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Times Advocate, 1992-10-14, Page 13Martial Arts ii.Hawks host Irish Friday night 8;30 p.m. Tae Kwon Do gaining popularity Story and photos By Fred Groves T -A dtaf EXETER - Imagine jumping straight up in the air, spinning com- pletely around and de- livering a quick and forceful kick. For Sai Visouvath this is a fairly easy accomplishment but it has tak- en years of practice to master his form of martial arts, Tae Kwon Do. Visouvath has studied different forms of martial ars including a few years with Ron Tyndall who has a karate school in Exeter, but Visouvath seems to be best schooled in Tac Kwon Do. "I've been involved in martial arts for nine years, starting with judo. I didn't like that style," he said before putting his class at the Exeter Lions Youth Centre through their warmup exercises. Tae Kwon Do is quickly gaining recognition on a world wide basis as it has been a demonstration sport at both the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games. Visouvath's instructor, Marcia King of London, won a silver med- al in Tae Kwon Do in Barcelona this summer. They are both trained by third degree black belt Don Ma- cellan. Although Tae Kwon Do and ka- rate have a great deal in common, like respect for the higher level belts and self discipline, there is one major difference. Visouvath explained that Tae Kwon Do is primarily self defence through kicks while karate utilizes mostly punches in its training. "The difference is karate is more punching and doesn't have a lot of kicks. I found after learning both arts, in karate you don't get as much power in your kicks." Visouvath is small in stature but quick and powerful, a perfect com- bination for Tac Kwon Do. His first form of martial arts, judo was not to his liking. "Judo is more like wrestling and I'm a small person. You have the advantage if you're big." Tae Kwon Doss an ancient Kore- an art of self defence. Translated literally, it means the art. of hand and foot fighting and began when Korean ancestors established tribal states which held religious festivals where they prayed for unity and prosperity. It developed into a systematic martial art and was practiced by warriors. It continued to be popular as a sport as well as a martial art and competitions were widespread. Hapkido, a discipline within Tae Kwon Do, is more of a style of self defence in which you defend your - Self and try to get away from the Situation. Those who study Tac Kwon Do pel that since the leg is longer thaws. dee arm, it is more powerful and drat is what they base their methods of self defence upon. There are several variations to the kleks including the scissor kick in which the student jumps straight up and comes down quick, kicking with both legs, therefore able to de- fend against two opponents. Another is the 360 degree back kick, one of Visouvath's specialties in which he jumps in the air and spins completely around before de- livering a kick. This catches the op- ponent by surprise. Like karate, Tae Kwon Do has a belt grading format. All new stu- dents began as white belts and progress to the honoured black belt. Visouvath, a first degree black belt, said there is a different varia- tion to the grading in that, there is a sort of probation period before ad- vancing to the next belt. For example, a student would re- ceive a yellow stripe before a yel- low belt. "The reason we have a stripe be- tween is to sec if you're ready for the next belt." This is the second year that Tac Kwon Do classes have been held at the Youth Centre. Those wishing to join can attend the classes on Wednesdays and Thursdays begin- ning at 6:30 p.m. Tae Kwon Do instructor Sai Visouvath put his class through their drills on Thursday at the Li- ons Youth Center in Exeter. 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"It's a tough thing for the guys to get used to me. If I see them do- ing something wrong, 111 tell them,” he said after Friday's win over the North Middlesex Stars. Mudge, an -Ingersoll native, who now resides in Hensall with his wire and children, is primarily the Hawks defensive coach as he will spend most of his time with the blueliners. Watching the warmup Friday he wasn't very happy with what he saw and quickly made the players aware of it. "There was no effort, no one had a sweat on. You can lose 10 games a year without being ready in the first five minutes." The Hawks must have listened to Mudge because they scored four goals in the first period en route to their home opener win over the Stars. Mudge is a veteran of the junior hockey circuit having spent five Iohg years playing Junior 'B'. He was with Tillsonhurg for two years before three more years as a defenseman with the Strathroy Blades. During his time with the Blades he made a very bold move and went to Peterbourgh, uninvited, walked on to the ice and was look- ing for a job with thc Major 'A' Petes. What was surprising was he got it, Although Mudge spent the training camp and just 14 regular sea- son games with the Peres he did enjoy thc experience and says hockey has been a big part of his life. "I met a lot of people in hockey, there's not a lot of towns 1 go into without knowing someone," he said. And was he disappointed in not being drafted by the Petes or any other Major 'A' team? Was he disappointed in not taking a shot at maybe even pro hockey? "1 think every kid playing Junior 'B' when they are 15 is looking to get drafted. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't -disappointed," he said. Mudge brings with him an interesting philosophy to the rink, one that this writer wouldn't mind seeing a few more coaches adopt. He said he was the type of player who got his job done and had fun do- ing it. "When you come to the rink have fun, you're. only here for two - and -a -half hours." Play the game for fun, make a few friends, enjoy the social part of being a team member; all these are ingredients which Mudge feels can make up a successful player. , But don't get this guy wrong, he doesn't like to be on the short end of the scoreboard. "Anyone who tells me that winning isn't everything has never won.". Mudge is very pleased with the Exeter Hawks defensmen this year, veterans Jamie Cornish and Nathan Blight; Larry Lewis who is expected back this week and rookies Kevin Tate and from the Ex- eter Minor Hockey Association, Mark Lynn and Jason McBride. Just a closing note, Cornish had a busy week as he played a game with the St. Marys Junior 'B' Lincolns and back-to-back contests with the Hawks. Don't be surprised to see him in a few more games with the Lincolns. leisidelines by Fred (; roves Paul Henderson, will be visiting the area again on Oct. 28 when the ex -Toronto Maple Leaf will be at Oakwood Inn near Grand Bend for the Grand Bend Rotary Club's first annual Celebrity Din- ner. Henderson is the honourary chairman of the United Way and will speak about his career including scoring the winning goal in the 1972 Canada -Russia series. Other celebrities for the event include Al Morrow, coach of the Canadian Olympic rowing teams, Marnie McBean, gold medalist in paris and eights and Leslie Thompson coxswain of the women's eights. Other guests include Marcia King. 'silver medalist in Tai Kwon Do at the Barcelona Olympics; Mane Clair Ross, four -medal win- ner in swimming and her sister Jessie who was fifth in the 100 - metre backstroke at the Para -Olympics. The Rotary Club will also honour outstanding academic students from both South Huron and North Middlesex high schools. Proceeds from the $50 -a -ticket dinner will go to the new Huron United Way campaign and supporters will receive a tax -deduction receipt for a portion of the cosi 1 „( .. ._ MIN •r .�,. mons ...... 011.4. • —_= __ --- MM. II= IA. • mom me •, NY In r.- • r11 1 S' 110•1111111111••••••-•••1111- --rte _es�af - = r – �' �r - �' W 1 �L ��ca•� COU hTRY rLOWuS` i''4*rt • '=. ,.,' • •••_ ,)t is ,' •' rV -r • INN �0 0 Ir kti k i - as OWN a• 1.;744:1611r.A la k Bosses Day October 1.6 Specith FTD "Thanks a Bunch Arrangement $28.95 FTD "Hug a Mug" $24.95 Fruit and Candy Baskets Balloon Bouquets Loose Cut Bouquets $10.00 & up and much more Enter our Appreciation Bonus Draw... A unique grapevine basket overflowing with fresh English ivy and silk accents. tWe Its $26.0Q & up $16.00 & up 35235O