By Ochiaka Ugwu
Korean Cultural Centre in Nigeria (KCCN) has graduated 29 students in its second term Taekwondo training session employing world class training in Abuja Friday.
Trainees were promoted to the next belt which shows an advancement in skill, character and knowledge, marked by the rewarding of some students who proved proficiency in the various aspects of the art.
Head Coach of KCCN Taekwondo Department, Coach Gbolohan Ogunmuyiwa said the event was a Week-Long-Program which saw the graduation of 29 students with some rewarded for showing great brilliance in the art.
According him, “It is a week-long-program, because we had a graduation ceremony for all students that took part in Korean Cultural Centre, Nigeria second term Taekwondo training session.
“The session started May and today, we are rounding off. It is an 11-Week-Long event and students had gone through a lot of training, instructions based on the syllabus we are using. We have children section which is between age five to 16 and adult class which is from 17 years and above. We rounded off the class with promotion, reward for those who are outstanding. We used it to know ourselves better.
“We had 29 students that graduated today. They went into different cadre. We have Black belt, Red, Bronw, Blue and Yellow. Students were promoted based on their performances.
“Taekwondo is really developing in Nigeria. We choose some of the best to engage in a demonstration fight and they put up a good performance. Some of them are going for the World Taekwondo Cadet Championship that would be hosted by Nigeria in August. Naija Open is another global Taekwondo tournament coming up in September.
“Our students are going to participate in these tournaments and it shows KCCN is doing well in breeding new Taekwondo generation in Nigeria.
“Mind training is an aspect of Taekwondo that one had to meditate, ruminate and reflect on certain things. There is an adage that says, “Thinkers rule the world”. It means that there comes a time that you must sit down to plan on how you can make progress in whatever you have chosen to do. A kind of quiet time to assess the situation with the intent of improving on it.
“Korea Cultural Centre has been promoting Taekwondo in Nigeria for the past 15 years and it is doing more, but we need more government recognition in what we have been doing. KCCN is the chief sponsor of Taekwondo in Nigeria. Every year, we organize the Korean Ambassador’s Cup, Coaches’ Seminar. KCCN has invested greatly in Taekwondo promotion in Nigeria and deserves government recognition.
“Those inspiring to learn Taekwondo should go to the right place and get the right training that will illuminate their mind. You must learn under the right person to thrive” he said.
One of the graduating trainees, Mobolaji Adepoju, an engineering student of Nile University, Abuja said he has always been interested in martial art and decided to get involved in something more structured like Taekwondo.
He said he felt accomplished given the training and the effort he put into the art made him to get promoted to the next class.
Adepoju said that consistency and commitment which made him not missing any class greatly influenced his success.
“Taekwondo combines mental with physical and gives a kind of balance that confidence that will enable you take care of yourself in any situation” he said.
He hailed KCCN for putting up the Taekwondo program which he said is deepening Taekwondo culture in Nigeria.
Another trainee, Yesmin Aliyu said the values of Taekwondo sport resonate with her especially the act of self-control, consistence that ensures you get better.
While she advocated for more Taekwondo awareness in Nigeria saying much has not been done in developing the sport in the nation, she thanked KCCN for giving her the opportunity to learn Taekwondo which had made her better.
However, people were thrilled by Taekwondo students’ demonstration of exceptional discipline, hard work, and skill.
They were promoted to various belt levels, marking a significant milestone in their Taekwondo voyage with all thanking KCCN for doing exceptionally well in promoting Taekwondo culture in Nigeria.
