Coaches’ Success at the Polish Taekwon-do Championships in Częstochowa

Małe Smoki coaches Gabriela Kowalska and Dariusz Pazdan achieved impressive results at the recent Polish Championships. Read the report from the competition and see which podium places they took.

Day 1

On 21 and 22 May, the Polish Taekwon-do Championships took place. Of course, the Krakowskie Centrum Taekwon-do team could not be absent. We went to the competition prepared and with high expectations. For many, it was a chance to test themselves and use newly acquired skills in various events; for others, it was a desire to prove their level to themselves; and for others still, simply a desire to have fun. In any case, everyone competing for medals had to overcome stress and emotions.

On the first day of the championships, the youngest competitors took part (children and younger cadets). So, after gathering at 5 a.m., we set off towards Częstochowa, where the competition was to take place. We arrived after 7 a.m., and then everyone went to registration. An incredible atmosphere could already be felt from the beginning of the competition. As soon as we entered the hall, we greeted friends from other clubs. Alongside success, sports friendship is what every athlete expects from competition.

The competition began at 09:00, as usual with formal patterns. Our youngest team showed that training brings great results, as we dominated this event from the start. Within the first few events, we had already won several medals. Over time, more medals followed, and the events changed to speed-kicking and special techniques. After that came the long wait for soft and semi-contact fights. Here too, our athletes were very well prepared. To such an extent that in one soft category, Leon, Piotrek and Wiktor from the Nowa Huta section took all the podium places. There was no doubt about the decisions in their fights. The boys had to face one another in the semifinal and final, which is always a bittersweet experience for a coach, because the joy of the first two places is enormous. But why can’t both of them stand on the highest step of the podium?

After the children’s events, it was time for the younger cadets. The most interesting of all the events were the formal patterns and fights. Even at these age levels, I was surprised by the level of competition. Those who wanted to stand on the podium had to reach the heights of their abilities. Although some of our competitors did not manage to win medals, they are returning with valuable experience, which will certainly translate into results in the future. Our young competitors performed really well, and semi-contact training with Coach Rafał is producing tremendous results.

The competition ended before 18:00, which is fantastic. The organization of the competition was excellent and admirable. After the competition and congratulations, some competitors returned to Kraków by coach, while the others, in the roles of coaches, competitors and judges, stayed in Częstochowa for another day of competition.

In the evening, we checked into the hotel and eagerly awaited the next day.

Day 2

On the second day, the team in Kraków boarded the bus at 05:00. At the hotel, we slept soundly until 07:00. We had breakfast and then went to the hall. At 08:30, we had all been registered, weighed and measured. I think everyone made their weight categories and no one exceeded the limit. Well, perhaps with the exception of Szymon, who was over a kilogram overweight two hours before weigh-in on Saturday. But that was nothing for him. He did a few jumping jacks and the one and a half kilos were gone just like that.

The cadets began competing at 09:00, just as on the first day with formal patterns. Once again, we showed that our forms are at a high level. There were more and more medals. That day, light contact was added to the events, meaning continuous fighting.

As a second, Coach Darek ran from mat to mat so he could be there for everyone, but he spent the most time on mat 5. Several of our representatives had their categories there. Paweł, Piotrek, Filip, Oskar and Karol faced a huge semi-contact category with high-ranked competitors, which made it very difficult to reach the medal zone.  Piotrek and Paweł fought bravely, only to meet each other in the fight for bronze. At the same time, junior events were taking place on other mats.

At 14:00, the official opening of the competition took place, during which awards for clubs for the previous competition season, certificates related to promotion to master grades, and instructor cards were presented. After this event, it was time for the senior categories. This age group also began with forms. Here too, we left no doubt, winning all the formal-pattern events. In the men’s colored-belts category, Krzysiek triumphed; among the women, Gabrysia was first and Kaja second; and in the men’s black-belts category, Coach Darek took first place, with Szymon just behind him.

After that, we put on our protective gear and waited for the semi-contact fights. The fights were difficult and fiercely contested. Unfortunately, the judges often did not help during the fights and even hindered them. This unfortunately causes considerable frustration and usually makes it difficult to keep one’s nerves under control. You have to pull yourself together and show class.

Despite everything, the fighting was excellent, and the whole tournament ended with the cherry on top: the junior and senior tag teams. Here too, it is worth considering whether the senior event should be moved from the end of the competition, when the audience is smallest, to an earlier time, when there are many spectators and younger competitors, because it is the greatest attraction for viewers, and young competitors can see the best athletes in Poland—and often their coaches—in action, even on the international stage. After fierce battles, two of our teams met on the mat in the fight for bronze. The team consisting of Michał Klimek, Grzesiek Pajda and Szymon Grzebyk had to face the “Jezus and Friends” team, consisting of Jezus—Michał Krupa Młodszy—and his friends Szymon Piotrowicz and Darek Pazdan. Regardless of the result, they all high-fived, enjoyed the fight and the emotions brought by competing together.

As on the first day, the competition ended before 18:00. We took 2nd place in the overall classification, and our competitor Szymon Grzebyk received the title of the best senior of the competition, with a medal tally of 2 golds and a silver, ahead of Dariusz Pazdan from Huta, who had 2 golds and 2 bronzes.

Our competitors, who fought bravely for the highest possible results in their categories, deserve great praise. Even greater recognition goes to the coaching staff, who were always ready to help every competitor and, despite their legs giving way from pain, did not show their fatigue and tirelessly cheered on their athletes. Hats off!!!

Results:

SENIORS 

Dariusz Pazdan – 1st place, formal patterns, 1st place, light contact, 3rd place, semi-contact
Gabriela Kowalska – 1st place, formal patterns, 2nd place, semi-contact, 3rd place, light contact

Tag team events – events outside the ranking:

Emilia Fiutowska, Kaja Pękała, Gabriela Kowalska – 2nd place
Dariusz Pazdan, Michał Krupa, Szymon Piotrowicz – 3rd place

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