Taekwondo Canada nationals bring big turnout, energy to Halifax

Last week’s national taekwondo championships in Halifax attracted the most fans to the event in six years, said the head of the sport’s national body.

The Taekwondo Canada National Championships took place in Halifax from Feb. 5 to 7, drawing huge attendance and memories. The city’s convention centre was filled with athletes, coaches and spectators who brought the centre to life with their cheering. 

The event attracts competitors across all categories of the sport. Athletes qualify through provincial championships and sanctioned tournaments, meeting specific point thresholds (kyorugi) or technical requirements (poomsae) set by their provincial associations.

Taekwondo Canada executive director Dave Harris spoke to the Signal during the tournament.

“This is our highest attended national championship in six years. Halifax and Taekwondo Nova Scotia did a tremendous job,” said Harris. 

Harris also attributed the success of the tournament to the growth in taekwondo across Canada. 

“We’re seeing an increase across the country, an increase in athletes at the young levels before they get to the black belt level. We’re very excited. We have 735 athletes and coaches here this weekend. So, it’s very big for us and we’re really, really pleased with the turnout.”

One of those athletes is Ethan Hinch, 20, a Nova Scotia athlete who participated in the 63-kg senior division at the tournament. 

He started taekwondo when he was four years old and living in British Columbia. 

This was also Hinch’s first time at the Taekwondo Canada National Championships. It was an experience he will never forget, despite losing his match.

“I would say there’s some things I would like to work on for the next time I do this, but if I work at it I think I can do that. I definitely need to work on my flexibility without a doubt.”

Hinch’s journey in taekwondo has always been about adapting. His mother is in the military and their family have had to move across the country to different provinces throughout his life. Hinch even quit the sport in his last year of high school.

“I wasn’t really doing well in taekwondo, so  I ended up leaving the sport for a couple years. When I first got to Nova Scotia, I went to Dragonz Martial Artz, where I met a coach who helped me get back into the sport. He used to coach me up until last May when I joined a different type of school.”

Hinch now trains at Woo Yong’s Taekwondo Academy with Woo Yong Jung, a decorated martial artist who won a bronze medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics for Canada and went on to coach the Canadian national team from 2003-2010 that won a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The coach had his licence suspended briefly in 2018 for an alleged disciplinary incident that was investigated with no charges laid.

Jung spoke with The Signal about his experience and joy of coaching the next generation. 

“It’s not just about the technicalities and physical improvement, they are learning about life. They’re getting taught about patience and other human skills that apply to multiple areas of their life. To me, everybody has a different lifestyle, but teaching and coaching the next generation is a big part of my life and it’s very important.”

Jung also shared his advice to those looking at pursuing taekwondo.

“The most important thing is to learn proper basics, stepping and kicking, the fundamental skills. That’s important,” said Jung.