As the ITF Taekwon-Do World Championship in Barcelona 2025 draws closer, we spoke with one of the sport’s most seasoned coaches. With years of international experience and a sharp focus on the mental and technical aspects of training, this coach shares his strategy for preparing a team to face the world.
-How would you describe the atmosphere of a Taekwon-Do World Championship?
You can feel the overall preparation of both athletes and coaches, tournament organizers, including grandmasters, and the leadership of Mr. Choi Jung Hwa. I would like to note the grandeur and globality of the World Championship.
-Do you believe psychological preparation is as important as technique and tactics? How do you work on it with your athletes?
I believe that when preparing for the World Championship, psychological preparation is a must. This helps the athlete to be ready for a fight with world-class athletes, since during the performance, the athlete must correctly perceive the advantages of his opponents and his own. The coach must also be ready not only to worry, but also to properly support the athlete’s spirit. Sometimes this is more important than technique and tactics, because all participants in a tournament of this level have mastery.
-How much does preparation change when competing abroad, considering the changes in weather, time zone, and diet?
When preparing for a tournament of this level, the level of training changes, including its quantity. Intercontinental factors influence, but we try not to notice them.
-How do you manage strategy during a match if you see your athlete is losing?
If I see that my opponent is dominating the fight, I try to adapt my athlete’s fighting technique to the opponent.
-How do you handle the emotional impact of watching your athletes win or lose?
I always say that emotions of any nature can distract both the athlete and the coach. However, it is difficult to fight them. This is one of the factors that the athlete and coach work with in the course of life.
-How do you prepare your team to face opponents with completely different styles?
To prepare athletes with athletes from different teams, we participate in tournaments of all levels, and also conduct joint training.
-Do you have any rituals or personal traditions when traveling with your team to a world championship?
As such, we do not have rituals. Only preparation for the tournament.
-What has been the most emotional victory you’ve experienced as a coach?
I have many athletes, and I try not to focus on any one individual, since I train groups. I think it is fair to worry equally. Because of this, I cannot name a specific situation.
-Do you recall a moment in your coaching career that completely changed the way you train?
Unfortunately, there is no single moment that changed the approach to training. The approach to training is constantly being built. I think this process will go on endlessly.
-If you could speak to your younger self when you first started coaching, what advice would you give?
Looking back at myself in my youth, I would like to tell myself: “Listen to your Sabum carefully and be even more hardworking.”
As Barcelona 2025 approaches, it is clear that success at the highest level comes not only from physical excellence, but from adaptability, inner discipline, and constant growth. This interview offers a look into the mind of a coach dedicated to building champions—one lesson at a time.
