The Brown Taekwondo Club placed third overall in the National Collegiate Taekwondo Association Tournament, held March 30 and 31 at Texas A&M University. The team also placed second in the novice division.
The tournament consisted of two types of competition: poom-se, which is focused on form and technique and involves performing set routines to showcase skill, concentration and focus, and kyoruki, or sparring, in which two competitors face off against each other and earn points for attacks to the body or head.
In addition to their overall placement, all 11 competitors from Brown earned at least one medal and all together won a total of 16 medals - seven gold, three silver and six bronze. Michael Hoe '08, head instructor of the club, said the results were amazing.
"The tournament happened over spring break, so it was tough to get many people involved," said Hoe, who placed first in the form division of black belts. "But even though we only took 11 competitors, we placed almost as well as we did last year when we took 35 people."
Nicholas Chung '09, an assistant instructor of the club, said the lower number of competitors motivated the athletes. "Because we were a smaller group, we had to bring the quality of our performance up, and everyone trained that much harder," he said. "But a lot of the members who went had previous experience, so I think that helped us a lot."
Taekwondo Club President Kevin Swong '08 did not attend the tournament but said he was very proud of the team's performance. "The instructors did an amazing job," he said. "Preparing for nationals consisted of a lot of practice, and all the members who committed to the tournament came through for that."
The team had been preparing for the national tournament all year - the 11 competitors returned to Brown a week before classes started in January for extra practices and spent an average of 15 hours practicing during what Chung called "hell week."
"It's a great bonding experience," Chung said. "You wake up together in the morning, you work out, you go to lunch, work out, have dinner together and work out some more. Everyone shares the same pain, and we really bonded together as a team."
Hoe said the team dynamic is his favorite aspect of being part of the club. "Most people think of it as a club for taekwondo, but the reality is that to anyone involved, there is a real sense of camaraderie," he said. "We're all really good friends outside of class and the idea behind the club is we're a family. As cheesy as it sounds, we do a pretty good job involving everybody."
The taekwondo club currently consists of 53 members from all levels. "The club is very beginner," Swong said. "Most of the people who join haven't had taekwondo experience, and throughout the year some drop out because of school and other responsibilities." Hoe said the team members collectively have six black belts, four black stripes, 11 red and blue belts, 25 green and green stripes and seven white and yellow belts.
Though nationals is over, the club is still busy with events for the rest of the semester, including belt testing on May 5. "Black belt tests are the main focus," Swong said. "Four people will be testing for black belts, and that is what the club has been doing."
The club is also planning its annual banquet, a chance for the team members to have dinner together, watch slideshows, reminisce and say goodbye to departing seniors. "It's an actual event where everyone comes together and dresses up," Chung said. "It brings us closer together."
Hoe said he is optimistic about the team's future. "A few seniors are leaving us, but for the most part all the black belts are coming back," he said. "I'm always excited to look to the future. The team has so much promise, and that only gives us all extra motivation."
