We haven't had the chance to write many updates during 2024 but it was a very momentous year for Chung Do Taekwondo so it's got to be noted down somewhere!

2024: A Significant Year for Chungdo Taekwondo

2024 was an important year for Chungdo Taekwondo as we celebrated our 50th anniversary, marking five decades of since GM Suh Chun Suk started teaching in Australia. It did take us until December to celebrate this milestone but it was great to get together to celebrate with old and new students plus we started some new traditions like 5,10,15 and 20 year membership awards and 500 and 1000 classes awards.

We opened two new branches (Rhodes and Manly Vale) and these are growing steadily with Rhodes especially a focus for 2025 and beyond.

Competitions
Our students performed well across various competitions, including the South Coast Open, NSW Open, Australian Open, President's Cup, Chuncheon Korean Open, KPNP Championships, NSW State Championships, and the Sydney Taekwondo Festival. We had our biggest team to date at the Australian Taekwondo Nationals with 47 players, it's a lot of hard work and effort from instructors, students and parents to get that size team up and running.

First Chungdokwan International Instructor Certification Course
We participation in the first Chungdokwan International Instructor Certification Course in Kuala Lumpur, demonstrating our commitment to advancing skills and knowledge within our club with myself, Anthony and Celine going gaining the certification.

Chungdokwan Korea 80th Anniversary and CDK yearly summer camp
We had the privilege of attending Chungdokwan Korea's 80th Anniversary celebrations in Korea during July's annual Chungdokwan Korea summer camp, the 80th Anniversary highlighted the tradition and legacy of our Kwan (school). Six of our students came to Korea on this trip (plus 2 went on a different training camp in Korea) and it really helped open their eyes to the breadth, depth and longevity that Taekwondo has to offer. Seeing the old masters in the flesh is really something else, especially when they're still doing the spilts at 70+ years old! A huge thanks to my master GM Shin and to GM Sheamus for their continued effort to bring Chungdokwan members together across the globe.

It was also during this trip that I finally met and trained with Master Kang Yujin from Namchang Dojang in person. I attribute so much of my poomsae growth to Master Yujin and after 5 years of Zoom classes it was such an honour to finally train together in real life.

2024 Poomsae World Championships
Personally 2024 has been such a year of growth.

From organising an increasingly large dojang, starting to bring more students overseas, coordinating larger and larger competition teams, competing in my first Chuncheon Korean Open then to top it all off qualifying for the Poomsae World Championships in Hong Kong and representing Australia for the first time in my 30 year Taekwondo career was almost unbelievable.

Winny asked me if I could have imagined this 10 years ago and the reality is even though I still have so much to improve on, my level and understanding of poomsae was so poor 10 years ago that World Championships wasn't even on the radar.

The club continues to grow steadily, fostering a stronger and more connected community. We are grateful to the parents, friends, and families who have supported us throughout the year, as well as to our instructors and student leaders for their consistent effort and dedication. A huge thank you to the Instructor Team at Chungdo as well for their effort and dedication to developing our students both as taekwondoin and as people!

Although Chungdo is now 51 years old, the 2020-2022 Covid period in many ways really felt like a reset back to year zero.
2025 is the third year post the Covid period, we've laid some strong foundations during 2023 and 2024 and we need to continue to build on these.

Big week as Covid 19 events force us to re-evaluate our operations.

Perseverance and indomitable spirit are two key tenants of Taekwondo and we appreciate our students and their parents embodiment of this as everyone adjusts to what will be the "new normal" for the foreseeable future.

We have implemented significant changes to our in person classes.
No sparring, less target work, more techniques and poomsae to ensure we keep distance.

While there are some students still keen to attend in person, we know eventually this is not going to be possible and are executing our digital strategy.

Our digital program will be launched this weekend and is designed to help our students (and anyone who wants to join us) maintain some sense of routine and continuity with their taekwondo training.

A key consideration for us is how important regular exercise is.
The benefits are:

• Assisting to develop a strong immune system
  
• Release endorphins which helps combat stress and depression
  
• As the severity of Covid19 in Australia intensifies, people will remain at home more. Our sessions give the opportunity to have some level of outside interaction and whole body movement.
  

Congratulations to our Nationals Team!
It was a big effort for the NSG Team to get up to the Gold Coast during a busy period at school + their other sports/activities but they really enjoyed the experience.

Final results were
Winny - sparring - gold
Sarah - sparring - silver
Melissa - sparring - silver
Jessie - individual poomsae - bronze
Kat and Annabel - team poomsae - silver
Cindy - sparring - uncontested
Andy - Championship poomsae - Gold
ZiChuan - Championship poomsae - Gold, World Taekwondo poomsae - Silver

A big thanks to Winny's mum Dora and Mel's mum KyiKyi for coming. Dora did a lot of driving and cooking over the weekend.

Classes are on as normal during the school holidays with the following exceptions:
1) School sports programs (NSB, NSG, Chatswood High) are not on
3) Thursday 17th October there's no 6.30pm Chatswood class, 7.30pm is on as normal

Grading will be 31st October to 5th November
Due to the timing, this will be the last colour belt grading for the year.
There will be a black belt/dan grading in December

There are a number of competitions coming up. Please talk to Masters Steve or ZiChuan if you are interested in entering.