By Shahrizan Jefri Aziz
SHAH ALAM: She may only be nine years old but the confidence she exudes as she enters the ring to face her opponent belies her age.
Looking very focused, Nur Irish Qistina Azli does her level best to win the match even if it is just a training session.
This is her routine thrice a week at the Koryo Taekwondo Gymnasium Club in Setia Alam here, where she is attending taekwondo classes.
Nur Irish Qistina, who has been learning the martial art since she was five years old, has so far won 20 gold medals at various taekwondo championships throughout Malaysia and she aspires to represent the nation in this sport someday.
Her agility makes it hard for her opponent to attack her. Not only that, but she is also creative and rather adept when it comes to throwing a kick or two and is quick to detect her opponent’s weaknesses.
She is also quite an expert in using the ‘chopping kick’ to force her challenger into a stalemate.
(The chopping kick or axe kick is a kick in which the kicking leg is held straight and kicked upward, then brought down forcefully on the target, with the heel usually hitting the opponent’s head or shoulder.)
Nur Irish Qistina said she became interested in taekwondo after watching her older brother training and participating in various taekwondo competitions.
Positive elements
Nur Irish Qistina is among the growing number of children and youths who are taking up taekwondo to not only master self-defence skills and become more agile but also pick up positive traits like patience, courage and confidence.
Koryo Taekwondo Gymnasium Club trainer Sharizman Riduan said every taekwondo student has to learn Taeguk, a combination of block and attack techniques, before participating in Kyorugi or sparring sessions.
The student has to go through eight stages in order to gain a black belt.
“Starting with the white belt, the student goes on to the yellow, green, blue, red and black belt (the highest stage). Each student must pass a test in order to move up to the next belt to show that they have mastered the necessary skills to be upgraded to the next stage,” Sharizman told Bernama, adding that dedicated and committed learners can earn the black belt within three-and-a-half years.
He said the best age for children to start learning taekwondo is five.
“They stand to benefit from taking up this sport as physical activities will become routine for them and they will also become more focused and disciplined, as well as learn to take orders.”
Sharizman, who has been involved in taekwondo for 27 years, said girls are encouraged to take up this martial art as they can use the techniques they have learnt to defend themselves should the situation warrant it.
Stay focused
Nur Irish Qistina’s father Azli Nasri, 39, meanwhile said he supported his children’s interest in taekwondo and would make sure that they do not miss their training sessions.
He would also encourage them to try out new skills or techniques and participate in competitions to gain experience.
“I also urge them to use all the knowledge they have gained from their trainer to the maximum and to focus on their training. Since they have a lot of interest in taekwondo, I want to see them advancing in this sport,” he added.
Seventeen-year-old Muhammad Haikal Hishamudden, 17, who also attends taekwondo training at the same venue, said two elements — discipline and healthy lifestyle — have become important in his daily life.
The teenager, who started learning taekwondo when he was nine, said: “It teaches us to move fast and to think sharply and creatively. And every effort I put in proves worthwhile when I win a gold medal at a national-level competition.”
National taekwondo athlete Nur Amirah Amir, 18, said she started learning taekwondo at the age of five as she was influenced by her older brothers who were active in the sport.
“To participate in sparring, one has to be disciplined and keep practising, as well as listen to the advice of our trainer,” she said.
Nur Amirah, who has represented Malaysia in taekwondo events in South Korea and Thailand, undergoes group training twice a week at the Koryo Taekwondo Gymnasium Club and trains with the national squad for an hour every day.
She is now aiming to make the cut for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
“Soon I will be undergoing training for selection to the Tokyo Olympics. For now, that’s my aim,” said Nur Amirah, who is an assistant taekwondo trainer at the Koryo Taekwondo Gymnasium Club. – Bernama
