Taekwondo chief calls for flexibility in Tokyo prep

Chinese Taekwondo and Karate Association president Guan Jianmin says reacting promptly to changes in competitions will be crucial in aiding preparations for the postponed Tokyo Olympic Games.

"A key point is to adjust to all changes taking place in matches as soon as possible, including new rules and changes to refereeing in international competitions," Guan told Xinhua on Monday.

Guan revealed that China's taekwondo and karate national teams moved their training camp from Taiyuan, Shanxi province to Wuzhishan, Hainan province at the end of last year.

The training of both teams on southern China's Hainan island is comprised of five stages. The first two stages focus on fundamental and specific skills, the third on reinforcing the application of technique, the fourth on attaching importance to personal characteristics, and the fifth on advocating the effectiveness of technique.

Particular attention was paid to streamlining the teams' structure and personnel allocation－especially in terms of choosing suitable training partners for key athletes. Athletes and coaches jointly decided on training partners, allowing for more freedom.

"At this phase, we focus on addressing three issues. First, we need to discover personal characteristics while ensuring progress in athletes' technique and capabilities," Guan explained.

"Second, we need to concentrate on athletes' physical advantage over the past year in applying their technique. Third, we need to analyze our opponents and improve our attacking and combat capabilities."

Guan, who is also a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, called for a competition-oriented approach to developing school sports.

Noting that youngsters often enjoy sports but dislike taking PE classes, Guan added that the lack of competitive events is an obvious weakness in developing school sports nationwide.

"Top-level matches serve as a major channel for attracting teenagers to sports and incorporating exercise into their lives," said Guan.

His proposed measures include enhancing the cultivation of teachers who specialize in sports events in primary and junior middle schools, as well as strengthening communication between education departments and national sports associations.

Xinhua