A two-day international Taekwondo Poomsae training seminar concluded on August 10 in Kigali, attracting over 157 participants from six countries.

Organised by the Rwanda Taekwondo Federation (RTF), the event featured training sessions by South Korean Taekwondo masters including Lee Jin-han, an 8th Dan black belt based in Côte d'Ivoire, Ahn Hyeong-won, a 5th Dan black belt based in Egypt, and Ji-Man Jeong, a 6th Dan black belt based in Rwanda.

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The instructors provided insights to the athletes, particularly in Poomsae, a choreographed sequence of movements that demonstrate both offensive and defensive techniques.

The seminar&039;s focus on Poomsae allowed athletes to refine their skills and deepen their understanding of this aspect of Taekwondo.

Participants, including instructors, acknowledged the gaps in their knowledge and the importance of such training.

"These training sessions were eye-opening. We realised our struggles with Poomsae were due to our own mistakes and lack of understanding,” said Benoit Kayitare, captain of the national team.

Boniface Mbonigaba, Secretary General of the RTF, emphasised the seminar's importance, saying it offered an opportunity for participants to enhance their skills and deepen their understanding of Taekwondo.

Ji-Man Jeong, Chairman of the Kukkiwon Rwanda Office and RTF Technical Director, said the training is a major step in promoting Taekwondo in Rwanda and East Africa, adding that he aims to see Rwanda win its first Olympic medal in Taekwondo.

Participants of the seminar were from South Sudan, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, India, and Rwanda.