Setting the standard.

Standard in ITF Taekwon-Do is everything, to me anyway, and I'm sure to many other TKDists out there in the real world.

Standard was something that I got a good old gander at, at the weekend. We went to the IUTF International Irish championships. The tournament is very good every year, this year the standard of Taekwon-Do competitor at it was the highest I've seen in a long time in Ireland.

The tournment itself was huge, winning at this tournament doesn't come easy. My guys did exceptionally well, most medalling. They all did us proud as usual.

Winning a TKD bout is tough, winning it with style and with that unique ITF agility and speed is even tougher. For me it is such a pleasure to watch stylish Taekwon-Do competitors, well trained, fast as hell and as tactical as they come.

Marauding and swinging your arms everywhere as if punching, isn't nice to look at and undermines our sports credibility on the world stage. Bombing and charging around the ring belongs in the WWE.

With that my hat goes well and truly off to the Dutch team the Croats and the Italians that were present at the championships. These guys and girls were hot stuff. Inspiring.

With that, I found myself asking. What makes these guys tick? What gives them the edge? What is their mindset towards training?

Mindset, this is the key. I remember Tomaz Barada telling us that his juniors train with him 12 times a week... twelve times!

Mindset, mindset, mindset... I want to know how these people think!

We struggle in Ireland to produce such quality in most major sports. I blame the government, their lack of interest in amateur sports in this country is despicable. I also blame the USA, their imposing cultural imperialism through brain washing TV has produced a generation of Zoe 101ers, Christina Aguellera (whatever you call her) and Britney Spears wannabes, I also blame the makers of Xbox and bebo. Gulags for the lot of them.

The Soviets got many things wrong, but if they got anything right it was their approach to sports, they cultivated athletes from a young age, they had sports schools and provided financial assistance to all state run sports academies.

Ah maybe i'm being bitter, but the attitude to amateur sports here in Ireland, excluding the GAA of course, is below par.

I want to know what is the missing link? What makes the Dutch so good? What makes the Italians so stylish? What makes the Polish world champions time and time again. What made Paul Germaine so good? What made Tomaz Barada the best ever?

We've a long way to go, but I'm confident, our guys can win and win in style, but they need to have that mindset to be the best, when you wake up in the morning you are numero uno, when you go to bed you are numero uno. Unless you create that mindset for yourself, skill and tactics go out the window.

One of the answers is experience of course. The more you compete the more confident you become, and Ireland does have exceptional Taekwon-Do competitors.

Anyway enough rambling, I'm inspired again and I like people who inspire me, they are few and far between. So again, to all you top class stylish Taekwon-Do and kickboxing people out there..I bow down. Keep up the good work, I may need inspiring again at some point... soon!

Pic - Silvia Farigu of Italy. One of the best in the world.