When Abuja saw the softer side of Taekwondo

Guests from the diplomatic corps in Nigeria and a whole lot of Nigerians at the Sheraton venue of the event were entertained by the various acts which included fights between good and evil, displays of strength, stamina, precision and display of the creativity of the woman in such a ‘fight’. It wasn’t a show about […]

Guests from the diplomatic corps in Nigeria and a whole lot of Nigerians at the Sheraton venue of the event were entertained by the various acts which included fights between good and evil, displays of strength, stamina, precision and display of the creativity of the woman in such a ‘fight’.

It wasn’t a show about perfection but the will to surmount challenges and to reach to heights that left the audience gaping and wondering.

Juxtaposing the intensity of taekwondo against the soft music, with nimble and flexible movements, they smashed bricks and split planks, (Kyeokpa as it is called in Korean) along with friendly but hard ‘combat’ punches as depicted in movies with splinters flying in all directions of the Ladi Kwali Hall, forcing diplomats in the front row to take cower.

For many of the guests, especially children like Master Abdul who kept saying over and over, “I like these guys. They are just too much…” it was a dream come true to see live these performances as he aspired to be a black belter someday.

Featuring prominently in all was Kim Hye Jung, who demonstrated that what men could do, she was just as capable of.  “We have perfected our act because we rehearsed every Saturday and not just when we have events like this. There is no discrimination between males and females in taekwondo so we all have to give our best,” she said.

Although they have toured Europe and America, Jung said they had worries coming to Nigeria particularly about Malaria but looked forward to the trip all the same.

Teakwando is an important part of Korean culture, hence the choice of the event to mark the country’s national day.  Mr Sun Joeng Suh, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre in Nigeria explained  that “teakwando is something Koreans learn from childhood because of its importance. It is important in developing relations between Nigeria and Korea and I support this much by bringing instructors from Korea to train Nigerians in the art.”

In other events to mark the day ten secondary schools in the FCT are billed to slug it out come Thursday 13th October in the finals of the first Korea-Nigeria Scholarship Quiz Competition jointly organized by the Korean Cultural Centre in Nigeria and the FCT Secondary Education Board.

Following a weeklong preliminary stages, Government Secondary School, Kubwa; Government Girls Secondary School, Dutse; Model Secondary School, Maitama; Government Secondary Schools, Nyanya; GSS Abaji; GSS Rubochi; GSS Dangara; GSS Kuje; GSS Gwagwalada and GSS Tungan Maje emerged as finalists from their various zones across the six area councils of Abuja.

In his address at the Bwari zone held at GGSS Dutse, Director of the KCC and the chief sponsor of the competition, Mr. Suh extolled the intelligence of the Nigerian kids. “Korea is happy to be a friend of Nigeria and I am particularly happy that these brilliant students participating in this competition have shown great promise. I am happy to inform you that instead of one student, the Korean Embassy in Nigeria will sponsor two students for a 5-year scholarship in Korea.”

Representing the Secretary, FCT Education Secretariat, Mrs. E.O. Elegbede; a Deputy Director at the FCT Secondary Education Board Bwari zone encouraged the students to seize the opportunity. “This is a begging opportunity and you must seize it with both hands. However, while you do this, I want to advise you to take your academics seriously because, even when your school emerges overall winner in this competition, your academic performance determines the two students from the three of you who will pick the two available scholarship slots.”

She admonished, that if the three representing students don’t have a proven academic record to take up the scholarship, then the school will have the right to transfer the opportunity to other students based on their academic performance.