BRISTOL Taekwondo School, which is based in Kingswood, hosted an event at which participants had the chance test electronic armour.
They were also able to try the electronic scoring system, the same as that used in the Olympic Games and international events.
The competition, attended by clubs from Chippenham, London, Milton Keynes and Newport, started with Junior then adult Poomsae (Patterns). This was followed by an E-sport event where a series of competitive games were played using electronic striking targets which displayed results on a monitor. This proved very popular.
The next part of the event was sparring with electronic armour, which is used by top competitors. Very few clubs have this equipment because of the cost. The Kingswood club has bought two sets of electronic armour with software and its next aim is to try to raise funds for a set of electronic headguards, which will cost more than £1000.
The British Taekwondo School is popular, with a number of overseas instructors and students joining the ranks. The club has plenty of equipment including full matting, plus many sets of non electronic training armour and an array of striking shields and pads. The main instructor is a 9th Dan Grandmaster from Warmley, who trained and qualified in Korea and who also sits on the board of the National Governing Body.
The club trains on Tuesday evenings 7.30 pm at the 17 Bristol Scout Hall on Two Mile Hill Road and offers a free trial sessions. email: info@bristoltaekwondo.co.uk