Taekwondo Tournament

Last weekend the Poipet Taekwondo Club made their debut in a National Competition. It was great to see the team step up to the challenge!

In 2012, we have had the use of a large, well-ventilated building, rent-free. Unfortunately in June the owner decided to end the agreement. A few weeks later we heard about a competition in Battambang scheduled for August 18-19. I called an emergency iced-latte meeting with coach Savuth and asked, "Do you know anywhere we could use to train a team? It doesn't have to be perfect.... just something that could be used for a month to get ready for the competition?"

Savuth replied, "Yes, I know somewhere. Your place!" 

So we agreed that the roof on our house/ office could be used. For four weeks I've got up before 6am every day to unlock the doors. I've also taken the guys out to run as part of their conditioning training. Some days the guys trained for 1 hour a day, sometimes they trained twice a day. I didn't compete in the Taekwondo tournament, but I felt I was a part of it. 

Our team did well. Two made it through to the afternoon rounds and one Poipet club competitor picked up a medal & prizes for third place. (Not bad for a yellow belt competing against mostly black & brown belts in the 55-62kg division!) The guys are excited and already looking forward to the next competition in Phnom Penh on October 1. 

Now to find somewhere for them to train that doesn't involve me getting up at 5:30am each morning?! :)