
The children competed in formal patterns, speed-kicks (ap chagi), and soft-stick and semi-contact events. Although some of these events may seem easy, stress and the awareness that several dozen pairs of eyes are watching you do not help at all. Nevertheless, everyone performed brilliantly.
The youngest competitors’ fights, as usual, aroused enormous emotions – from broad smiles after victories to tears after defeats. The most important thing, however, was something else: the courage to try their hand and face a challenge at such a young age.
At 13:30, the young competitors – born in 2014–2016 – appeared on the mats. They competed in patterns, speed-kicks in the dollyo chagi version, special techniques and semi-contact, meaning point fighting stopped after each hit. The level was clearly higher than in the children’s group, and the fights could keep everyone on edge until the very last second.
The cadets – born in 2011–2013 – competed last. In their case, one more event was added: light-contact, requiring not only technique but also considerable endurance and mental resilience. There was no shortage of emotions – some bouts were truly fierce, and in several cases blood was even spilled. Despite the tough competition, everyone showed tremendous character, mutual respect and sporting spirit. The competition ended at around 18:30.
Results – KCT dominates its own tournament
Krakowskie Centrum Taekwon-do decisively won the club classification, collecting a total of 137 medals, including 34 golds. Congratulations to all participants – medal winners and those who returned without a medal but with experience that will pay off at future competitions.
1. KCT Kraków 34/44/59
2. Tang Soo Do Pionki 24/27/22
3. UKS Taekwon-do Opole 15/7/22
4. KS “Orient” 11/7/13
5. ASW Wataha 6/8/12
6. KS Striker 3/3/4
7. ASW Rooster 3/0/1
Individual competitors’ results
We encourage you to view all participants’ results, which are available in the file below.
Evening after the competition at Western Camp
The competition venue itself was one of the greatest attractions of the entire trip. Western Camp Resort is an atmospheric resort styled after the Wild West – guests stayed in comfortable wooden Sheriff’s Cabins.
After the competition, participants and their families were able to make full use of the resort’s facilities. Heated pools awaited them on the grounds, perfect after a whole day spent on the mat, as well as a sauna and relaxation areas with hammocks and swings.
For those who needed more than peace and quiet, volleyball and beach football pitches, as well as badminton, were available. The evening passed with a barbecue together, and when it grew darker, an outdoor cinema started up on a screen under the open sky. We watched the film “Ratatouille” together. A breakfast served as a rich buffet rounded everything off and prepared the team for the second day.
Sunday – Energylandia and Western Camp
If Saturday belonged to sport, Sunday was the reward for all the effort. The weather finally improved and after breakfast everyone headed by little train to Energylandia – the largest amusement park in Poland and, at the same time, the world leader in the number of roller coasters. It is literally just a short journey from Western Camp Resort.
Energylandia has something for everyone, quite literally. The youngest competitors ended up in Bajkolandia, where gentle carousels, mini-coasters and friendly fairy-tale characters awaited them. The older ones had completely different plans. Hyperion, Zadra and Abyssus – the biggest and fastest roller coasters in the park – attracted everyone hungry for adrenaline. Some of them accelerate to as much as 142 km/h, providing spectacular drops and tremendous thrills.
See you next year
The first edition of MOYTC is behind us. The tournament brought together competitors from all over Poland, showed that combining competition with a genuine trip makes sense, and we hope it left all participants, parents and coaches with good memories. Once again, huge congratulations to everyone who competed.
You can find more photos on our Facebook profile.
See you in 2027!
