Three athletes from Sirota’s Alchymy - Martial arts Centre in Steveston represented Canada at last month’s Commonwealth Taekwondo Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The event welcomed more than 500 athletes from over 20 countries. The local trio competed in Para-Taekwondo for individuals with an intellectual disability. It was the first time Para-Taekwondo was included in this international competition. The athletes participated in Poomsae, where they performed a standardized routine comprised of various martial arts skills.
The results were: Kieran Stark in first place, Shane Johnson finishing second and Kurtis Reid third in their respective divisions.
Stark was also selected by Team Canada to carry the Canadian Flag during the Opening Ceremony. For many attending the championship, the most inspiring moments were watching the Para-Taekwondo athletes compete. It was their first experience witnessing Taekwondo athletes of all abilities compete.
In addition to athletes with an intellectual disability, competition was also held for para-athletes with physical disabilities and limb deficiencies.
Para-Taekwondo inclusion into the championship was made possible by the pioneering work of Master Michael Sirota, who for the past 16 years has been globalizing martial arts education for individuals with special abilities. Sirota, who was appointed as the Para-Taekwondo Director by the Commonwealth Taekwondo Union, worked on bringing this project to all the commonwealth countries and their Taekwondo associations.
Master Sirota, who is considered to be the world's pioneer in the area of Para-Taekwondo and Therapeutic Martial Arts, conducted a brief introductory seminar for the administrators, officials and coaches attending the Commonwealth Taekwondo Championships.
Para-Taekwondo which is striving to become a sport in the 2020 Paralympic Games has deep roots in the city of Richmond and Sirota's Alchymy.
