Taekwon-Do: Making strides for SVG

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Taekwondo Association (SVGTA) recently participated in the 1st continental Grenada Taekwondo tournament, symposium and training camp which was held from July 21 to 28.{{more}}

The event was facilitated by Master Kevin Gay, a Vincentian living in England, and John Webster. Gay is the reigning world and European International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) champion.

With participants drawn from various countries within the region, the event was held in conjunction with the St. George’s University.

Team SVG comprised 5 males: – Keithron Malcomb, Jesse Huggins, Jerron James, Jad King and Delroy Gaymes- and 2 females:-Delrine Gaymes and Dasreen Primus. The team was coached and managed by Glenroy Gaymes who is the current President of the SVGTA.

Keithron Malcomb fought in the seniors division and was awarded the 2nd place trophy; he was also awarded the 3rd place trophy for participation in the poomse/pattern category. Jerron James fought in the intermediate division and was awarded the 3rd place trophy. Jesse Huggins who also fought in the intermediate division was awarded the best spirited fighter. Jad King fought in the junior boys division and was awarded the 3rd place trophy; he was also awarded the 3rd place trophy for participation in the poomse/pattern category. Delroy Gaymes fought in the pewee division and was awarded the 1st place trophy. Delrine Gaymes who was deemed the best spirited female fighter fought in the junior girls division and was awarded the 2nd place trophy; she was also awarded the 3rd place trophy for her participation in the poomse/pattern category. Dasreen Primus fought in the female senior division and was awarded the 1st place trophy.

The SVGTA has long carried the flag of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to all corners of the globe since it was first brought to our country by the late Kernel Abbott Foster Maloney. Once again The SVGTA will carry the Vincentian flag, this time to Singapore, along with a team of other athletes and members of the NOC to the 1st youth Olympic which is scheduled to take place from August 10 -29, 2010.

The SGVTA has also announced that there have been some recent Dan (black belt) promotions that were done by Grandmaster William Sullivan of the USA. Glenroy Gaymes was promoted to 4th Dan, along with Otto Raguette, Vanburn Harry was promoted to 3rd Dan and Dasreen Primus was promoted to 1st Dan.

Taekwondo is the Korean martial art of self defense, tae means “to strike or break with foot”; kwon means “to strike or break with fist”; and do means “way,” “method,” or “art. Therefore, taekwondo can be loosely translated to mean “the art of kicking and punching”.

The art was brought to St. Vincent and the Grenadines by the late Kernel Abbott Foster Maloney in 1977 and has been an Olympic event since 2000.