NTC 1600

The National Poomsae Championships saw the British Taekwondo Poomsae Community come together under one roof at David Ross Sports Village for a two-day celebration.

The weekend saw people of all abilities take to the mats on the national stage, in what was an inclusive, enthusiastic demonstration of our Martial Art at its finest, with a feel-good factor around the venue from the first performance until the last.

National Taekwondo Club (NTC) enjoyed a weekend to remember by taking home the Team Para Trophy on Day Two, after an outstanding collective performance that saw the team secure six gold medals.

Jane Bedford competed in the P34 category, with Grace Greenwood excelling in the P31 class, Jonathan Morling demonstrating his skill in P23, while William McNish performed admirably in the P60 division.

Ibrahim Adman secured a score of 7.950 to be crowned National Champion in the P21 category on the male side of the competition, while European Champion Summer Waheed continued to show her excellence with another fantastic performance on the female side.

Their success is a reflection not only of the dedication and hard work of the athletes and coaches, but also of the strength and spirit of the Para Poomsae community, which continues to grow in inclusivity, friendship, and excellence year after year.

GB Poomsae athlete and proud NTC member Jane praised both the standard of the event and the sense of unity that shone throughout the weekend:

“It was really, really well run. I thought it was definitely well thought out. The medals were great, a new design. Everybody was proud to be wearing one.

“There was a whole bunch of new Para people that we hadn’t met or seen before. It was great to see new faces, and I’m really hoping we’ll see many of them much more on the circuit.

“There’s a core group of us who turn up to most competitions, but it’s brilliant to see it growing. Para Poomsae isn’t always about being elite, it’s about personal goals and achievements, and supporting each other.

“It’s more inclusive than it ever was, and that sense of community is what makes it special.”

Poomsae is a discipline that brings communities together, with seasoned competitors rubbing shoulders with those who are taking to the mats for the first time, with every athlete feeling the full support of not only their own teammates, but all those who were in attendance.

The David Ross Sports Village was a place where ages, abilities and backgrounds came together as one over the weekend, and within National Taekwondo Club, that same spirit of support is central to everything they do:

“We’re all just one big family. There’s no fuss made about adaptations or different needs, it just happens organically. Everyone supports each other and cheers for one another. For what is primarily an individual sport, it’s incredibly team-focused.”

For P34 competitior Jane, Taekwondo has had a profound personal impact since she began training six years ago, following her diagnosis with Parkinson’s

“I only started when I was told to exercise after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s. I just jumped into class with the 8-year-olds and 13-year-olds, and we all muddled through together.

“It’s great the way Poomsae is just so accepting. Everyone’s just who they are and what you see is what you get. People just go with the flow, and that’s what I like about it.

“They just see me as me, not different, just part of the group. It’s a real community, and that’s worth a thousand black belts.”

Together, the Poomsae Community continue to demonstrate that Taekwondo truly is for everyone, all ages, all abilities, one family.

While it was National Taekwondo Club that won the Para Team Trophy on Sunday, every competitor will have walked away with their own personal memories and achievements throughout the day, and that is what is so special about these National Championships.

Coming together and celebrating such a fantastic group of people, with the camaraderie vibrating through the room, it was a special weekend in Nottingham, and we would like to thank every athlete, coach, official and volunteer who made this year’s National Poomsae Championships such a memorable success.