Fighters battle tough competition

More than 350 Taekwon-do fighters are going head to head in stiff competition to see who is the best in the 34th ITF Taekwon-Do New Zealand national championships.

The two day event is being held at the Queen Elizabeth Youth Stadium at Memorial Park today and tomorrow.


Charlotte Sun, in red, from Auckland North taking on Jahnas Barbarich from Dunedin.


Liam Corbett, in red, fighting Kurt Bagby, in blue. Both from Counties Manukau.

Organisers say competitors are far as Dunedin have come to take part in the competition.

The first ITF Taekwon-Do national championships was held in Palmerston North in 1981

Competitors range from seven-years-old to 57-years-old and from novice to world champion.

Tournament organiser Christine Young says representatives from 60 clubs are taking part in the competition.

'It's a chance for local clubs to see other black belts in actions and see New Zealand's top fighters in action.”

Christine says the competition is going well.

Many of the New Zealand representatives are competing to try and cement their place in the New Zealand team for the next world champs to be held in Italy in 2015.

Others are looking for tough competition as a build-up tournament to compete at the World Cup in Jamaica in August 2014.

Disciplines at the competition include sparring, power breaking (board breaking), special techniques, patterns and team events.


Elizabeth Martin from SCTA, in blue, fighting Ashley Porter from Counties Manukau in red.

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