Showing posts with label Paralympics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Paralympics. Show all posts

Saturday, August 31, 2024

Taekwondo


I was familiar with the name , but not with the nature of the sport  itself.  Now, that we have a Taekwondo gold medalist, I'm getting interested.

Asaf Yasur, 22 year old,  of Israel,  has defeated the Turkey  fighter in the category of under 58, at the Paralympics - sports for athletes with an impairement  (parallel games to the Olympics ). He competes with athletes who have lost both hands, one hand, or a toe.  Asaf, lost both his hands at age 13, after being electrocuted.

Taekwondo is a martial art like judo,  karate, boxing, capoeira, tai chi, jiu-jitsu ,  all of which teach  self-defence, improving at the same time physical and mental abilities.  

We live in a dangerous world with pretty agressive people. A  physical confrontation can happen at any time, so we'd better be ready for it. 

The training starts with learning basic kicks, and gradually progresses to light contact with the adversary before learning to kick and block him.

The Paralympics opened  in Paris on 28 August and will last till the 8 of September with a participation of over 4000 athletes from all over the world.  These games ar very popular , and attract thousands of ticket buyers.


                                                                           basic kicks (AI generated image)

Asaf  Yasur celebrating  winning of medal (web photo)