Whatever has caused it, Taekwondo has seen a phenominal growth rate in popularity in Nigeria; nearly every private school in every major city of Nigeria has taken up taekwondo as one of the school sports. Potential champions are emerging out of universities and polytech institutes. Armed and para-military services have employed athletes in this sport. State sports councils have taken to paying athletes to play for them. The growth has been so prolific and so fast the Federation running into problems.

Many top stars are retiring from the sport leaving a gaping hole in numbers of qualified instructors; they need to fill in the positions with new talent. The Federation has a funding problem in building enough facilities to meet the demands of the growing interest. They need to manage data for long-term planning; before now there was little need for a database of active players and practitioners.

The Federation plans to register all officials and players, their qualifications, and ensure they receive adequate insurance. They plan to update coaching and referee education to ensure all meet adequate International standards.

George Ashiru is working hard to solve the multitude of growing problems while maintaining the growing national enthusiasm and support.

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‘Taekwondo Is Seeking, Sifting Tomorrow’s Champions Today’ – The Guardian Nigeria

Jesse Enkamp wishes to express his reasons why he thinks karate is the World’s best martial arts form. First he explains the need to define “best.” Best at what? Competition? Self-defense? Physical training?

In Jesse’s opinion the “best” is what you love the most. And he loves, of course, karate!

He loves karate’s variety of styles and, therefore, adaptable. While it may be super hard to learn, once learned karate is super easy! It’s surprisingly safe, if you train the traditional way; the worst you might ever get is a bruise. It’s very effective if done correctly. Finally, karate is a beautiful thing. It’s about culture, language, history, philosophy, and people.

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3 Reasons Karate is the World’s Best Martial Art3 Reasons Karate is the World’s Best Martial Art

These 5- to 6-year-old students can kick well over their own height, and train with swords, spears, and quarterstaffs. They are preparing for upcoming national and international games.

Developed in China after 1949, Wushu takes different elements from traditional fighting techniques of multiple practices. Communist leaders helped develop this art practice as a way to practice martial arts separately from any religious aspects.

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Real-life karate kids: Nepalese children practise martial art Wushu – Daily Mail

What would you do if you were 3-years-old, had painfully stiff joints, and been told by a doctor that you suffered from juvenile arthritis and an immune deficiency disease? Probably go back to playing with your red fire truck and watching cartoons, right? Not so for Jake Frood.

After watching the movie The Karate Kid, Jake asked him mother if he could take karate lessons. She agreed and enrolled him at the National Martial Arts College in Leeds, West Yorkshire. Within months his weak little legs developed lots of strength.

In only two short years, not only did Jake reach his fifth birthday, but in spite of highly painful joints he achieved the level of a black belt. No five-year-old in the world has a black belt, let alone one with juvenile arthritis.

Standing three-feet tall, Jake received his black belt after a grueling two-mile rune and four hour martial arts test. Jake hopes to rise to instructor by his tenth birthday.

As for his health, with his weakened immune system Jake seems to catch every single little germ that comes around. His mother, a nurse, says, “Without his love for it he wouldn’t have had the determination to get through his illnesses.”

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‘Karate saved my son’s life’: Boy, 5, overcomes arthritis and immune disorder … – Daily Mail

Lincoln Karate Clinic has been a wonderful school for Dean. It teaches more than the self-defense of karate: life skills, anti-bullying lessons, and character improvement. He says the school taught him self-discipline and respect at home and school.

Dean now works with 8- to 11-year-old students and helps organize karate parties.

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Teen transitions from karate student to assistant instructor – Lincoln Journal Star

Overlooked for the London 2012 Olympics and suffering defeat at the 2013 opening-rounds of the Taekwondo World Championship in Puebla, Mexico, US contestant Aaron Cook finally won the gold at Mexico’s Pan American Open in Queretaro.

After defeating Javier Quesada of Costa Rica 12-3 Cook says he’s “Blessed to be awarded best fighter.”

With points totalling 122.91, he has earned enough to win an invitation to the inaugural World Taekwondo Grand Prix Series in Manchester. Winners of the December 13-15 Grand Prix earning 80 points could win an invitation to the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

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Cook claims taekwondo gold in Mexico – BBC Sport

Sweetow believes he walks the path of wellness and continuous improvement. When asked about how he teaches others to confront hopelessness he says to take one step in the right direction, and then continue. He likes to incorporate his karate instruction with psychotherapy. He’s helped transform the lives of many children.

When parents express how much happier their children have become since taking karate, he feels he has done his job well.

Social worker gets a belt out of karate benefits – Winnetka Talk

It’s possible this little demonstration was staged in hopes of getting the video to go virol. Or, it’s the real deal.

Watch the video for yourself and see if you can tell what has happened.

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Karate referee beats up both fighters on video — real or fake? – Death and Taxes

It’s her first International competition, and she expressed a little worry at the level of expertise she’ll be facing, never having had competed at this high a level before. However, 17-year-old Alex says she has trained hard and looks forward to the experience.

A Freshman at Emmaus College, Ms. Gray hopes to study Physiology. She doesn’t plan on making karate a career, but after having studied it since she was 5 years old, she’s in love with the discipline and intends to continue to practice the sport the rest of her life.

“I love the discipline of karate, and I’ve met some great people through the sport,” she said.

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Rocky girl competes in Karate championships – Rockhampton Morning Bulletin

The 6-foot 285-pound Taylor says, “Violence is a sign of insecurity. Violent people are afraid of themselves…. That brick ain’t gonna change because it can’t talk. It can’t move. … When you are relaxed inside and don’t want to hurt anyone, that’s how I work. I don’t let that brick stop me.”

The 6-foot, 285-pound champion has traveled around the world appearing on Japanese, Italian, Turkish, US television, including Fox Sports Best Damn Sports Show, NBC’s America’s Got Talent and NBC’s Today Show Live at Rockefeller Center in New York City.

As a teacher Big K says, “Yes, I do it to motivate my students. I do it to show that you don’t have to be built like Bruce Lee to be a great martial artist. You don’t have to kick the lights out to be a martial artist.”

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Karate instructor chops his way into Ripley’s Believe It or Not book – The Macomb Daily

Bill Viola, Black Belt Artists and creator of the Kumite Karate Klassic, his father karate legend and martial arts Hall of Famer Master Bill Viola, Sr., World Boxing Champion, Michael Moorer, body builder and fitness trainer Chanel Smith, sportswriter and talkshow host Bill Neal, legendary master Jacquet Bazemore, and others topped the list of featured artists.

Events included the induction to the Kumite Karate Klassic Hall of Fame of Bill Neal, and a black belt demonstration of Bill Neal’s sticking a 12-inch needle through the throat of Jacquet Bazemore. (Don’t try this at home.)

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Kumite Karate Klassic celebrates 10 years – New Pittsburgh Courier

ATA Martial Arts Owner Theresa Anderson not only believes in kids with autism, she incorporates them into the classes with other kids who have no disabilities. “[T]he key to teaching kids with any kind of disability: we don’t treat them different and they really excel in that way,” says Anderson.

One boy in her class has both Asperger’s and ADHD. His mother attests that her son, ever since starting karate classes, has improved his grades at school and is able to make friends when he couldn’t before. She says the classes teach him more than self-defense. He is learning discipline, good manners, and self-respect.

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Kids kicking autism with karate – KATV

She joins the ranks of current ambassadors double Olympic fencing champion Katrina Aznavourian of Russia, two-time wushu world champion Daria Tarasova, French jujitsu world champion Vincent Parisi and 92-year-old International Kendo Federation President Yoshimitsu Takeyasu.

The role of each of these ambassadors is to promote his or her own sport and to promote martial arts in general during the run of the Games.

Stevenson began her martial arts career after becoming junior world champion in 2012. She went on to compete at four-time European champion, and has complete four Olympics. She was chosen to read the Athlete Oath at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic in London. Since her retirement from the sport in April she has made it her goal to pass on her experience to younger people.

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Former taekwondo world champion Stevenson becomes World Combat Games … – Insidethegames.biz

The championship was jointly sponsored by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea and LG Electronics Ltd. Seeing the talent of the Nigerian comtestants, Choi saw no reason why Nigeria shouldn’t excel at the next Olympics.

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2016 Olympics: Korea To Assist Nigeria With An International Coach Taekwondo – Daily Times Nigeria

It looks like a couple of plastic kitchen utensils tied together. Obviously something harmless.

Notice the object is head high with the boy so he will have to really stretch to make a kick. He also never allows the object to hit him, always circling and striking to keep it in motion.

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Maros ; KAFFI latihan karate

Earlier this year he won the gold for the English Karate Federation Championship in the age 11 to 12 category. Then, on September 7, he won an international title, a gold trophy, at the World Karate Federation Championships held in Glasgow, Scotland, when he beat competitors in five rounds of the age 11 to 12 category. The grading he took which passed him into black belt involved a theory test, exercises like sit-up and squat thrusts, questions, and 50 fights over a 2-hour period.

He started out a polite and modest, but shy boy. Once he started karate classes he quickly gained skills and confidence. His confident bearing makes him look older than his 11 years. Kids look up to him today, and he’s still polite and modest.

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Karate kid, 11, from Harold Wood achieves black belt title – Romford Recorder

As a boy Jackson’s family had very little money or resources. His mother was a low-paid factory worker and his father was an unemployed alcoholic. Jackson’s future did not look very promising.

But then, one day while he was about 11-years-old, a friend introduced him to karate. With no money to afford lessons the best Jackson could do was watch from the sidelines. The instructor noticed Jackson watching after awhile and invited him onto the floor for free.

He started his training and never quit. In 1988 he received his black belt and was invited to represent his country in various international events. Twenty years later in 2008 and still competing he won his first gold medal in Scotland. When he came home he retired from competing and won his first coaching job.

Soon he was coaching on national teams and starting up his own karate school. He now owns 7 schools of karate and loves working with disadvantage kids as his giving back for what was done for him. Karate has changed his future, changed his life!

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Karate champ does it for kids – The New Age Online

Master Mendez specializes in Olympic training for taekwondo. He has developed several USA National Champions, US Open Taekwondo Champions, as well as Junior and Senior USA National Team Members. Names include Griffin Beland of Storrs, Jalen Junious of South Windsor, Ceana Rodriguez of New Britain and Daria Torrenti of Orange, CT. 

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South Windsor Instructor Named USA Taekwondo National Team Coach – Patch.com

For some students taekwondo teaches more than self-defense, it teaches self-confidence.

“I didn’t have the courage to defend myself,” said Justin Ramiriz a 12-year-old Kingsbridge resident, recalling a time, less than a year-and-half ago, when he was bullied in school. He now walks the street with confidence and traces his courage to the day he signed up for taekwondo training.

“Everybody can see that it is rough, but it is also one of the prettiest sports I have ever seen,” said Justin’s teacher, Rajput, “The moves are so fast. They are like a beautiful dance.”

Taekwondo students progress through degrees of skills beginning with white belt and climbing to multiple degrees of black belt. Of all the martial arts the Olympics only acknowledge judo and taekwondo.

Compared to other martial arts taekwondo emphasizes kicking. which are allowed to both the upper body and face. However, kicks below the belt, sweeping kicks, and grabbing your opponent are not allowed. Punches are allowed only to the upper body.

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Taekwondo students learn more than martial arts – The Riverdale Press

While out on a walk and making her way through the streets of Naranpura Ghanshyam, resident Jigna Vyas sensed a man behind her wearing a handkerchief across his face had targeted her for a chain-snatching. Just as she quickly removed her gold chain the man attacked. Failing to achieve his goal he grabbed her by the neck.

Ms. Vyas, however, is a karate student. She used self-defense moves as taught in class, overpowered her assailant, threw him to the ground, and thrashed him thoroughly. Onlookers, seeing she had everything under control, just continued to watch without helping.

As the assailant frantically made his escape from her, she watched him jump on the back of his accomplice’s motorcycle and peel out of the area. Thinking quickly she wrote down the license number and reported it to the police who are now tracking down the owner of the motorcycle.

Ms. Vyas told reporters that she recommends every woman take some form of self-defense class for her own protection.

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Karate skills come to woman’s rescue – Times of India

Sensei Jeff Kohn of Glenview IL, recipient of the United States Olympic Committee’s (USOC) Paralympic Coach of the Year for Karate, coaches The Karate Can-Do! Traveling Team as part of the Karate Can-Do! program of North Shore Dojo.

“The program works at transforming attitudes and creating social and cultural change through its ability to engage children who are often overlooked and underserved by their communities,” Sensei Kohn said.

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Karate students with disabilities ‘Can-Do!’ wow Glenview crowd – Glenview Announcements

Jacob’s father’s ex-girlfriend, Helen Marie Newsome, had apparently broken into the home and had hidden in a spare bedroom for 13 hours waiting for the father to go to work so she could attack Jacob.

Failing to smother him,  Newsome picked up some dumbbells in the room and began to beat Jacob over the head. Claiming he used karate kicks and hand strikes to defend himself, Jacob then ran out of the house and over to a neighbor’s house seeking help.

Newsome escaped through a window, but police located her in her own home hours later. She has admitted to attacking the boy and awaits trial on charges of first-degree attempted murder.

Jacob sustained some serious head trauma and received eight staples on his head where Newsome had hit him with the dumbbells. Jacobs father said he had broken up with the woman 2-days earlier. The believes she tried to get back at him for the break up by trying to kill his son.

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Jacob Soliz-Amaya, 8-Year-Old, Used Karate To Fight Off Alleged Attack From … – Huffington Post

He already has two silver medals and one bronze from past Nationals. Brandishing the union flag Muhammad looks forward to December’s inaugural World Taekwondo Grand Prix and qualifying for Rio 2016.

Muhammad said, “I have never won a national senior title and this is a chance to change all that.”

“I like to keep busy and fight as often as I can so the nationals is a great opportunity to do just that. All I am doing now is looking forward and my main focus is the World Taekwondo Grand Prix so I want to be at my best.”

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Taekwondo – Muhammad bidding for first national taekwondo title – Yahoo! Eurosport UK

Abernethy loves analyzing and researching kata. He says kata logically and structurally records everything necessary for protection against extreme violence. He teaches his own students to “read” kata so they can reevaluate for themselves.

He believes in teaching the meaning behind karate-ka or he wouldn’t bother having students. There are plenty of electronic devise recordings of karate-ka that a student can teach himself in a holistic and functional way. But Abernethy joins those who approach karate-ka pragmatically.

Kata is not about defending yourself in formal karate, its about dealing with unexpected violence on the street. The student learns to change the kata and use secret techniques.

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Exclusive Interview: Iain Abernethy – UK’s Leading Expert on Practical Kata Bunkai (pt. 2)

One joy in his life that helped him overcome his depression is his 12-year-old daughter Jade whom he signed up for taekwondo. Seeing her work so hard inspired him to join as well.

Jade and gained her red belt. Brown belt Rob is well on his way to obtaining his black belt.  He works hard on his upper body strength and has learned to kick by standing on his hands. “I can do 100 handstand press-ups with my foot up against the wall and my hands on the floor in a full handstand position.”

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Amputee Rob fights to be Taekwondo ace – Daily Star