Success at Austrian Classic - Full Report

Report by Miss Joann Rolison, 2nd degree
Photo: MWTA members with Team Top Ten UK


Six members of Master Wolf's Taekwon-Do Academies (MWTA) competed in the recent WAKO (World Association of Kickboxing Organizations) Austrian Classic tournament - Lucy Wolf, Jamaine Hemmings, Gavin Williamson, Duanne Black, Joann Rolison and Geanina Luca, traveled to Kossen, with Master Wolf over the weekend of the 28th March. The tournament was held over one evening and one very long day!

With a massive number of competitors – 1500 in fact, it was a huge and prestigious event, but the MWTA members took on this challenge and competed in both the point scoring and continuous sparring events.
Between the six of them the won six medals … 3 Golds, 1 Silver & 2 Bronze!


Lucy Wolf ...

This was the first time MWTA members had competed in this particular tournament. The aim was to gain even more experience, but we also wanted to make a big impression, and that's exactly what Lucy and the rest of us did!
In the first couple of rounds in the point scoring Lucy proved her worth and fought through to the quarterfinals, where she lost by just a single point to the eventual finalist.
In the continuous sparring, she fought amazingly, applying her points scoring skills into the continuous. She fought through the rounds against top class opponents from countries such as Italy, Hungary and Germany. Lucy won the Austrian Classic gold medal and belt.

Jamaine Hemmings ...

Considering Jamaine was injured before the tournament had even started, everyone from the MWTA squad and fellow competitors from the Top Ten UK squad, as well as other countries, thought he fought astoundingly! This is what competing is about; when it gets hard, you dig deep, you don’t give up, and that exactly what Jamaine did!
Jamaine fought through very tough rounds beating some very experienced opponents. Having beat one of the best fighters from the Italian squad in the quarter final, he finally went out to the eventual winner in a very close match, and he picked up the bronze. I’m sure he will go all the way next year!

Gavin Williamson ...

Gavin competed in the point scoring section, which he does not normally do, and I must say, it was a very entertaining fight!
In the continuous sparring Gavin, who is the world silver medalist, smashed through the rounds, opponent after opponent, and he meant serious business! The final was an awfully close match, but it just slipped away in the last few seconds and regrettably Gavin just missed out on the gold. He came away with a well earned silver, and I’m sure he is fired up to get that gold next time!

Duanne Black ...

This was a big competition, with regards to the number and quality of competitors. Although Duanne did not medal, he fought with his head and his heart. He gained good experience and now he knows what he has to work on for next time.

Joann Rolison ...

Unfortunately, in this tournament the kids divisions had only point scoring events i.e. no continuous, and so, we compensated for that by her entering two point scoring divisions, the under 42-kilogram and the division above, the under 46-kilogram section for her age. Both of these divisions were brimming with top class junior competitors. Jo did brilliantly zipping her way through to the final of both sections and picking up the gold in each in style ... and two belts!

Geanina Luca ...

Geanina also fought in two divisions, the under 42 and under 46-kilogram, for 10 to 12-year old section. In the lighter division Geanina fought the eventual winner in the first round, which was unfortunate. Then in the under 46-kilo section she threw some good techniques, scoring points on her opponent and in the end came away with a bronze ... a job well done!


So apart form the tournament being absolutely amazing. We soon found out that Austria was amazing too! None of us knew exactly what the weather would be like, and I think it was safe to say none of us knew that there was going to be so much snow! Most of us had never seen that much snow in our lives and it was a great experience, but of course we had to take advantage of this opportunity. Going snowboarding or skiing before a competition would be just a bit too risky and dangerous, so the day before the tournament we all went Snow-Tubing! Basically you sat in a huge rubber ring, got towed up this gigantic hill and pelted it down the hill fast, very very fast! But they said its really for small children so it couldn't have been too dangerous! It was so much fun, everyone enjoyed it so much and I must say that the adults were the biggest kids there ... namely Gavin and Duanne!! It was a brilliant start to the trip, and is a definite must do for next year.


Well done to the MWTA squad and a huge thanks to Master Wolf - every single one of us had such a wonderful time, it was a great experience, thank you! We are all already looking forward to the 2010 Austrian Classic!


Results: 3 Golds, 1 Silver & 2 Bronze

Lucy Wolf
Gold - Under 50Kg Ladies Continuous Sparring

Jamaine Hemmings
Bronze - Mens Under 69Kg Continuous Sparring

Gavin Williamson
Silver - Mens Under 89Kg Continuous Sparring

Joann Rolison
Gold - Under 42Kg Girls (age 13 to 15 years) Points Sparring
Gold - Under 46Kg Girls (age 13 to 15 years) Points Sparring

Geanina Luca
Bronze - Under 42Kg Girls (age 10 to 12 years) Points Sparring



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