On June 1, a group of 16 individuals, consisting of competitors, coaches, and volunteers from Portage and Carman Rogue 101 Taekwondo, took part in the Community Challenge Tournament held in Winnipeg. For some participants, this was their first time competing at this event while others were seasoned athletes.
“This is about an impressive amount of active membership participating”, explains Master Evelyn Hoogerdijk, owner and instructor of both clubs. “I am proud to see such representation, especially in the busy month of June.”
Taekwondo encompasses various aspects, such as Patterns or Forms, also known as Poomsae; Contact Sparring, also known as Kyrogi and board breaking. Competing in Patterns takes a great deal of mental and physical strength, including the ability to focus on the moves at hand with many distractions.
A panel evaluates Patterns based on accuracy, power, focus, and precision. Regular training is essential for Sparring as it demands strategic thinking, mental agility, physical prowess, and psychological strength to outdo an opponent. Board breaking is assessed on technical aspects, power, spirit, and the success of the strike in breaking the board.There are no participation medals in Taekwondo tournaments.
Out of our 10 competitors, the following was accomplished that day:
- 6 personal bests with exceptional manner
- 5 bronze medals
- 5 silver medals
- 2 gold medals
Many of our players faced tough competition in all facets of taekwondo and rose above difficult circumstances.
A big thank you goes out to the parents, volunteers, and families of Rogue 101 for their ongoing support of our taekwondo club. As owner and instructor, Master Evelyn Hoogerdijk expressed her satisfaction with the club’s performance, stating that our focus on values over trophies is evident. It is truly a blessing to have such strong community support.
