Issue: 4 of TkdTimes. The Free eZine of The Taekwondo Network. To help me make this newsletter as helpful and relevant as possible, I would enjoy your feedback. Simply email me your comments to TkdTimes@Taekwondo-Network.com. I really appreciate it when you contact me directly.

If you enjoy TkdTimes, please email this copy to a friend. You can help me spread the joy of tae kwon do around the world. The more of us who walk the path, the greater the journey.

Beijing 2008 Olympics -
Success or Failure?

Hopefully you had the opportunity to watch some of the Taekwondo during the just ended Beijing 2008 Olympics. The taekwondo began first thing, 9:00AM Beijing time on August 20th (9:00PM the 19th EST in the US).

Personally, I watched streaming video on my computer, stayed up way too late and lamented on the state of Olympic Taekwondo Sparring.

Why did I lament? Because I was troubled by the state of the "sport" as I saw it unfolding before my eyes.

From the very tight and difficult judging and lack of points awarded, to the lack of action during 1 minute rounds, to the self proclaimed point scores emphasized by athlete fists raised in the air to the interminable screaming (mostly by the women), I was frankly disappointed.

Then to top it off, Cuban athlete Angel Matos disagreed with the referee's call during his match and gave the poor ref a roundhouse to the head. There can be no more prominent example of poor sportsmanship than hitting a referee. No matter the sport, you never lay hands on the referee. Here is the video of the event.

A Cuban taekwondo athlete and his coach were banned for life after Angel Matos kicked the referee in the face following his bronze-medal match disqualification. Read the full story

TKDspace.com

I am half way through the purchase of a great community website that caters to taekwondo.

Make your own profile page, look through the forums, join a group and get involved. It's a lot of fun.

Taekwond News

My friend KickChick, is a member of TKDspace and the Taekwondo News Editor over at Topix. She finds a great collection of current news and events in the Taekwondo world. Check the latest TKD articles available on the web all in one place by visiting Topix.

What's Happening at
The Taekwondo Network?

Have you taken the Best Style Poll yet?

Lots of visitors to The Taekwondo Network like to share their style. I've created a poll so we can share and compare.

Take the Poll now by visiting the tae kwon do styles page and make yourself heard.

Here are the current standings:

WTF 31.6%
ITF 21.1%
ATA 14.0%
ITA 5.3%
Tang soo do 3.5%
Moo duk kwan 5.3%
Oh do kwan 7.0%
Chung do kwan 8.8%
Other 3.5%

Don't be left out.

Your Feedback

Ahn nyong ha say yo Kalynn (had to look it up, sorry). First I would like to say I am very happy with your website (tad bit heavy on the adds, but that's ok) and wanted to share something that I found that you may want to link to. It's a video walk through of all of the Tae geuk forms. They are located at the website http://www.kukkiwon.or.kr/english/index.jsp then clickTKD Information (top menu bar) then Poomsae - then Select Poomsae, and finally click on the Video tab. I find them a great addition to the diagrams you have listed.

My kids, wife, and I are currently yellow belts (taking a family class) and will be testing at the end of the month for our Orange Belts. Wish us luck!

Kam Sa Hap Ni Da,

Joe

And my response:

Joe,

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I do have a link to Kukkiwon's main page but had never seen the video there before. I have seen those particular videos on many other sites around the web, maybe I can find a way to download them.

I admire that your whole family is taking classes in taekwondo. My master has always insisted that taekwondo is a family activity and I believe he's absolutely right. Good for you and best of luck on your upcoming promotion test. Let me know how it went would you?

Regards,

Kalynn

(Joe, don't forget to let us all know how the test was!)

I think it's important to share information and opinions.So I have created an area on Taekwondo-Network whereyou can share your questions or comments with all visitors.Please visit Your Feedback and leave your story for everyone to comment on.

I will create a page on the site with your story like the ones you have read here in the past and you can get direct feedback from other taekwondoists.

As always, leave me your comments as well.

Train hard and reap the benefits.

Kam sa ham ni dah,

Kalynn