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

Małe Smoki trainers 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 missing. We travelled to the competition prepared and with high expectations. For many, it was a chance to test themselves and use newly mastered skills in various events; for others, it was a desire to prove their level to themselves; and for still others, 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 pre-cadets). After gathering at 5:00, we set off towards Częstochowa, where the competition was to take place. We arrived after 7:00, and then everyone went to registration. An incredible atmosphere could be felt from the very beginning of the competition. As soon as we entered the hall, we greeted friends from other clubs. Alongside success, sporting friendship is what every athlete expects from competition.

The competition began at 09:00, as usual with patterns. Our youngest team showed that training produces 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. Then came the long wait for soft and semi-contact bouts. Here too, our athletes were very well prepared. To such an extent that in one of the soft categories, Leon, Piotrek and Wiktor from the Nowa Huta section took all the podium places. There was no doubt about the decisions in their bouts. The boys had to face one another in the semi-final and final, which is always a bittersweet experience for a coach, because the joy of two top 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 pre-cadets. The most interesting of all the events were the patterns and bouts. Even at these age levels, I was surprised by the standard of competition. Those who wanted to stand on the podium had to rise to the heights of their abilities. Although some of our competitors did not manage to win medals, they return with valuable experience, which will certainly translate into results in the future. Our young competitors performed really well, and the semi-contact training with Coach Rafał is producing tremendous results.

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

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

Day 2

On the second day, the Krakow team 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, everyone had been registered, weighed and measured. I think everyone made their weight category and no one exceeded the limit. Well, perhaps with the exception of Szymon, who on Saturday, two hours before weigh-in, was more than a kilogram overweight. But that was nothing for him. He did a few jumping jacks and the kilo and a half disappeared as if by magic.

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

As a second, Coach Darek ran from mat to mat so that 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 category with high ranks in semi-contact, which made it very difficult to reach the medal zone.  Piotrek and Paweł fought bravely, only to meet one another in the bout for bronze. At the same time, junior events were taking place on other rings.

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 ranks and instructor licences 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 patterns events. In the men’s colour-belt category, Krzysiek triumphed; among the women, Gabrysia was first and Kaja second; and in the men’s black-belt 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 bouts. The bouts were difficult and very closely fought. Unfortunately, the judges often did not help during the bouts, 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 bouts were excellent, and the whole tournament ended with the icing on the cake: 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 biggest attraction for viewers, and young competitors can see the best athletes in Poland in action (often their coaches), and even athletes competing internationally. 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 “Jesus and Friends” team, consisting of Jesus—Michał Krupa Junior and his teammates Szymon Piotrowicz and Darek Pazdan. Regardless of the result, everyone high-fived, enjoyed the bout 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 standings, and our competitor Szymon Grzebyk received the title of best senior of the competition, with 2 gold and 1 silver medal, finishing ahead of Hucianin Dariusz Pazdan, with 2 gold and 2 bronze medals.

Our competitors, who fought bravely for the highest possible results in their categories, deserve great recognition. Even greater recognition goes to the staff, who were always ready to help every competitor and, despite their legs giving way from pain, did not let their fatigue show and continued to cheer on their athletes. Chapeau pas!!!

Results:

SENIORS 

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

Tag team events—events outside the rankings:

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

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