12th July 2010

Good Luck!

Good luck to Jess, Jasmine and Chad as they travel to China for the World Taekwondo Cup and once again, the only 3 fighters from WA to represent Australia came from our academy. Well done guys and we know you will do our Academy, yourselves and Australia proud. Read more on what's happening on the international calendar on the STA website.

19th June 2010

Albany Grading

(Paul Cooper and Daryll Williams receiving their certificates from Mr. Rawlins)

Monday 31st May saw the Albany club put through their paces by Mr Rawlins, when more than 30 members attempted their gradings and hopefully did enough to pass. The members also witnessed Instructors Paul Cooper and Daryll Williams pass their 2nd Dan grading. The students were also there to say goodbye and wish good luck to fellow members from the Albany club who were competiting in their first international in New Zealand.

(Albany member going for their grading)

(Paul breaking 2 boards)

(Albany representatives for New Zealand)

8th June 2010

World Cup Selections

Mr. Rawlins has done it again, with 3 off his 4 fighters making it into the Australian World Cup Team, the Selections were held in Canberra at the AIS, where the top Taekwondo clubs from around Australia took their best fighters in an attempt to make the 8 spots that were needed to be filled by Australia for the World Cup team.

Congratulations to Jessica Jordan, Jasmine Cross and Chad Cross on winning Gold and to Sinead Smyth who narrowly lost the finals in the last 8 seconds of the match by 1 point,to bring home the silver, if only the point went the other way, we would have had all 4 players represent Australia, making it a 100% result.

With the results that Mr. Rawlins has achieved at this, and other Australian Team Selection Events, he has earnt the name Super Coach.

(Jess getting some advice from The Boss and Sinead attempting an axe kick)

(Jasmine in action)

(Chad with a beautifully timed turning kick)

Gold Coast Result

New Zealand Trip

by Reggie Carson

Photos from are available below. It's just so much easier to put them on Facebook and the good news is you don't have to login or have an account with FB. Just click on the links and enjoy the photos. Photos from other events are also on there.

NZ Part 1 || NZ Part 2

Links to videos from the Junior World Champs and World Champs are also there.

Everyone arrived at the airport bright and ready to get some business done in New Zealand. This trip was very different for a couple of reasons. Firstly none of our regular seasoned fighters like Jess, Sinead and Jason were with us. Secondly, Mr. Rawlins and Justin were also not here. So this team consisted mainly of new fighters who were travelling and competing out of Australia for the first time.

Faizal was the most eager of us lot when he arrived at the airport at 3pm to check in when our flight departed at 7.40pm! The group was split up in the plane because it was a full flight and once on the plane, everyone was amazed with the personal in-flight entertainment and got straight to it. Yes, every chair had their own screen and we could select movies, music and games that were on offer. Most of us couldn’t sleep on the plane so by the time we adjusted to New Zealand time, we were awake for over 24hrs!

(Callan and Nikita still could take a 20 mins nap between Auckland and Tauranga)

Callan was one of the lucky ones who could just sleep non-stop despite all the noise and activity around him. He and Nakita even managed to nap on the 30 mins flight between Auckland and Tauranga. Callan had an amazing ability to keep sleeping when the plane landed! We hung around the airport for awhile aka 1hr+ for our rides to our accommodation. Master Kesi O’Neil was a life saver! And a fellow named Phillip, a pure Moari, gave a shock to David and Gloria who were the last ones to be picked up at the airport as he had a traditional tattoo explaining the story of his life on his face which gave him a scary look but looks can be deceiving. He is a very friendly bloke and he was the bodyguard assigned by Master Kesi to look after us.

(WA members with tour guide Phil)

Once we arrived at our accommodation, the first thing most of us did was explore the shops around us and to get some supplies (good people chose fruits and naughty people went for chocolates and junk food. You can guess which group I fit in). We had a quick team meeting to decide what to do for the rest of the day and read the riot act to the whole group as for most of the troops, this was their first trip overseas. Kristy was the boss on this trip as she is the most senior belt. Meanwhile in Queensland, our Queensland members were still stuck at home due to flight delays.

In the evening, Master Kesi invited us to visit his ‘headquarters’, as he put it, and we were met with a haka performed by Team KO. We also met the Samoan team who was invited by Master Kesi. The Samoans put on a great performance but we replied with a very weak Oi Oi Oi probably due to jetlag. Apparently, the Samoan royalty will be here for the tournament as a princess is part of the team.

(Group photo of the Australian, Samoan and Team KO teams)

Day 2 started with the Queensland guys finally arrived at 5.30am after a series of flight delays and cancellation (about 24hrs of waiting and travelling!) while the rest of us were sleeping. We trained lightly mid morning and went to Mt. Maunganui. Haris trusted me with the mini bus keys which was a good choice because we got there and back safe and sound while the Queensland guys were catching up on their sleep. Unfortunately Kristy didn’t agree.

(Beautiful Mt. Maunganui)

We walked around the base of the mountain for about 2hrs and the excitement of the walk was Faizal trying to catch a couple of ladies (sheep) but instead he chased them away. What a shame! Gloria, Zandelee, Callan, my mum and I, led the pack and finished the walk first. By the time the others finished it, we were bored and hungry. Super hungry especially me (yea yea I love my food so sue me :p). After the walk we went to get some chow and ate by the beach. We saw a couple of people parachute from the top of the mountain to the beach.

(Faisal trying to catch a couple of ladies)

After a long walk, we did some light training with the Queensland guys and we became a whole Rawlins team. Kristy and Haris, our most seasoned travellers on this trip, gave everyone a pep talk. We seriously need a new chant.

Day 1 of competition saw the poomsae competitors and the colour belt fighters taking centre stage. We started the medal tally with Courtney getting a bronze in her division and yours truly getting a gold in my division which consisted of a 4th Dan and 2nd Dan. Hayley was unfortunate not to get a medal as she was very nervous in her first poomsae competition.

(Khaleed in blue)

The fighters started the day really well with no losses until a very unlucky Mousa got caught in the last few seconds in sudden death. Sudden death only happened after a hard felt argument by coach Haris for a head shot which was not scored because the guy ducked even though he was counted, after 3 rounds. Mousa was unlucky not to have more points go his way even though there were clear shots and they were not scored. He was not the only fighter whose points didn’t score. Almost everyone had points not scored especially clear head shots that weren’t counted. Part of the game. The most unlucky fighter was Justin where he lost by 0.5 points! Yes you read it right. Apparently they include the negative half points from the final score here in New Zealand. Callan and Khaleed had an outstanding tournament winning all their fights by good winning margins. Dominic also done very well winning his only fight. On the other hand, Zek was lucky to win after an interesting performance which included -2 or -3 points for being silly. The senior of the day Lawry, fought fantastically against an older fighter and won easily.

Of the girls, Zandelee and Nikita met in the finals of their division. Nikita had 2 other fights before the final while Zandelee won her first fight and went straight to the final. Either way, both girls did superbly well and Nikita had the upper hand, winning easily over Zandelee. Zalaihka, from QLD, won her first 2 fights before withdrawing from illness. She had the biggest winning margin for Day 1.

Everyone had done the club proud on day 1 and the rest of the fighters will do their best on day 2.

Full results from day 1.
Reggie – Poomsae Gold
Courtney – Poomsae Silver
Zalaikha – 1st fight won 35-0, final won 3-2, 3rd fight withdrawn due to illness (Bronze)
Khaleed – 1st fight won 25-5, final won 22-0 (Gold)
Mousa – 1st fight won by forfeit after 2nd round, final lost in sudden death (Silver)
Nikita – 1st fight won 5-0, final won 4-3, final won 17-3 (Gold)
Zandelee – 1st fight 5-4, final lost 3-17 (Silver)
Justin – 1st fight 7-4, final lost by half point 7.5-8 (Silver)
Dominic – 1st fight win 7-2, final win walkover (Gold)
Callan – 1st fight win 5-3, 2nd fight, 20-9, final 5-2 (Gold)
Zek – final won 2-1 (Gold)
Lawry – final won 7-4 (Gold)

The second day of the competition was as eventful as the first. Plenty of near misses and misses. Jacob was one of standout fighters of the day where he won all his fights. He suffered a right ankle injury in the first fight and finished strongly in his final fight. Musty also won all his fights. He started slow but finished the fights with a vengeance after a few points weren’t scored and the referee didn’t see a punch to the face. First timer Courtney was fantastic finishing off her opponents. Her second fight gave her a scare but she remained calm and finished it off wonderfully. Comeback fighter Paul who is in his thirties, won his fight after 1 domestic competition and 3 years of lay off with a knee injury. He was very rusty but he survived a tough opponent. Kristy was nervous as hell and was relieved when Paul finished his fight. This is want you can achieve if you do the hard work and focus on what you want. Faisal was up against a very experienced black belt but he did well to stand up and stay on his feet even though he lost, missing out on a medal. Young Johanna who was very nervous missed out on the gold because of poor scoring. She would have won her fight if a couple of head shots were scored. Jo did superbly well with plenty of head shots but they weren’t counted. Hayley also won her first fight and lost the final fight but did a beautiful job with scoring wonderful shots.

During lunch, we were entertained by performances and demonstrations from the Samoans and Team KO. If you don’t believe that a person can break coconuts with his knife hand, then look no further than Master Kesi who demonstrated that the impossible is possible.

(The Samoans performing their war dance)

(Master Kesi showing how to break coconuts with your bare hands)

Well, I would have the full results from Day 2 if I haven’t left my new phone which has all the results and some pictures at the venue.

(All our competitors)

Rawlins Taekwondo Australia also took home the Best Supporting team together with Team KO, which Haris will gladly take the trophy home because Mr. Rawlins has too many trophies. Musty took home the Best Junior Male fighter trophy.

Almost everyone came home with at least a medal. So, a big congratulations to all the competitors and coaches, Kristy, Haris and Paul. A tremendous thank you to Steve, our local tour guide/manager and the parents, Larry, David, Gloria, Tim and my mum Oi Yee, for looking after us with the good food and great supporters. Also a big thank you to Master Kesi for inviting us and to our driver/bodyguard Phil for the loan of his car and his friendship.

Final medal tally: 11 gold, 6 silver, 2 bronze.

© 2007-2010 Charles Rawlins Martial Arts and Taekwondo Centres