Achievements:
New Zealand National Team Coach @ 2007 World Championship
Bronze 4th Degree Patterns @ 2005 World Championship
Gold Team Power @ 2005 World Championship
Bronze Team Patterns @ 2005 World Championship
Bronze Team Power @ 2003 World Championship

For me competition has never been just about winning or beating one’s opponent. Competition is about growing one’s skills and about bettering oneself. Although many people see Taekwon-do as an individual sport, competition brings together the team aspect that is very rewarding.

I think the team aspect of competition brings out the family dimension in Taekwon-do. It cements a bonding with your fellow team mates that is like a family bond. From the tough training that precedes a competition and the effort and time a team spends training together, friendships are forged. By the victories or defeat in competition we team mates, are unified in our experiences. Those shared experiences and friendships are what I treasure from my many tournaments.

My first major international competition was the Xth world senior championships held in St Petersburg. It was 1997, I was training at the Oxford University dojang and my instructor was Mr. Garry Miller, who also happened to be the English national coach.

The Russian championships were amazing. Every country in the world seemed to be there. The favorites, the North Koreans, kept to themselves but most other competitors from other countries were friendly. Being in St Petersburg among so many Taekwon-Do practitioners from around the world was a real eye opener. Firstly to see that Taekwon-Do was something that was shared by so many people around the world, and secondly to see the truly high standards that some athletes had achieved.

I competed for England two further times in 2003 and 2005. My experience is that the professionalism of International ITF competitions continued with high standards in all aspects from the organization, umpiring, facilities and quality of competitors.

I think whether you are a coach, competitor, umpire or supporter there are three core things that need to be done well for a competition to be truly successful. Firstly, of course, it must be organized. There must be communication of what is going to happen, where and when. Secondly the quality of judging and umpiring needs to be of a high standard and the judging must be fair. Finally there should be suitable facilities for the competition arena, participant accommodation, and transportation available. When all these things are done well, such as the World Champs in Germany 2005 then everyone who attends will come away with a happy experience of the competition.

Germany 2005 was another wonderful experience for me, the organization was impeccable, the facilities will be difficult to surpass even in the future to compare with the Westfalen Stadium, and the icing on the cake was the fantastic end of tournament party. Not everyone can be World Champions, or even medal winners, so a competition is great if the majority of participants will remember it as an enjoyable event and they want to compete again.

I coached the New Zealand team in 2007 where the World championships were held in Quebec, Canada. Of note the communications from the organizers were excellent in the pre-tournament lead up. With the greater use of the internet I think it has made it easier for the tournament organizers to communicate more easily and effectively with country delegations.

Changing roles from being a competitor to coach, my focus has shifted from predominantly thinking about oneself to thinking about all events and the whole team. I am also more concerned by aspects of the organization of the tournament and there is a greater need to know what is happening, so that I can prepare my athletes.

I have taken part in competitions at local as well as world level. The scales and numbers may be different but the benefits are the same. Competitions have allowed me to increase my standard. I may not be able to reach my ideal goals but I have seen what is possible. I have been fortunate enough to enjoy the friendship of my team mates and we have shared victories as well as defeat. These moments are ours uniquely and through the sweat we shared in training we swear to be lifelong friends.

I have been extra fortunate to make the transition from competitor to coach. This role I am still new too and I am learning new skills, not just technical Taekwon-do skills but skills important to everyday life like leadership, team management and judgment. Of surprise to me as a coach was that the highs and lows of my squad’s achievements or disappointments would have as great an impact on me as if I were the competitor myself.

Like many things in life, ITF competition should be treated like a journey where the journey is worth taking even if the final destination is not a gold medal.