The 2011 Nova Scotia ICTF Taekwon-Do Provincial Championships

 

The one day championships became a much larger event than first anticipated. First it started when Kwan Jang Nim Craig Stanley, VIII Dan and ICTF of Canada President, arrived Thursday, May 5. After a 6 hour flight from Edmonton, Alberta, he visited and conducted a class at Mr. Carr's Dartmouth Dojang. There were over 50 of Mr. Carr's students in attendance. Master Stanley taught for over 2 hours with some great core exercises, effective sparring drills and practical self defense skills. This was very well appreciated by all in attendance.

On Friday, May 6, Kwan Jang Nim Joseph Cariati, VIII Dan and ICTF President, arrived from Toronto, Ontario. That evening, Master Stanley conducted the first official ICTF Umpire certification course held in Nova Scotia. The NS ICTF Dojangs fully supported the course with members from Fall River TKD, LeBlanc TKD, Blue TKD, Muise TKD, Stewart TKD, Smith TKD and Carr TKD. The in depth 3 hour course was very educational on how to properly judge and referee Taekwon-Do competition, including what to look for and how to score, terminology, hand signals and calls. There was a written exam at the end of the course. Now there are 50 new and certified ICTF Umpires in Nova Scotia. This was the largest ICTF Umpire certification to date.

 

Saturday, May 7, the 2011 Nova Scotia ICTF Taekwon-Do Provincial Championships were held, at Ecole du Carrefour, in Dartmouth. There was a 75% increase in competitors, 160+ with competitors and umpires from the 2010 championships. The competitors were welcomed by a full house of spectators, plus the 50 new umpires, in their official ICTF Umpire uniforms. The entire Championships was very professional and well organized, thanks to the support of Master Cariati and Master Stanley and all ICTF NS dojangs. As host, I greatly appreciated that the two Masters didn't sit at a head table. They were both very interactive with running the championships, as well as interacting with the all the members and spectators. Also thank you to all the volunteers that transported equipment, ran errands, setup and cleaned. I would like to especially thank my wife, Andrea, and kids, Skyler and Ella, for supporting me while doing my part for this weekend.

 

Following the championships, both Masters held a 2 hours Black Belt Only training session. They shared so much with the Black Belts, and reinforced all the Black Belt's love for the art of Taekwon-Do. They were all challenged with learning self defense and sparring techniques, and enjoyed them all very well. They were bruised and soaked from head to toe, however all smiles through out the group.

 

I was personally honoured to spend the entire weekend with both Master Cariati and Master Stanley. Besides the course, the championships and the training, which was all a great learning experience for me, they both so openly shared personal experiences, business information, and would answer all my questions with absolutely no hesitation. Thank you to both Master Cariati and Master Stanley for sharing everything, and most importantly for me, thank you for treating me like a human being and a colleague.

 

I have to say I had previously belonged to three different Taekwon-Do organizations, and after 25 years in Taekwon-Do, and can proudly say, I have found a home in the ICTF.

 

Yours in Taekwon-Do,

 

Robert Carr, VI Dan

Please visit the Photo Gallery to see all the photos from all 3 days of events.