Martial arts Scotland squad joy for talented taekwondo teen duo
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TWO members of a Buckie taekwondo club have earned places in the Scotland squad for next year's European Championships.
Buckie Tae Kwondo School students Callan Taylor (18) and Mia Croall (14), who hails from Inverness will be boarding the plane to Porec, Croatia for the ITF European Championships which are due to run from April 26 to May 1. The talented youngsters earned the right to represent their country at a selection event held at Ravenscraig.
A gruelling test of their skills awaits.
Callan has been selected for senior male individual special technique. This event requires Callan kicking 5 targets with different flying kicks.
The qualifying heights of the targets vary from 140cm for the flying side kick, up to 260cm for the jumping over head kick.
Mia will compete in 1st degree junior patterns.
This event is where competitors are asked to perform complex sequences of attacking and blocking techniques. There are a total of 12 different patterns, or 'Tul' that have to be perfected (nine colour belt and three for 1st degree black belt), in each round competitors are asked to perform two of these which are selected at random, one of which will always be a blackbelt pattern.
Mia is also waiting for confirmation of selection for junior female Special Technique in which three targets are required to be kicked. For junior female, starting heights of 110cm up to 210cm have to be hit.
One of those delighted for the duo and the school's double contribution to the Scotland team is Katja Hansen, a 5th degree who has been teaching ITF Taekwon-do in Buckie since 1993.
She said: "This is their debut with the national team.
I am delighted for them, they have worked incredibly hard and dedicated so much time to their training. I am incredibly proud and excited for them both.
"There is still work to be done, we have four months to continue to improve before heading to Croatia.
"When they step on the mats to compete I want them to feel as confident as possible and have no doubts about their abilities to perform. Without doubt, mental preparation is as important as physical preparation.
"I'm currently the head sparring coach for the National Team, and along with assistant sparring coach Steven Thain (3rd degree, Keith Martial Arts,) we coach the national sparring competitors and help develop those who wish to be considered for the team in future.
"I have been teaching Callan since he started my kids class at the age of four. He passed his 2nd degree exam last month, and assists me in instructing kids from ages four upwards.
"I have coached Mia (14) for the past seven years and took over as her INstructor in 2020. Mia lives in Inverness so her training is split between squad sessions, travelling to Buckie and Mr Thain and I travelling through to Inverness to work with her.
"Fortunately Mia’s mum Amanda is an elite sports and athletic coach who runs Highland Elite Sports Academy (HESA) in Inverness and Nairn. She ensures Mia's plyometic fitness and strength training is on point and can progress her through the training plans I give her. We make a good team.
"Callan and Mia have been travelling fortnightly with us to national squad training, work under all the team coaches. These are held in full time taekwondo gyms in Laurenceirk and Livingston. "
Both youngsters said they could not wait to make their debut for the national side.
Callum commented: " I am overjoyed to have been offered a position in the team.
"To train with the best competitors and coaches in the country is the greatest opportunity, and I look forward to competing with the team European Championships 2022."
Mia added: "I was so excited to find out I had been selected for the national team!
"It's been my goal for the past four years, but I never expected to get two individual spots on the team at 14 years old.
"I'm so excited and thankful for this opportunity to represent my country in Croatia and hope I do myself and coaches proud."
as the team are self-funded, any offers of financial sponsorship are most welcome. To get in touch, visit the Buckie Taekwondo School Facebook page.
