Training Seminar in Ningbo, Shina

On Sunday 13th of September Master JB McCarthy from Ireland delivered a training seminar to students in Ningbo, China. Master Dr JB McCarthy was visiting universities in Beijing and Shanghai as part of his work for the business school in University College Cork (UCC) where he is also the lead instructor for the UCC Taekwon-Do club he founded in 1984 when he was a university student himself.

Master McCarthy was collected from his hotel in Shanghai early that morning by Master Yang Haibo and his wife and driven to Ningbo where Master Yang’s club is located. The seminar started after lunch with a focus on three colour belt tul (patterns) so all could participate in the event. Master Yang provided a local interpreter to ensure all could understand the directions and comments from Master McCarthy. This arrangement facilitated a very interactive session as clarification could easily be sought on terms that were not clear to participants.

Following a short water break, the next part of the seminar covered sparring techniques. Several kicking and striking drills were demonstrated by Master McCarthy from many angles. All the students were gathered in a circle, so all got to see the techniques demonstrated slowly and then at full speed. The students thoroughly enjoyed the drills which focused on distance and timing of techniques and many of the younger students got to test their kicking and punching skills with Master McCarthy which led to many photo opportunities for the parents.

The final session of the of seminar covered self-defence techniques where all the students partnered with someone of the same size. Various releasing and take-down techniques were demonstrated, and all the students got an opportunity to practise them and get help from Master McCarthy and the other black belts supporting the junior grades. The seminar finished with many group and individual photo opportunities of tired but still smiling students.

Master Yang Lejian (President of the ITF China Chapter) took Master McCarthy for a wonderful dinner that evening followed by a tour of Ningbo and delivered him to his hotel to stay in Ningbo that night. Early the next morning Master Yang Haibo collected Master McCarthy from his hotel for the drive back to Shanghai so he could continue with his work for the university.