Thai Taekwondo star: 'My coach hit me'

[Baerboxer]

I thought taekwondo was a contact sport or do opponents just stand and stare at each other.

Anyway, they are dressed up like babies with all that stupid padding. Taekwondo is about fighting and hurting people, beating the sh*t out of your opponent. Bloody children, always need pampering.

Tae Kwondo is a Korean military martial art. The sport version you see in the Olympics and other tournaments is derived from that. Mostly, IME, Tae Kwondo is taught as a martial are - so you learn patterns, techniques, and practice sparring. The protective gear is aimed at preventing injury and the idea is to score points - not "beat the sh*t out or hurt someone as you put. It is disciplined and part of that discipline requires you to respect your opponent. Similarly there is the idea you should respect your "teacher/instructor" and always do your best, and that a teacher respects students.

There has been a big emphasis on competition fighting in TKD over the years as it sought to differentiate itself from other martial arts or martial art based sports. It used to be hand mitts, shin and footpads, box for males and gum shields when I first started. I saw quite a few teeth get knocked out. As the sport side progressed more protection was introduced, rather than relying on the skill and control of the competitors. (In some styles of Karate we were only allowed a gum shield and box but excessive contract was instant disqualification).

This OP is a report about a coach hitting a young lady in the face and stomach for turning up late. Nothing to do with opponent.

Boxing, wrestling, judo, TKD are all Olympic sports. All are derived from fighting arts and all have strict rules so they can be "played" safely. I do not know any association for any of these sports, or any martial arts association of any style that would condone an instructor slapping or punching a student in the face or stomach as a punishment for being late. Give them press ups, star jumps, extra training, fine. Physical assault - not acceptable.

I've been very lucky and trained with some senior practitioners in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian and Malay martial arts when younger. These were Asian and Western and not once did I ever see one loose their temper or strike a student. It is not acceptable.

The young lady also needs to learn to take responsibility for herself and not rely on some official remembering to telephone. But, that is not an excuse to assault her.

This coach should be fired if he can't control himself.

Edited July 14, 2014 by Baerboxer

[mikemac]

...but Thais are a bit ill-disciplined...

You don't say!

Really ? I had not noticed.

[mikemac]

spanking perhaps?

I have qualifications . . .

Receiving does not count...........................

[IAMHERE]

"We were all punished, and sometimes even worse than this, when we did something wrong," she said.

"But we were fine with that because we understood he meant well. Maybe she is still young and hasn't got used to his style."

OMG, she should feel lucky the punishment wasn't worse ?

She has to get used to being hit by the coach ?

What utter nonsense, I hope.

[webfact]

UPDATE:

ALLEGATION
Pricha defends taekwondo coach Choi, says he is dedicated
The Nation


Choi Young-seuk gets the backing from the association

BANGKOK: -- The vice president of the Thailand Taekwondo Association, Pricha Tortrakul, yesterday, defended national coach Choi Young-seuk over allegations that he physically assaulted his trainee Rungrawee Kurasa.

The 23-year-old Rungrawee, who won a bronze medal in the women's 62kg class in the Asian Games, had announced earlier that she would quit the national squad after her return from the Korea Open Taekwondo Tournament in Gyeongju. She alleged that she was beaten up by her "moody" South Korean coach after her disappointing 12-6 defeat against a South Korean rival in the opening round.

Pricha, who is also the chairman of the selection committee, said he had called all the staff coaches, including Choi, who are at the ongoing Korea Open, to get a firsthand account of the incident.

"The staff coaches and Choi have told us what was wrong there in South Korea and what was the real cause. They gave us the details of the incident and the cause of Rungrawee's defeat. Certainly, the lack of proper preparations by Thai exponents ahead of the contest has deeply disappointed Choi, who is very serious about his job," said Pricha.

"Choi is a very dedicated coach. He puts in utmost efforts while carrying out his tasks. Rungrawee's claim that she was not well prepared for the contest might have disappointed Choi who punished the exponent. Those who have been punished by the coach became well-disciplined athletes afterwards and did well in major competitions, including the Olympic Games.

"One thing we have to accept is that, taekwondo is a combat sport. Every exponent must be dedicated. Earlier, we had hired Thai coaches and found the results of the exponents disappointing and well below the international standards. We all know that most of the Thai exponents are not dedicated and indisciplined. When trained by coach Choi, they have dramatically improved their performances.

"I think coach Choi cares about Rungrawee very much. If not, he would not have blamed her for the disappointing defeat. I think we know how to punish the taekwondo exponents. Credit for the Thai success must entirely go to coach Choi. Thai exponents, from generation to generation, have learned a lot from him. We must not forget Thailand's success in the Olympic Games, including Buttree Puedpong's silver medal in the 2008 Beijing Games," said Pricha.

The vice president, however, said an investigation will be conducted once the taekwondo squad returns to the country on July 17. "There is transparency in our taekwondo society. We will judge the merits of the case once the team comes back from South Korea," he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/sports/Pricha-defends-taekwondo-coach-Choi-says-he-is-ded-30238492.html


-- The Nation 2014-07-15

[MikeOboe57]

Well if that isn´t the most pathetic excuse for physical violence...

As this sorry [fill in suitable expletive] has a confirmed history of assaulting his athletes there is just one way to solve this issue: - immediate cancellation of his contract, but I guess the lure of some shiny medals is too strong for the Thai officials so they will bend over backwards to avoid taking any action to protect their athletes from a [expletive] with anger issues.

Khun Yaowapa Boorapolchai´s, and khun Buttree Puedpong´s astonishing confession ([...] we were fine with that because we understood he meant well. Maybe she [Rungrawee] is still young and hasn't got used to his style.) reminds me of the following old joke:

Why have women been abused and oppressed for centuries? Because it has been proven worthwile.

edit: typo

Edited July 14, 2014 by MikeOboe57

[TVGerry]

Wow! 'Disappointment' with someone's performance is now an acceptable excuse for beating someone up as 'punishment'. These people are animals.

[Baerboxer]

UPDATE:

ALLEGATION

Pricha defends taekwondo coach Choi, says he is dedicated

The Nation

Choi Young-seuk gets the backing from the association

BANGKOK: -- The vice president of the Thailand Taekwondo Association, Pricha Tortrakul, yesterday, defended national coach Choi Young-seuk over allegations that he physically assaulted his trainee Rungrawee Kurasa.

The 23-year-old Rungrawee, who won a bronze medal in the women's 62kg class in the Asian Games, had announced earlier that she would quit the national squad after her return from the Korea Open Taekwondo Tournament in Gyeongju. She alleged that she was beaten up by her "moody" South Korean coach after her disappointing 12-6 defeat against a South Korean rival in the opening round.

Pricha, who is also the chairman of the selection committee, said he had called all the staff coaches, including Choi, who are at the ongoing Korea Open, to get a firsthand account of the incident.

"The staff coaches and Choi have told us what was wrong there in South Korea and what was the real cause. They gave us the details of the incident and the cause of Rungrawee's defeat. Certainly, the lack of proper preparations by Thai exponents ahead of the contest has deeply disappointed Choi, who is very serious about his job," said Pricha.

"Choi is a very dedicated coach. He puts in utmost efforts while carrying out his tasks. Rungrawee's claim that she was not well prepared for the contest might have disappointed Choi who punished the exponent. Those who have been punished by the coach became well-disciplined athletes afterwards and did well in major competitions, including the Olympic Games.

"One thing we have to accept is that, taekwondo is a combat sport. Every exponent must be dedicated. Earlier, we had hired Thai coaches and found the results of the exponents disappointing and well below the international standards. We all know that most of the Thai exponents are not dedicated and indisciplined. When trained by coach Choi, they have dramatically improved their performances.

"I think coach Choi cares about Rungrawee very much. If not, he would not have blamed her for the disappointing defeat. I think we know how to punish the taekwondo exponents. Credit for the Thai success must entirely go to coach Choi. Thai exponents, from generation to generation, have learned a lot from him. We must not forget Thailand's success in the Olympic Games, including Buttree Puedpong's silver medal in the 2008 Beijing Games," said Pricha.

The vice president, however, said an investigation will be conducted once the taekwondo squad returns to the country on July 17. "There is transparency in our taekwondo society. We will judge the merits of the case once the team comes back from South Korea," he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/sports/Pricha-defends-taekwondo-coach-Choi-says-he-is-ded-30238492.html

-- The Nation 2014-07-15

Kuhn Pricha needs to seriously consider his comments. He is suggesting the end justifies the means.

"Coaches" like this have absolutely no place in any sport, especially combat sports.

A bad tempered bully whose reaction to one of his charges loosing is to physically assault them. He needs to take a long hard look in the mirror and think about his own abilities. Most of the senior martial arts instructors I've met wouldn't give him the time of day.

[smileydude]

Since people here on TV love generalizations here are some:

Korean men are know for physical abuse of women.

Thai athletes and thai's are known for being less disciplined and lazier then their East Asian counterparts.

Bad combination of kimchi and pla-raa?

If this was a solitary incident I think its nothing more then a combination of a memory lapse and a blown fuse.

Kick her off the team for forgeting?

Kick him off the team for ill-tempered physical punishment?

How about evaluating how they both are MOST of the time and not just in this particular incident.

If both the coach and athlete are super-talented then maybe they apologise to each other and a stern warning that this cannot happen again otherwise its out, is a more constructive solution.

[sz1a]

Typical taekwondo rationale

[MikeOboe57]

Since people here on TV love generalizations here are some:

Korean men are know for physical abuse of women.

Thai athletes and thai's are known for being less disciplined and lazier then their East Asian counterparts.

Bad combination of kimchi and pla-raa?

If this was a solitary incident I think its nothing more then a combination of a memory lapse and a blown fuse.

Kick her off the team for forgeting?

Kick him off the team for ill-tempered physical punishment?

How about evaluating how they both are MOST of the time and not just in this particular incident.

If both the coach and athlete are super-talented then maybe they apologise to each other and a stern warning that this cannot happen again otherwise its out, is a more constructive solution.

This guy has a record of physical abuse:

Meanwhile, Athens Olympics bronze medallist Yaowapa Boorapolchai, who along with London Olympics silver medallist Buttree Puedpong was coached by Chai, said it was normal and acceptable to receive punishment from the coach.

"We were all punished, and sometimes even worse than this, when we did something wrong," she said.

So how many chances to "adjust his attitude" should he be given?