ITFNZ National Awards 2001 Nominees

Gup Student

Jeanne Deadman – Infinity Manurewa
For the last 2 years she has voluntarily given up her time to organise fund raising for the CM Regional Team, and she immediately volunteered to be part of this year’s National Tournament organising committee. Did we mention she has 6 children and works full time!

Renee Faleseuga – Horowhenua Taekwon-Do
Renee has trained and helped out with the instructing at her club. On many occasions, she trained with the NZ team before they went to Italy. In March 2001 she helped choreograph some dance routines using Taekwon-Do movements for her school’s performance at the Nationals Expo. In May of this year she was a member of the Firewalk demonstration team.

John Matsuoka – Meadowbank Taekwon-Do
In the past year, John has helped with tournaments, gradings, and camps. He is the Auckland North manager for the 2001 National Tournament. He provides support for anyone, whether they are in his club or not. John approaches training with a smile and always has an uplifting remark. John's enthusiasm is infectious and he motivates everyone around him. He is reliable and approachable.
John is the only person who has been nominated in 2000 and 2001.
Michael Pete - Brooklyn Taekwon-Do
Michael started training at the beginning of 2000. He double graded to 7th Gup in August 2000 and has had A passes at each grading since. He managed to travel up to Levin and train a couple of times with the New Zealand team. He has a “can do” attitude when it comes to training and is always there with enthusiasm.

Dan Student

Chris Fitzgerald - Tauranga International Taekwon-Do
Chris started training on 26 February 1988 and has shown unswerving loyalty to his instructor and club. He has been instrumental in many events – not just for his club, but for his region and ITFNZ as a whole. Mr Fitzgerald is every instructor’s dream “Right Hand Man”. He is totally unselfish and reliable. He is a respected role model for the Tauranga students and is simply “always there”.

Francis Fong – Nibun ITF
Francis is the longest standing member of Mt Albert. He was there the day the club opened, and I would not be surprised if he is there forever. Through the last couple of years he has been challenged to increase his loyalty to include all the Nibun ITF clubs, and been seen as the No 2 for Nibun ITF. Francis has faced that role, and has made adjustments as needed to ensure that he can do this.
Francis is always at tournaments, umpiring and coaching. He helps when needed and never shirks responsibility. He has strong motives and beliefs and has never traded them.

Sandi Galpin – Palmerston North Taekwon-Do Academy
Sandi has been training for 9 years. In November 2000 she graded to 2nd dan and she has been a member of the CD Demonstration team. Whilst on student exchange she trained with an ITF club in Berlin. She did a lot of door knocking for Firewalk 2001, held by the CD Region. She has been an official and competitor at both Regional and National Tournaments. Outside of TKD she is a service collector for Arthritis Foundation Appeal and the Multiple Sclerosis Appeal. She rarely misses a training session or activity.

Jake Goldsmith – Brooklyn Taekwon-Do
Jake is an assistant instructor at Brooklyn, but more recently won a Bronze medal at the Junior World Championships in 2000. Jake is always at Regional Tournaments, competing and officiating. Did we mention he is only 17! When it comes to training Jake’s attitude is excellent.

Nick Howdle – Papakura Taekwon-Do
Nick is very quick to volunteer his time and is often there when needed, even when filling in at the last moment. His dedication to TKD is typical of his attitude, and this was reflected in his A pass to 1st Dan in May 2001. He is currently on the organising committees for both the Epson Open and the Aussie Invitational.

David Oliver – Riccarton Taekwon-Do
David rarely misses a training session and provides invaluable assistance to the club, both as the Assistant Instructor and Treasurer. He has taken on a lot of instructing at the club, helping Mr Mayes, who has to juggle both work and family commitments.
He is always there to provide transport for those participating at all events, which means he is usually the last person to go home for the day!

Best Instructor

Daniel Motu - Rangitikei Dragons Taekwon-Do
Mr Motu joined ITFNZ a few years ago and has faced what many would say is a daunting task – learning a new syllabus. Mr Motu has amazed his region with his students’ performances at gradings and local events. Most notably his success as an Instructor is shown with the success of Miss Bowness who achieved her 1st dan at age 9 (the second youngest person to be promoted to 1st dan). Mr Motu deserves recognition for his kind manner, humbleness and dedication to live by the tenets of Taekwon-Do. He supports his students and encourages them to “push the limits”.

Andrew Niven – Nibun ITF
Mr Niven's dedication to Taekwon-Do is also shown by his participation in ITFNZ events. He always ensures that his students participate or support the activities of ITFNZ, and he promotes a strong spirit and regular social interaction in his clubs.
This year, Mr Niven is again coaching the Auckland North Regional Team.
In May 2001, Mr Niven had four 1st dans and three 2nd dans grading. He started holding special weekend training sessions for them in January. He gave up all of his weekends for the next five months to ensure that all his students were ready and confident enough to grade. All the while he was setting up a business and running his many clubs.

Graham Patterson – Khandallah/Newlands Taekwon-Do
Mr Patterson is a member of the Techniques and Grading Sub-Committees. He is always there, lending a hand and taking on things. He was a member of the New Zealand team that competed in Italy at the World Championships this month. He was the tournament organiser for last year’s National tournament. Up until January 2001 he was the Wellington Regional Director. This year he has attended the South Island Regionals and was the guest instructor for the South Island Regional Camp.
He is an all round humble guy who does not like people to make a fuss about him.

James Rimmer - Tauranga International Taekwon-Do
Mr. Rimmer runs the biggest club in ITFNZ, and has done so for some time. He is also a member of the Grading sub-Committee, acting as a Senior Examiner for the organisation.
True to his nature he will say that his club’s performances are part of a team effort, and he is right about that. But it is his role as the team leader that inspires this effort and inspiration that his students take from him.

Best Club

Miramar Taekwon-Do
The club has celebrated its 25th anniversary last year. In the last few months, members are starting to return to the club. The Instructor (René Kunz) is open minded and not afraid to expose his students to new ideas outside of the regular teachings of Taekwon-Do. Recently the club has gone back to its “roots” as it has moved to its original venue. The students are keen to learn and always support all seminars and tournaments both within ITFNZ and externally.

Rangitikei Dragons Taekwon-Do
Its members actively participate in every event in the Central Districts region.. Recently the club formed a seven-member committee, created a club badge, and most importantly had their first student to grade to Black Belt. Over the year the club has grown from 28 members to 41. There are approximately 5 and a half thousand residents in Marton.
The club has always preformed well at gradings, attaining third best club during the November grading round.

Tauranga International Taekwon-Do
Under the watchful eye of Mr James Rimmer (V dan) the club has managed to maintain high numbers of members with over 60 members often training in a single night!
At grading rounds they have had an average of 45 members grading. The club’s members always support all Taekwon-Do events and all socialize together outside the do jang.

President’s Award

Mark Banicevich – Papakura Taekwon-Do
Mark has been a key member of ITFNZ in the last 12 months. From joining the Tournaments Sub-Committee to recently being appointed the new Director of the Marketing Sub-Committee.
He has been involved in TKD Talk, and is presently editing the next issue.
He has continued his work with the Auckland Demonstration team of which he is co-coach.
He has continued to support his club as the assistant instructor, as well as making a great contribution to the upcoming Black Belt Handbook.