Archived News - November 2009

23rd November 2009

The EuropeanTouring Rawlins Crew

(The team minus Chad that will be flying the flag at the Paris Open)

Good luck to Robert Robertson, Laura Bartels, Ondrej Venter and Chad Cross who will all traveling to beautiful Paris who be competing in the Paris Open on the 5th & 6th of December (lucky buggers). they have been training hard and looking forward to competing in this 1st class event which attracts some of the best fighters from all around the world with some of the biggest divisions. We are also sad and happy for both Laura and Ondrej as they will be leaving our club (temporary) to travel around Europe and to compete in various top class taekwondo competitions held there.

( Ondrej, Laura and the Boss after a final training session)

The experience, fun and knowledge that they gain from these international competitions as well as the different styles and training methods learned from some of Europe's top coaches will benefit our club and it's members on their return. We wish them all the best and will keep everyone updated on the performances at their various comps.

(Our newest international instructor)

Great news also with Robert Robertson joining our club growing locally and internationally as we will have now a Rawlins Taekwondo club in Scotland that will be run by Robert, who has been traveling the world and training in different countries under some top coaches to broaden his skillsand to learn from some of the best. After training with Mr. Rawlins for the past year, Robert was so impressed with his ideas and training methods that he has decided to come under Mr Rawlins's guidance and rebadge his club in Scotland under our banner.

19th November 2009

Junior Selections

Total domination was shown by the junior black belts from our centres at the recent STA Australian Selections for the World Junior Taekwondo Championships to be held next year in Mexico. These Selections which were held in Perth brought together the best junior black belts from all around Australia and hoping that they had what it takes to outclass and outshine their fellow competitors and at the end have what it takes to win all their fight and be selected in the Australian team.

The action at the competition was fast and furious however there were a few delays as we were using the new electronic LaJust system which is currently used at most international competitions and most importantly it will be the system that will be used at the Junior World Championships in Mexico. So it was a great opportunity for competitors, coaches and spectators to see how this new hi-tech system worked.

For most of our fighters this was the first time that they have used this type of system which had to register a clear hit at a certain power level and had to have enough sensors on the sock hitting the sensors on the chest guard in order to score a clear point. All the new rules were used and our fighters adapted very quickly to this new system and were in full control of most of their fights.

(The whole Rawlins team)

(The happy winners)

We entered 8 divisions and won 5 golds and 4 silvers (we had two fighters in same division) which was truly an amazing result and it had all the other coaches and spectators talking about our fighters. You could see the pride from everyone who belonged to our club and you could also see a little bit of envy & jealously from some of the other clubs. Nevertheless our club produced the only fighters from WA who will be representing Australia at the World Junior Championships. With Sinead and Jess recently returning from the Senior World Championships in Copenhagen (Denmark), this make it 2 years in a row that we have had 7 fighters representing Australia from our club alone. We also had 7 fighters in the Australian team in 2008.

(Charles 'The Chief' Rawlins having a few words with the team before the start of competition | A couple of happy coaches)

( Justin using his protest card | Kalis in action)

(Emily & Renae focused and ready to go)

(Nadine & Musty ready to go out there and get it done)

Even after achieving such fantastic results and having the most fighters from WA in the 2008 & 2009 Australian Teams we are still facing obstacles and hurdles from our State Association (TWA) by ways of no fundings and recognition for our club or its fighters. We are now face with the task of raising the money for our junior fighters so that they can represent Australia at the Junior World Championships.

Special thanks must be given to the West Australian Taekwondo Council for the $500 each they contributed towards Sinead and Jess trip to Copenhagen.

(Jess & Sinead being acknowledged for their achievement and given their money for representing Australia by WATC President James Eley)

18th November 2009

Rawlins TKD on Facebook

Alright guys, not to be outdone by another tkd group, I have created a page on Facebook for our academy. "Well, it's about time!" some of you are thinking. It still needs updating so be patient please. Currently, 'tis the season all teachers and parents loathe: reporting. I will be busy with that for the next couple of weeks and I will provide more updates on both Facebook and the website whenever I can or when I'm bored. Some of the black belts will be admins so they can update the page when they are free. If you guys have pictures and videos from previous events, it's probably better for you to upload on Facebook rather than emailing me or Mr Rawlins. Support the page guys and invite everyone involved whether directly or indirectly from the academy. Let's get at least 300 fans and out do the other tkd group!

So the next challenge is: GET MR RAWLINS ON FACEBOOK! (There goes my 2nd Dan and any future Dans :p ).

*Update 23/11: Mission accomplished! :D Been busted to white belt now :(

Cheers!

- Reggie

8th November 2009

Success at Junior Championship Selections!

Outstanding results was once again achieved by our academy when 5 of our junior black belts, fought and won their spot on the Australian team that will contest the World Junior Taekwondo Championships in Mexico in March next year.

Congratulations to Emily O'Sullivan, Clare Francis, Paul Otago, Renae Perkins and Nadine Venter on winning their spot on the team. Well done also to Mustafa Olomi, Kalis Vandiappan, Brandon Cooper and Tiaana Dicicco on winning silver. You all performed brilliantly and we (the whole academy) are very proud of you.

If this does not make us the premier taekwondo club in the WA and in Australia, I don't know what else will. After Jess & Sinead recent success in Australian team at the World Championships, we now 5 more in the Junior World Championship team (what else do we have to do).

4th November 2009

Queensland Update

October 3rd saw Mr. Rawlins travel to Queensland to support, coach and oversee how his Queensland clubs ould perform at the 2009 Taekwondo Australia National Championships and he was very pleased with what he saw. Their overall result after the Championships was outstanding. From the 12 members that entered in the sparring we won 9 golds, 1 silver & 1 bronze. A very good result indeed.

(Some of our junior winners)

( Some of our black belt winners)

He particularly watched with interest to see how some of the newer senior & junior fighters that have joined our Queensland branch would perform and to see what areas they needed to improve on to make them better competitors. He gave them feedback and offered his advice on ways they could improve themselves but overall he was extremely proud of standard and the way that their club instructors (Haris & Chris) were teaching and guiding them.

He also offered his advice and services to his brother clubs in New Zealand who were also there and under the very capable hands of Mr. Kesi O'Neil their chief instructor and long time friend of Mr. Rawlins.

(Mr. Rawlins with the New Zealand & Samoa Team)

After the competition Mr. Rawlins stayed for 3 more days to do some trainings and conduct seminars but most importantly to do some color belt and black belt gradings. Congratulations to all who passed and in particular to Chris & Renae Perkins on passing their 2nd black belt and also to Jeannie Driver and Courtney Pomerenice on passing their 1st Dan black belt. Mr. O'Neil and some of his black belts that came along to watch. Mr O'Neil was a guest examiner and he was very impressed and had nothing but good things to say about the Queensland members who went for their various belts.

(The Queensland Black Belt graduation class, along with Mr. Rawlins & Mr. Olomi)

(Rawlins Queensland and New Zealand Black Belts)