Spring Break
Student travels to Argentina for Taekwondo
Perry Robbin
Issue date: 4/17/09 Section: News
UConn student Alex Gozun is going to Argentina for the International Taekwon-do Federation (ITF) world championship in November.
To qualify, Gozun, a 10th-semester English and education major, had to win the ITF U.S. national championship in choreographed sparring. He did so by sparring his instructor, Seth Rattet, at the senior competition in South Windsor on April 4.
This is Gozun's third trip to the ITF world championships.
He said that the ITF differs from traditional taekwondo because it allows the use of hands for striking attacks. Taekwondo itself comes from Korea. It was created by General Choi Hong Hi, and was officially recognized in 1955. It is a combination of Taek Kyon, a Korean martial art, and Shotokan karate, originating from Japan.
"It took three months from coming up with it to competing with it," Gozun said of the work involved in choreographed sparring.
Gozun pointed out that the planning took place with the benefit of both him and his partner having black belts in the art.
"The foundation and experience were already there," he said.
Choreographed sparring, also called step and pre-arranged sparring, is cooperative, as opposed to the intra-competitive nature of free sparring, according to ITF affiliate Queens taekwondo center's Web site.
The goal of choreographed sparring is to present techniques of taekwondo. Gozun said it is similar to a dance routine, but with punches and kicks.
"You get your cuts and bruises," said Gozun.
Participants from all over the U.S. came to South Windsor to vie for the championship. Some of the competitions included choreographed and free sparring, breaking and forms, or the demonstration of techniques.
Gozun's favorite aspects of competition include specialty and power breaking. Power breaking attempts to break as many boards as possible, while specialty breaking involves spectacular flying kicks. Participants have to jump over a hurdle and break boards with aerial techniques.
To qualify, Gozun, a 10th-semester English and education major, had to win the ITF U.S. national championship in choreographed sparring. He did so by sparring his instructor, Seth Rattet, at the senior competition in South Windsor on April 4.
This is Gozun's third trip to the ITF world championships.
He said that the ITF differs from traditional taekwondo because it allows the use of hands for striking attacks. Taekwondo itself comes from Korea. It was created by General Choi Hong Hi, and was officially recognized in 1955. It is a combination of Taek Kyon, a Korean martial art, and Shotokan karate, originating from Japan.
"It took three months from coming up with it to competing with it," Gozun said of the work involved in choreographed sparring.
Gozun pointed out that the planning took place with the benefit of both him and his partner having black belts in the art.
"The foundation and experience were already there," he said.
Choreographed sparring, also called step and pre-arranged sparring, is cooperative, as opposed to the intra-competitive nature of free sparring, according to ITF affiliate Queens taekwondo center's Web site.
The goal of choreographed sparring is to present techniques of taekwondo. Gozun said it is similar to a dance routine, but with punches and kicks.
"You get your cuts and bruises," said Gozun.
Participants from all over the U.S. came to South Windsor to vie for the championship. Some of the competitions included choreographed and free sparring, breaking and forms, or the demonstration of techniques.
Gozun's favorite aspects of competition include specialty and power breaking. Power breaking attempts to break as many boards as possible, while specialty breaking involves spectacular flying kicks. Participants have to jump over a hurdle and break boards with aerial techniques.
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