Taekwondo students shine at Niagara competition

Five martial artists from Chatham Bluewater Taekwondo took part in the Niagara Open taekwondo tournament on the weekend.

The Niagara Open, hosted by Jeongs Family Taekwondo, did not disappoint for a group of Chatham youth taking part in St. Catharines on the weekend.

Five male students represented Chatham Bluewater Taekwondo, taking part to test their skills

Alex Dinh, 11-year-old division colour belt silver in Kyorugi (sparring) and bronze in Poomsae (forms).

Thach Bao An (Jimmy), 12-year-old division colour belt silver in Kyorugi (sparring) and bronze in Poomsae (forms).

Long Thien Phan (Leo), 13-year-old division colour belt gold in Kyorugi (sparring) and silver in Poomsae (forms)

Wes Cronk, 11-year-old division colour belt gold in Kyorugi (exhibition match), silver in Kyorugi, and bronze in Poomsae (forms).

Nivin John, 10-year-old division colour belt bronze in Kyorugi (sparring) and bronze in Poomsae (forms). Nivin was placed in a division two belts higher than him, despite the lack of participants of his age and level at his choice, and still placed. Wesley Cronk also fought in another match above his requirements and won gold. He chose to play in an exhibition match, so another boy could enjoy the tournament when he didn’t have the fighters available to him.

Master Kandis Fischer said the boys endured so much in this tournament, and they are soA proud of them. Alex took a hard shot to the abdomen, causing him to vomit, but he endured and continued, and won silver. Long doesn’t speak much English, has been in Canada for a limited amount of time, and overcame these things to train, participate and excel in an environment that he has struggled to understand.

Fischer runs the martial arts club as the Master. She recently passed her promotion to 5th Dan. She has been practicing martial arts for over 20 years, taking over the club from Master Mike Amaro, an Indigenous Master in taekwondo who has been in the taekwondo community for over 45 years.

Fischer took over the club just before COVID.