Studying again & Korea Test Event

WOW The last week has been so busy and can you believe it after 6 years of uni study I am back into the books!! This time however at tafe. I have now got a scholarship with William Angliss Institute in Melbourne. I am studying full time in an Advanced Diploma of Tourim Management course (specialising in Sales/Marketing/Promotions)! In one week I think I have seen more of Melbourne than I have in the whole 4 years I have been here. My course has taken me to various attractions, workplaces and great beaches:) I have travelled on a ferry (with the dolphins swimming by), rode the puffing billy and visited some....less know places, like Drysdale! (You could call me ignorant;) but when your involoved in a world of taekwondo all you know is where to go to training and how get home:))

Now that I have completed my first week internal I can now study flexibly because of my hectic training and travelling schedule. Next week, 8 of us are heading over to South Korea for the electronic protector test competition (OLympic Weights). To my knowledge at least 20 countries are participating, some of which include: China, Korea, Taipei, Turkey, Japan, Russia, Mexico, Phillipeans, Greece, Italy, France and Spain. The electronic protector taekwondo event is very important for the WTF as it will determine, after the test event, whether to use the electronic protector system at the upcoming 2007 World Taekwondo Championships and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

After this event, other aussie members will join us to train and then we will head to Europe for some of the Opens (Dutch/German). I will keep you posted on the weekly events and happenings!!!!! Wish us luck!

Korea Protector Comp (www.wtf.org)

GIRL Team:
Jasmine Branca (-49kgs)
Kylie Treadwell (-57kgs)
Tina Morgan (-67kg)
Katrina I (+67kg)

BOY TEAM
Ryan Carneli (-58kgs)
Safwan K (-68kgs)
Burak Hassan (-80kgs)
Adam Underwood (+80kgs)

Coach: Daniel Trenton

ONe Step closer to another DREAM FULFILLED.....

Thanks Tony for everything!
My gorgeous AFL (Hawthorn) vest! (hehe)...It Kept me cool!
Kylie, Kristy and I after winning
Before my last fight with Caroline!

We had the World Champ selections in Sydney last weekend. I fought the Welter category again, 63 - 67kgs. It was a successful day and even though I didn't show my true fighting self, I did what it took to win against Carmen Marton 3 fights - 0. Having secured my place on the team, I can now focus on achieving my goals at the World Champs - China in May.

GOALS:

1) PERFORM WELL ON THE DAY - (bringing out the good stuff!)
2) ENJOY THE MOMENTS IN THE RING AND OFF
3) & lAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST....WIN GOLD!:) Thats a dream needing to be fulfilled!

Attached are some photos from the day that just past. The AFL vests were sponsored to us from the Hawthorn Football team, so I thank them and Tony Hewitt for all his Support that day and in the lead up. Also to Caroline Bartaseky, a good friend of mine, former Olympic Athlete, and qualified Psychologist! I wish she was still fighting and on the team but I can't have everything I want, so I want to say a huge thanks to her for coming and giving her support, it made me so happy!

The Heat Takes its Toll!

I have been a bit slack reporting things that have happened because I don’t have internet at home just yet, and sitting in the car, down the road, using my internet in this heat isn’t exactly pleasant for me! Melbourne has been unbelievably hot of late, (36 degrees+) and training in the South Melbourne Hall has really put us all under pressure physically. But of course as athletes we must adjust in these uncomfortable circumstances so that in competition everything will, insallah, come naturally and good for us. Either way I look at it, Ruth and I can’t complain at training because it is actually cooler there than our rooms in our house. Our fans were working overtime that day a 1/3rd of the power went out in Melbourne…..and it was because of our fans, Melbourne went without power! SORRY MELBOURNE BUT MY ROOM is a SAUNA!!!! If you think its hot outside….my room is hotter!!!!! WALLA BILLA!!!!!!!!!!:))))

This week is Australian Open week. And I definitely took the time out to go watch Roger in action. J He is so inspiring!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Every time I watch him I learn more about, “the game of an athlete” and how one athlete can execute a game to perfection. I stayed at the open most of the day and followed Roger’s match with Wayne Arthurs (what a champ) and Martina Hingis with her partner (Kelly Osborne???) hehe .

Back to business and its 2 weeks till the selectionsJ Training has been intense, fun and all about getting everything fine tuned. The plunge pools have been the highlight of my weeks!!! I’m looking forward to hitting the matt and taking up the challenges!

NEw home

Do you think this couch will make it up the stairs....??
hmmm I guess not today!

The taekwondo gang now have a new home in Ascot Vale Melbourne. The house is pretty cool, its very very big and looks very much like the Brady Bunch home. There are 6 bedroom, 2 balconys and an overgrowing garden. We still have alot of things to move in and are waiting for the TV's to come....I never realised how much I missed tv until now:)/...Actually I think I am just missing watching tennis on tv ... January is a great month to watch it. ROgggggggggggggggggggeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrr! I;m his biggest fan...and will def be at the Australian Open this year to see him play! Well I am getting off the topic of our new home, soooooooooooooooooooooooo ...once everything is set up Ill you tube it on here! I love my new room! It has an awsome view of the city !

We have been trying to move this couch into my room. It is so much heavier than it looks! ....We still havent managed to get it up the stiars!!!!! We will prevail!!!

Three weeks to go till selections!!!!!!! And counting down:)

2007 ...World Champs...Olympic Selections...Its all Happening!

HAppy New Year everyone! I hope you guys are happy to see the new year and embrace all the obstacles to come as much as I am:) I'm back in Melbourne and already back into training for the World champ selections! Only a month to go so looking forward to that : Smash Day Feb4 in Sydney:)
Insallah all goes well and I win the comp and then the World Title in Beijing! One step at a time:) I'll be fighting Welter Weight (63-67kgs) again so it will be nice to back up my last World performance.

Anyways.........I have to get ready for another day of hard training! Till Next time!

xxx

XMAS 2006

That time of Year AGain

Well the last few days I've been in bed with a silly tummy bug and on friday/saturday with bruised hip because someone mistook my shiny, casper like white leg for a bright red, cant miss the target- its so big, chest guard....hmm I think they just believe they're fighting a kick boxing class....everyday! .....Anyways just hours before christmas I'm starting to feel a whole lot better and I can actually walk again normally! I'm now back in Perth with my family and enjoying the festive season and the plus 30 degree weather. Can't wait to see what Santa brings:) Above is me sending kisses to someone very special.

Genius

I’ve been back in Melbourne for a little over a week now. I’m not so glad to have left the AIS because I did enjoy just waking up and WALKING to training sessions...- not having to cook, not having to clean dishes and basically I just loved being a full time athlete round the clock …but on the other hand I’m glad to be back in Melbourne and back to civilization.

At the moment I am preparing for the World Champ selections in February 07. ……That’s only 57 sleeps away!....and with Christmas just round the corner there is heaps on work (taekwondo) still to be done.

I saw a masseur at VIS today and let me tell you the one word to describe them, "genius"!!! With only 20 minutes treatment I feel like I have a new back! I can’t wait to see how my whole body shapes up after a month of work! I have the feeling my legs will be go-go-gadget again. I’ll have the flexibility/range of a 17 year old and the experience of a 24 yr old. Hmmm it’s a dangerous combination…so watch out everyone:) hehe