By Ochiaka Ugwu
Korean Cultural Centre in Nigeria (KCCN) has held graduating ceremony for its Taekwondo students with many being promoted to the next belt.
Speaking during the event in Abuja Wednesday, Head Coach of KCCN Taekwondo Department, Coach Gbolohan Ogunmuyiwa said it was the 10th graduation ceremony for Korean Cultural Centre in Nigeria Taekwondo students that enrolled for the third term.
He said they have been training for three months and proven their worth which led to the ceremony.
For the students that were promoted to the next belt, Coach Ogunmuyiwa said promotion in Taekwondo was based on consistency and training, the rate you comprehend the skills taught and above all, character.
Ogunmuyiwa who informed of having roughly 140 students who train for the entire term said the whole thing revolves around character which was the baseline.
He noted that in upholding character, five tenets of Taekwondo must be observed which were Courtesy, integrity, perseverance, Self-Control and Indomitable Spirit.
Ogunmuyiwa spoke of embarking on competition which he said brings out the best on the practitioners and shows the level of their comprehension of the skills.
Preye Madaki, a civil servant and parent of one of the graduating children said she enrolled her children to enable them acquire self-defense mechanism, discipline, confidence and right choices and better character.
Madaki said to ensure that the kids don’t use it for the wrong reasons like intimidating others, she was always in the practice of cautioning them on good conduct.
She advised other parents to enroll their children in the Taekwondo sport with the aim of building their confidence and self-worth.
Madaki thanked Korean Cultural Centre in Nigeria for putting the sporting activity together saying that it has greatly impacted on the children positively.
Okpozu Otse who was a Businessman and a parent said he was pushed to enroll his child to make him have focused life that would guide him in life’s journey.
Otse said the urge was to make them have a direction that would make them achieve a particular task, set goals and build his person to face challenges as they come.
He said he had employed constant advise in making sure his son does not use his Taekwondo practice to bully others as it was never meant for that.
Otse was very thankful to Korean Cultural Centre in Nigeria for the initiative and for providing conducive learning environment and space for the kids to train and build themselves.
One of the graduating Taekwondo practitioners and 13-Year-Old Student of Noble Height Academy, Karu, Lawal Barkindo who was promoted from Red belt to Black said he felt great for being recognized and happy that his effort had paid off at last.
He said he would use his act for self defense and to protect others that were in need.
Barkindo thanked Korean Cultural Centre in Nigeria for providing a formidable platform for learning Taekwondo saying that he can only stop learning when his legs tell him to do so.
