Archived News - October 2008

22nd October 2008

Fantastic FEW Seminar

It was a great turnout on the weekend of the 18th and 19th October as 82 keen and excited martial artists attended the Arnis and knife fighting seminar organised by our Academy.

few seminar

(Martial artists of various styles sitting, observing and learning)

In keeping with our mixed martial art approach, it was a fantastic weekend on the 18th & 19th October when more than 80 karate, taekwondo and mixed martial art practitioners attended the Arnis and knife fighting seminars. Grandmaster Rodel Dagooc (Arnis Association International Inc.) and Guro Tino Ceberano (Filipino Elusive Warrior) are world renowned and sought after instructors, conducted the 2 day seminar that saw martial artists from as far as Albany, Margaret River, Bridgetown, Busselton, Dunsborough, Rockingham to the local Perth areas attending this once in a lifetime seminar. This was Master Rodel's (who lives in the Philippines) first visit to WA.

(Cameron Hubbard, Guro Ceberano, Mr Rawlins, Grandmaster Rodel & Eddie Taweel)

Master Rodel is one of the leading world exponents in the style of Arnis and knife fighting, and just being inducted in the Martial Arts Hall of Fame, both Masters conduct seminars all around the world. It was a great privilege for many that attended to have the opportunity to train with these two legends of the martial art world.

This was also a great opprtunity to see some of the different martial arts styles attend and very rewarding to see the different instructors and their students come together to learn, respect and enjoy each others company.

(Practitioners going through a warm up routine)

The seminar was broken up into two groups. The practitioners who knew what they were doing went with Master Rodel and the beginners and novices went with Guro Tino. The first session covered basic and advanced Arnis drills with the advanced group learning attacks and disarms. It was quite funny to see some of our top taekwondo and karate fighters trying to coordinate themselves with the different Arnis strikes & combinations. By lunch time, you could hear most people complaining about sore shoulders, bruised fingers and blisters forming on the hands.

(Arnis drills, locks & strikes)

The second part of the seminar involved the various defence and attacks with the knife which was well-received and enjoyed by everyone. Both Masters conducted the seminar with the professionalism that comes with being world renowned master instructors. Their instructions were very detailed and every technique was explained, both in their applications and defences. They also made the seminar fun and enjoyable by their friendly and jovial nature.

(Various locks & blocks)

One of the highlights of the seminar was watching both the Masters attack each other with the knife and we were watching in amazement at just how easy they countered and re-countered each other. Keeping in mind that both men are well over 60 yrs, they moved with the striking speed of a cobra and the agility of a cat. With many looking in awe and hoping that when they reach that age they too can move like them.

(Both Masters in action)

Master Rodel will be in Perth for a week and both Mr Rawlins and Cameron will have the honour to train and be graded by him. The irreplaceable knowledge and training techniques that this humble, quiet and noble man will hopefully pass on to them can only make our Taekwondo centres stronger.

(Group shot)

(Random shots)

8th October 2008

11 Representatives For Australia!

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(Our victorious team after the STA Selection Championships in Canberra)

After 2 days of hard and tough competition in Canberra where our members competed against some of the best fighters in Australia, they returned home with great results.

5 gold medals, 4 silvers medals and 2 bronze medals, all of who will be representing Australia in either New Zealand (Oceania Championships) or Canada (Commonwealth Championships) later on in this year.

Well done and congratulations to all that competed in the Sports Taekwondo Australia (STA) Championships at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra on the 4th & 5th October where our members competed against some of the best Junior & Seniors fighters in Australia in the hope of gaining a spot in the National team and wearing the Australian tracksuit with pride as they represent our country in New Zealand or Canada.

Clare Francis, Renae Perkins, Chantelle Wallace, Nadine Venter, Emily O'Sullivan, Sinead Smyth, Jess Jordan, Jacob White, Paul Otago, Brandon Cooper, Garrick Blinman, Dennis Rawlins, Ondrej Venter & Brett Kendall did themselves, their families, their club and their coaches proud as they walked away from the championships with the best result achieved by any club with 5 Gold, 4 Silver & 2 Bronze. This means is that we now have 11 members from our club that have made the Australian team.

(Australian Junior representatives competing in New Zealand Oceania Championships and Canada Commonwealth Championships)

5 of our members Chantelle Wallace, Jess Jordan, Paul Otago, Garrick Blinman and Brett Kendall will be representing Australia in the Oceania Championships in New Zealand from the 5th - 7th December.

The other 6 members Clare Francis, Renae Perkins, Nadine Venter, Jacob White, Brandon Cooper and Emily O'Sullivan will represent Australia at the other end of the world in Canada at the Commonwealth Championships from the 21st - 23rd November.

(Our Champion Junior Team)

Ondrej was very unlucky in his 1st fight when he had his opponent number and was in front. Suddenly in the middle of the 2nd round, he fell and dislocated two of his fingers. Mr Rawlins pulled one of them back in place (to the ooh's and ahh's of the crowds) but the other one just did not want to go back into place. The 1 minute injury time ran out and Ondrej could not continue, which meant he was counted out. Sounds familiar only without the temper tentrum?

Dennis started of brilliantly with a knock out to his opponent in 45 second of his first match. In his other two fights, he was always in front till the final 30 seconds of the 3rd round, where he must have gone to sleep, lost focus or saw the finish line before he crossed it and lost both his fights by 1 point (a hard lesson to learn but it will make him stronger & smarter). Both boys were in the same divisions which was probably the strongest and hardest division of the championships.

Sinead had a bad day. Although she won her first fight, she could not fire up for her others matches. Her kicks were just not finding the target and she was not as sharp as usual. Just goes to show that even good fighters have bad days.

The team had a good time in Canberra with a bit of sight seeing and shopping. It was a pleasure to stay and look around at the AIS. Once again well done and congratulations to all.

(Random shots at the AIS)

5th October 2008

Albany Club Relocating

As of Wednesday, 8th October, Rawlins Albany will be relocating to the Centennial Oval Hall (Showgrounds Exhibition Hall) on Lockyer Ave. New kids classes will commence after the school holidays. Click here for times.

3rd October 2008

Canberra Selections Begins This Weekend

Good luck to all our competitors who will be competing in the STA Selection Trials this weekend pursuing a common quest to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Championships in Canada and/or the Oceania Championships in New Zealand.

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