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ST MARTIN'S
TAEKWONDO ACADEMY
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NEWS AND EVENTS
Taekwondo has been developing with the 5000-year long history of Korea, being called by several different names in the course. In Korea, Taekwondo began as a defense martial art called "Subak" or "Taekkyon," and developed as a way of training body and mind in the ancient kingdom of Koguryo, under the name of "Sunbae." In the Shilla period, it had become the backbone of Hwarangdo that aimed at producing leaders of the country.
This is how in Taekwondo the principle of physical movements, the principle of mind training, and the principle of life become one and the same. On the other hand, the right poomsae lead to the right confrontation, which will eventually produce great destructive power
taekwondo
What is TAEKWONDO?
Taekwondo is one of the most systematic and scientific Korean traditional martial arts, that teaches more than physical fighting skills. It is a discipline that shows ways of enhancing our spirit and life through training our body and mind. Today, it has become a global sport that has gained an international reputation, and stands among the official games in the Olympics
How come we reach such a unity in Taekwondo? Taekwondo is a way of life, much like having a job, raising a family, fighting for a cause, or any one of numerous raison d'etre. What makes Taekwondo different from these is that it is an activity for survival in extremely antagonistic situations. One must always overcome the enemy that is trying to cause harm. But simply winning a fight is not enough to guarantee one's safety, because the enemy may recuperate and attack again. Moreover, there may be many other enemies than the one that was just defeated. One cannot ever feel safe unless one gains permanent peace. To attain this permanent or lasting peace, one needs unity. This is what Taekwondo aim for. Otherwise Taekwondo would be no different from any other street-fighting skills.
Taekwondo today is similar to the martial arts in other Oriental countries and shares some features with them, because in the course of its evolution it has gained many different styles that existed in the martial arts of the countries surrounding Korea, like Japan and China.
But Taekwondo is very different from many such oriental martial arts. First, physically it is very dynamic with active movements that include a mirage of foot skills. Second, the principle physical movements are in simpatico with that of the mind and life as a whole. Third, it possesses dynamic poses from another perspective.
Let's take a closer look at the meaning of the word "Tae" "Kwon" "Do." It is composed of three parts as shown in the English spelling, though it is one word in Korean. "Tae" means "foot," "leg," or "to step on"; "Kwon" means "fist," or "fight"; and "Do" means the "way" or "discipline." If we put these three parts together, we can see two important concepts behind "Tae Kwon Do".
First, Taekwondo is the right way of using Tae and Kwon 'fists and feet,' or all the parts of the body that are represented by fists and feet. Second, it is a way to control or calm down fights and keep the peace. This concept comes from the meaning of Tae Kwon 'to put fists under control' [or 'to step on fists']. Thus Taekwondo means "the right way of using all parts of the body to stop fights and help to build a better and more peaceful world."
Taekwondo can be characterized by unity: the unity of body, mind, and life, and the unity of the pose ["poomsae"] and confrontation, and cracking down. When you do Taekwondo, you should make your mind peaceful and synchronize your mind with your movements, and extend this harmony to your life and society.
Taekwondo pursues harmonious growth and improvements of life through its unique activities. This is why one could say Taekwondo is a way of life. To ultimately enable ourselves to lead more valuable lives, we would do well by finding the guiding principles deeply hidden in Taekwondo
MR.JOSEPH AZZOPARDI
Mr Joseph Azzopardi is the Founder,president,administrator and instructor of St martin's Taekwondo Academy and since 2004 have always thrived from its humble beginnings to uphold the level and standard of the academy.Due to this success SMTA is now well established and is the largest Taekwondo school in the Maltese islands with the latest addition of Chiswick house school in Kappara as a nursery for the peewee class from the age of 4years old to cadets.This have complimented SMTA Academy training schedules for Juniors,seniors and adults which have training sessions at St Martin's College facilities in Swatar.
Mr Joseph Azzopardi hold a 3rd Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo (World Taekwondo Federation - Olympic Style ) and for 2 consecutive terms served as Secretary General of the Malta Taekwondo Federation.Presently he is an official of the MTF executive committee and his main role is that of Public Relations and marketing executive.
Mr Azzopardi started martial arts at he age of 14 years in Karate 'Wado Ryu' and had his first experience of Taekwondo after having the opportunity to train with the british forces that were stationed in Malta at that time.Later on in life he continued training under Mr Stephen Formosa 4th dan and graduated in 2nd Dan black belt.
During the years he participated in the local championships and won gold in both Poomsae(Patterns) & Hosinsool (self defence).
During the local championships he also takes part either as a judge and Referee in Kyurugi Championships and have attended technical seminars both local and abroad and took part as coach and official in Ireland,Cyprus,Sicily and UK championships.
As an administrator he made sure that SMTA is now being complimented and run by a team of instructors and officials with years of experience in their specific duties and have the dedication to make SMTA a successfull academy and Taekwondo sports school for all ages from kids to adults.
MR.BRIAN SALIBA
In 1986 Brian Saliba was introduced to martial arts when he started practicing the art of Spirit Combat however, during the summer of 1987 he met some new friends from his own hometown that changed the course of his martial arts experience.
Only a year before, Taekwondo had just been introduced in Malta and overhearing his friends talk about their experiences in this new martial art, he was interested to learn more about it. Chris Vella, Stephen Camilleri and Charles Grima opened the first club in October 1987 and Brian Saliba was the first student to join in.
In 1988 he took part in the Malta Freestyle Open and lost in the final. He then won it in 1989 and 1991 respectively. In 2004 the Malta Taekwondo Federation nominated Brian for the post of National Coach in preparation for the upcoming Andorra 2005 Games of the Small States of Europe. Brian was instrumental in setting up a team to participate in such an historic event.
Another important event was when Brian participated in the WTF KHU International Training Program held in Kyung Hee University, South Korea between September and October 2008.
Today Brian Saliba, 4th Dan retains the post of National Coach and he is focusing on building a new Junior National Team so that hopefully, they will take Taekwondo to higher levels and pass it on to the new generations to come
CLUB HISTORY
St Martin's Taekwondo Academy was founded in the year 2004 by Taekwondo Instructor Joseph Azzopardi who at that time formed up a group of students made up of a few young relatives and children of friends that were very interested to start training in this Korean martial art & sport of Taekwondo..
From this humble beginning of about 12 students the number increased dramatically after a short period of time and Mr Azzopardi felt the need that in order to grow and to keep the high standards of the academy,it had to be organized to run in a professional manner and to the set criteria as established by the local sports authorative bodies. After some time SMTA was officially recognised as an official Taekwondo sports school by the local sports bodies such as the MOC,MTF & KMS.The SMTA instructors have both the recognition as instructors and also as examiners were gradings are recognised world wide through the membership of the World Taekwondo Federation from white belt to Black belt Dan level.After this professional set up Mr Azzopardi felt that there was an opportunity to introduce Taekwondo in schools as it was an ideal sport that could be practised in schools as any other sport.Eventually before embarking in a particular school the idea was immediatly welcomed by Ms Bernie Mizzi who was the St Martin's College principal at that time and from then onwards Taekwondo formed part of the ex curric activity of St Martin's College as a sport parcticed after school hours.
In 2006 to acomodate better the younger members,SMTA have established more training sessions at Chiswick house school with training sessions for cadets starting for students at the age of 4years old in an open,clean,safe and inviting environment for its students.
All SMTA Taekwondo Classes are scheduled for the convenience of our students of all age groups including children,teenagers and adults with training sessions in the afternoon and evenings.
SMTA have ongoing continuance in participation of club level, national & International competitions.Social activities,technical seminars and most of all International championships were many of our students have achieved good results and also that some of our students are now making part of the National Elite Athlete programme with the MOC.
SMTA is also proud to be a member of the Malta Taekwondo Federation,World Taekwondo Federation,European Taekwondo Union,Malta Olympic Committee and Kunsill Malta ghal l-isport.
SMTA is one of the best and largest taekwondo sport school in the maltese islands including professional instructors with many years of experience.
Imprint & Disclaimer
SMTA hereby expressly distances itself from all contents of all linked sites on the SMTA Homepage.
This declaration applies to all links on this website as we have no influence on the design & content of the linked sites & subsites.
CONTACT US
For more information regarding session times etc. kindly contact :
Mr. Joseph Azzopardi
Gsm: 99424983
e-mail: joedeazzopardi_yahoo.com
Available for Kids,Juniors & Seniors
