Grace and Form

Poomsae or Patterns are a set sequence of movements that consists of the various fundamental stances, blocks, punches and kicks logically arranged in a meaningful order in response to attacks from multiple imaginary assailants.

Each Poomsae consists of an established sequence of movements which has a philosophical meaning each Poomsae has its own character and distinct quality. Poomsae teaches a student balance, technique, coordination and self-discipline.

There are Poomsae competitions nationally and internationally at which patterns are displayed and judged. The BTCB runs both Poomsae Training Course and has a national team.

Poomsae Committee

As well as being a required technical element to both Dan and Kup gradings, like Kyorugi (Sparring) Poomsae is also a competitive discipline of Taekwondo with Poomsae competitions held nationally and internationally at which patterns are displayed and judged. As Poomsae has started to move more and more to the forefront with the advent of the World Poomsae Championships organised by the World Taekwondo Federation as well as European and Commonwealth Poomsae Championships, the BTCB has as a specially select Poomsae Committee who are charged with developing Poomsae in this country.

Title	Name	Phone number	e-mail address
Chairman	Master Derek Sumner	+447973366253	derek.sumner@poomsae.co.uk
National Coach	Master Gemma Biescas	+447816984282	gemma.biescas@poomsae.co.uk
National Coach	Master Stephane Roth	+447818070849	stephane.roth@poomsae.co.uk
Judging Coordinator	Grandmaster T.W. Shin WTF 1st Class International Referee	+447776131567	twshin@poomsae.co.uk
National Team Manager	Mr Alex Reynolds	+447792371297	alex.reynolds@poomsae.co.uk

Regions and Regional Coaches:

Over the last few months, the BTCB has strengthened the Regional Coaching structure within the country with the addition of a number of experienced Regional Poomsae Coaches to enable opportunities for more people to get involved in Poomsae. The Regional Coaching is supplemented by the organisation of National Poomsae training seminars under the guidance of the National Coaches, as well as additional Special Technical Seminars led by World renowned Poomsae experts.

All these elements will help to standardise Poomsae between clubs and players, which in turn will assist them for gradings as well as giving them an opportunity to compete successfully at both National and International level.

The main task for the Regional Coaches is develop Poomsae within their regions with the additional responsibility of developing athletes both for their Regional Teams to compete at the BTCB Inter-Regional Championships as well at the National Championships. Regional Coaches also have the opportunity to recommend and refer talented players to National Squad sessions where they can undertake further training and assessment under the National Coaches

Region	Regional Coach	Contact details
Scotland	Master David Bailey	masterbailey@centraltkd.co.uk
N. England	Grandmaster Shin	twshin@poomsae.co.uk
Midlands	Mr Chan Sau	chansau@aol.com
E. England	Mr Constantino Cesar	mktkdcesar@hotmail.com
S.E. England	Master Derek Sumner	derek.sumner@poomsae.co.uk
N. Ireland	Master Glen Culbert	poomse@btcb-ni.org.uk

S.Central, South West & Wales to be filled

North England: Northumberland, Cumbria, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, North Yorkshire, Lancashire, West Yorkshire, East Yorkshire, South Yorkshire,Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire

Midlands: Shropshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Rutland, Leicestershire, West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire

South Central: Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Middlesex

East England: Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Essex

South East England: Surrey, West Sussex, Kent, East Sussex

BTCB National Poomsae Squad

The BTCB National Coaches lead the development of Poomsae within the country and have the overall responsibility of developing a squad comprised of the most talented technical athletes in the country from which the athletes may be chosen for the Great Britain National Team that will represent the country at major International competitions including Commonwealth, European and World Championships.

2009 Team Selection Criteria

9th ETU European Taekwondo Poomsae Championships, Portimão, Portugal (11-14th November 2009)

The BTCB National Poomsae Committee will select the Great Britain National Poomsae Team which will contest this year’s forthcoming 9th ETU European Poomsae Championships with the announcement made on 26th July 2009.

This selection is open to all British Kukkiwon dan grade competitors, born in 1995 or earlier.

The following two elements will be taken into account:

(1)Ranking of players within their category according to a point ranking system.

Points can only be scored at the following three competitions:

British National Poomsae Championships Sheffield 21st March 2009

French Open ‘A’ Class Paris 28th–29th March 2009

Spanish Open ‘A’ Class Alicante 25th–26th April 2009

(2)Assessment of technical standard and likelihood of medalling by the National Coaches.

Points will be attributed as follows:

(1)BTCB National Championships

Gold       =      3 points

Silver      =      2 points

Bronze    =      1 point

(2)French & Spanish Open ‘A’ Class Championships

Ranking within the top 10% of the category = 7 points

Ranking within the top 20% of the category = 5 points

Ranking within the top 30% of the category = 3 points

Ranking within the top 40% of the category = 2 points

Ranking within the top 50% of the category = 1 point

BTCB Poomsae Referee Structure

The Overall National Poomsae Referee structure shall be led by the BTCB Poomsae Judging Co-ordinator in consultation with the BTCB Poomsae Committee. It is the role of the BTCB Poomsae Judging Co-ordinator to ensure that National Poomsae Referees are educated to the latest rules as guided by the WTF at regular BTCB Referee Courses dates for which will be published on the BTCB website periodically.

BTCB Poomsae Referee Classification

The BTCB will grant qualification as a National Poomsae Referee to those who have attended and passed the examination at a National Poomsae Referee course which will be conducted by the BTCB.

The following levels of qualification are available: A, B, C and P class.

P Class Open to 4th Kup to 1st Kup from 16 years old. (P class judges will be upgraded to C class status on promotion to 1st Dan)

C Class Open to 1st Dan and above from 16 years old

B Class Open to C class holders with at least 2 years active experience, 2nd Dan and above, from 21 years old. Experience is gained from judging 5 times or more at a recognised event (Regional, National or International Competitions but not 1-to-1)

A Class Open to B Class holders with at least 3 years active experience, 3rd Dan and above, from 26 years old. Experience is gained from judging 7 times or more at a recognised event (Regional, National or International Competitions but not 1-to-1)

‘A’ Class judges can be recommended by the BTCB Poomsae Committee or by the chairman of the BTCB to attend a WTF International Judging Qualification Course

Qualifications expire after 1 year of issue but will be automatically renewed for active judges.

BTCB Poomsae Referee Course Structure

The general course structure for participants of a National Poomsae Judging course will be made of the following:

1. Theory including explanation and clarification of the latest rules and guidelines as set by the World Taekwondo Federation.

2. Practical assessment of all Poomsae from Taegeuk 1 (Il Jang) through to Hansoo including explanation and clarification of all basic movements.

3. Practical examination, involving assessment of scoring by judges as well as written examination of technical and accuracy points as well as latest competition rules and guidelines.

Candidates for B and A Class qualification should be able to show evidence of their experience through recent participation at National and / or International level Poomsae events.

Duties of BTCB National Level Referees

1. The National Referee shall abide by all the Poomsae Rules with pride and dignity as a National Poomsae Referee of the BTCB.

2. The National Referee shall be familiar with the Competition Rules and guiding principle concerned.

3. The National Referee shall officiate at any Taekwondo events without partiality in consideration of the fact that decisions made by the National Referee shall be conclusive.

Poomsae Referee Uniform and Shoes

The judges’ uniform is a navy jacket, grey trousers, dark tie, white shirt and white trainers. (Jeans, T-shirts, doboks or tracksuits are not allowed.)

Previous National Poomsae Teams

9th ETU European Poomsae Championships: Portimão, Portugal (14th-15th November 2009)

2nd Team Male: Simon Negus - Hanaro
2nd Team Male: Glen Culbert - NI UTA
2nd Team Male: David Bailey - Central Taekwondo UTA
1st Team Male: Alex Tse - Shins Academy
1st Team Male: David Morrison - Ultimate
1st Team Male: Constantino Cesar - Milton Keynes UTA
1st Team Female: Summer Deane - Livingwell
1st Team Female: Sophie Chatel - Carlton Arena
1st Team Female: Becky Gordon - Ellisons
2nd Pair: Simon Negus - Hanaro
2nd Pair: Gemma Biescas - PremierKi
1st Pair: Guntur Dwairmein - Livingwell
1st Pair: Sydney Craven - Livingwell
2nd Masters Male: Tong Wan Shin - Shins Academy - BRONZE
1st Masters Male: Yousuf Dildar - LTA
1st Masters Female: Karen MacRae - PremierKi
2nd Senior Male: Stephane Roth - Livingwell
1st Senior Male: Said Khelwatty - LTA
1st Senior Female: Becky Gordon - Ellisons
Junior Male: Guntur Dwairmein - Livingwell
Junior Female: Sydney Craven - Livingwell

3rd WTF World Poomsae Championships: Ankara, Turkey (16th-18th December 2008)

Georgina Stalford Livingwell Junior Female

Guntur Dwiarmein Livingwell Junior Male

Melissa McSorley Livingwell 1st Senior Female

Chan Sau Halton UTA 1st Senior Female

Stephane Roth Livingwell 2nd Senior Male

T.W. Shin Shin’s Academy UTA 2nd Masters Male

Chan Sau / Melissa McSorley 1st Pairs

4th Commonwealth Poomsae Championships: Winnipeg, Canada (21st-23rd November 2008 )

Sydney Craven Livingwell Junior Female GOLD

Zoe Brown Wonsungi Junior Female SILVER

Chan Sau Halton UTA 1st Senior Male GOLD

Gemma Biescas Premier Ki 2nd Senior Female GOLD

Stephane Roth Livingwell 2nd Senior Male SILVER

Simon Negus Hanaro 2nd Senior Male BRONZE

8th ETU European Poomsae Championships: Antalya, Turkey (8th-9th December 2007)

Zoe Brown Livingwell Junior Female

Guntur Dwairmein Livingwell Junior Male

Melissa McSorley                     Livingwell                 1st Senior Female
Chan Sau                               Halton UTA               1st Senior Male
Stephane Roth                        Livingwell                 2nd Senior Male            BRONZE
Michelle Hayman                     Shins Academy UTA    2nd Senior Female

Karen McRae Premier Ki 1st Masters Female
Angela Broadbent Manchester UTA 2nd Masters Female BRONZE

Master T.W. Shin                    Manchester UTA        2nd Masters Male           BRONZE
Chan Sau / Melissa McSorley                                    1st Pairs
Master T.W. Shin / Michelle Hayman                                                          2nd Pairs
Melissa McSorley / Georgina Stalford / Taylor Parkins 1st Team Female
Angela Broadbent / Michelle Hayman / Karen McRae 2nd Team Female          BRONZE

2nd WTF World Poomsae Championships: Incheon, South Korea (4th-6th November 2007)

Melissa McSorley Livingwell 1st Senior Female

Chan Sau Halton UTA 1st Senior Female

Stephane Roth Livingwell 2nd Senior Male

T.W. Shin Shin’s Academy UTA 2nd Masters Male