By Lesroy W. Williams Observer Reporter
lesroywilliams@thestkittsnevisobserver.com (Basseterre, St. Kitts) ” This place is not just about feet and fists. It’s about building a better life. The second United Taekwondo Camp kicked off at the Washington Archibald High School on August 6 under the theme, “Kicking Drugs, Crime and Violence out of the Minds of our Youths”. The camp will run until August 20. The 40 campers, ages 5-14, are under the guidance of Lyndon and Lincoln David (black belts), senior instructors, and assisted by Vance Bridgewater (black belt) and Vanessa Collins (red belt). Taekwondo, according to Webster’s Dictionary, is a “Korean art of unarmed self-defense characterized especially by the extensive use of kicks.” Apart from learning basic taekwondo skills, the youngsters are learning about positive attitudes and approaches to developing life skills. The youngsters have a packed program where everyday they are instructed in some aspect of living positively. Topics include eating properly and the importance of saving, respect, moral behavior, avoiding the wrong company and obedience. On Friday August 8, Taiwanese Ambassador to the Federation of St. Kitts/Nevis, Rong Chuan Wu visited the camp and gave a motivational speech to the youngsters. He encouraged the youngsters to contribute positively toward the development of their country and to take responsibility for their personal growth and development. He said that to achieve this end they can use what he called the 3 C’s”namely curiosity, congeniality and competitiveness. He described curiosity as the interest that one shows in acquiring knowledge in order to understand the world in which one lives through study and the use of technology. Congeniality he said is important for young people to develop so that it can enhance their relationships with each other. Competitiveness is important in today’s world and young people should develop healthy competitiveness by aspiring to the highest ideals, the Ambassador said. The Ambassador told the young campers that life is bright and their future is full of hope. He told them that before he joined the diplomatic corps he was a policeman and that he has a black belt in judo. According to the Ambassador, the difference between Taekwondo and Judo is that the former is offensive in its technique and the latter is defensive. Taekwondo became an official Olympic Sport in 1980. Vanessa Collins, one of the instructors at the camp, said that the theme of the camp was chosen because of what is going on in the Federation with respect to crime and violence. She emphasized that that is why it is important to teach the young ones positive approaches to positive living and techniques in “kicking out” drugs, crime and violence.
