With the great support from Malaysia, Singapore and China, the Hong Kong Original Taekwon-Do Council successfully held the ITF Master Class – Master Nicholls, Secretary General of the ITF and the 4th Inter-School ITF Taekwon-Do Invitation Tournament on 28 and 29 December 2013 respectively.

On 27 December Friday, Master Nicholls, 8th Dan, Secretary General of the ITF arrived at the Hong Kong Internatinoal Airport and were welcomed by members of the Hong Kong Original Taekwon-Do Council, Instructor Andy Low and Ivan Liew from Malaysia, Instructor Andrew Kung from Singapore and Instructor Alvin Wong from China. Welcome dinner was then held in the Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel in Tuen Mun.

A 5th degree examination was held on the morning on 29 December Saturday. Instructor Andrew Kung from Singapore and Instructor Dennis Wu and Kelvin Choi from Hong Kong took part in the examination. With their performance being satisfied by Master Nicholls, they were all being promoted to 5th degree. Congratulations to Instructor Andrew Kung, Dennis Wu and Kelvin Choi.

The ITF Master Class was held in the afternoon at Yau Oi Sports Centre, Tuen Mun. There were over 120 Taekwon-Do students from Malaysia and Hong Kong participated in the intensive training. Master Nicholls being the chief instructor, accompanied by Master David Lau, 7th Dan, President of the Hong Kong Original Taekwon-Do Council explained thoroughly about the difference between a dynamic movement and a connecting movement. He also emphasized the effectiveness of an attack or defence is much more important than its height. Group photos were taken after the class.

The day ended with a dinner with Master Nicholls and coaches from different countries. It was a warm and delightful evening in which we had cosy and friendly talks with our honorable guests.

The Invitation Tournament was held on 29 December Sunday with participants, spectators, family and friends from Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and China witnessed this spectacular event. We were pleased to invite Master Nicholls being our guest of honour, together with Instructor Andy Low and Ivan Liew from Malaysia, Instructor Andrew Kung from Singapore and Instructor Alvin Wong from China as our honourable guests. Master Nicholls and Master Lau delivered opening speeches and thereafter souvenirs were presented to our honourable guests. Matches for patterns and power breaking were held in the morning and four rings were being heated up immediately with excellent skills and techniques being displayed by the participants.

Immediately after lunch, members from Malaysia and Hong Kong delivered some fascinating performance to the masters and audiences. Matches for sparring were held thereafter with participants all demonstrating their skillful sparring techniques. With no doubt a high level of sportsmanship was showed during the Invitation Tournament from participants coming from different countries. They all strived their hardest in the sparring and embraced immediately after the matches, showing their true friendship with each other. The Invitation Tournament was then concluded by the prize giving ceremony by our coaches.

The Hong Kong Original Taekwon-Do Council would like to take this opportunity to thank you again Master Nicholls, Instructor Andy Low, Instructor Ivan Liew, Instructor Andrew Kung and Instructor Alvin Wong for their great and continue support in the events. Students were honoured with the visit of Master Nicholls as all of them have learnt a lot from the class. We have also received lots of positive feedbacks from both local and international participants, stating that they are all eager for the return of Master Nicholls very soon in the future and they will for sure come back again for the coming events.