I ❤️ TKD Seminar #23: Three Days of Learning, Friendship and Taekwondo

Helensville, Auckland | Hosted by Superior TKD | Facilitated by Andrea Kilday

Athletes from seven clubs came together in Helensville for three fantastic days of training at I ❤️ TKD Seminar #23. With Andrea Kilday leading the sessions and Superior TKD opening their doors, the weekend was filled with hard work, new skills, encouragement and plenty of smiles.

Everyone arrived with a shared purpose: to learn, improve and work towards their goals in the sport they love. Throughout the seminar, our simple rule set the tone:

Arrive with a smile, leave with a smile, and in between — try your hardest.

Building Skills and Connections

Day one gave athletes the opportunity to train alongside people from different clubs, share experiences and build new friendships. Whether they were improving their kicks, learning a new skill or stepping outside their comfort zone, everyone was encouraged to give their best and support those around them.

That spirit continued into day two, with a morning of stretching, kicking drills and technique before an afternoon using the Daedo Electronic Scoring System.

For some athletes, this was their first experience with electronic scoring. Access to this equipment gave them a valuable opportunity to learn how it works and build confidence before encountering it at a tournament.

A special thank you to Master Garry Carpenter, who brought the Daedo equipment from Tauranga. Budo South Martial Arts and I ❤️ TKD have invested significantly in these systems to help make opportunities like this available to athletes at seminars around New Zealand.

Putting Learning into Practice

The final day brought everything together, covering kicking skills, technique, competition rules, ring management and sparring.

After a busy morning of warm-ups, stretching and kicking drills, athletes returned from lunch with their sparring gear on and ready to put their learning into practice.

It was fantastic to see athletes challenge themselves against different opponents, including those who were taller, bigger or more experienced. Their willingness to give things a go, even after three demanding days, was something to be proud of.

There was plenty of fun along the way, too, with athletes across the weight range taking on one another and even the coaches joining in towards the end!

One Sport, One Community

Beyond the training, this seminar was about bringing people together. New friendships formed between athletes, coaches and parents as clubs shared the mats, encouraged one another and worked together.

This is the heart of I ❤️ TKD: putting club colours aside, sharing knowledge and resources, and creating opportunities for everyone to grow through Taekwondo.

A massive thank you to the parents and supporters who travelled from near and far. Your time, commitment and encouragement make these opportunities possible.

Thank you to Andrea Kilday for the knowledge, experience and passion you shared throughout the three days, and to the entire Superior TKD family for your warm welcome and wonderful hospitality.

To every athlete who attended: be proud of your effort, your courage and the support you showed one another. You helped make Seminar #23 a weekend to remember.

More photos on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ILoveTKD.NZ/

Next up is I ❤️ TKD Seminar #24 in Wellington on 10–11 October!

❤️ Different clubs. Different athletes. One sport. One community.

🥋 Coming together for the love of Taekwondo.