Carissa Fu Please Report To Holding

TKDI interviewed Carissa Fu, a force to fear in both Poomsae, and Sparring.

Name: Carissa Fu
Birthday: July 7, 1989
Competition Weight: Bantam
Height: 5’3
College: Princeton University
Coaches: Master Rex Hatfield, Master JiHi Choi

(TaeKwonDo Insider News): What first got you into TaeKwonDo?

(Carissa Fu): My father did judo when he was growing up, and he wanted to enroll me in a martial art. Taekwondo was one of the options in my neighborhood so my parents signed me up at the age 7, and I continued training until was 15. Our family moved to Beijing when I was 14, and I found a place to train outside the city for the first year I was there, but I wanted to focus more on academics junior and senior year of high school. Once I entered college, I started training again.

(TKDI): You won 1st place at Collegiate Nationals again this year in Poomsae, how do you alter your training to achieve such success with your Poomsae?

(Fu): I do not alter my training habits, but I do change my mindset. I try not to fall content with how I am currently performing, but I train to bring out the essence of each set of movements in the form and perform to the best of my ability.

(TKDI): What is the key to a great poomsae?

(Fu): I would not say I know the key to a great poomsae but attention to every detail and capturing the flow and spirit of the form are some of the most important aspects of making a poomsae look both graceful and powerful.

(TKDI): You are also a double threat as you were selected as an ECTC Allstar, and also finished 3rd at Collegiate Nationals in sparring. How do you juggle training for sparring along with poomsae?

(Fu): During our normal workouts, we focus on sparring for the first 2/3 of class then work on poomsae the latter 1/3. I always felt like training for poomsae helped in sparring and vice versa. Building up strength and speed in sparring can help make poomsae movements stronger while building up balance and precision in poomsae can help improve agility and accuracy in sparring.


(TKDI): Do you have any pre-competition routines, or superstitions?

(Fu): I don’t have any pre-competition routines but I do have a little superstition where I don’t let anyone touch my sparring bag before I spar.


(TKDI): What is a typical training week like for you?

(Fu): When I’m at school, I try to train 5 times a week. We typically have 3 days where we work on sparring drills and poomsae, Fridays are solely for sparring, and Sundays we hold a team stamina workout.

(TKDI): You competed at both Pan Am’s and also the Summer World University Games, what were these experiences like?

(Fu): Competing at Pan Am’s and the Summer World University Games was one of the best experiences of my life. I had the incredible chance to meet and watch many amazing athletes which has inspired me to continue working hard throughout my college and graduate school years. I hope to represent the US again in future international competitions.

(TKDI): What was the most memorable competition moment so far?

(Fu): My most memorable competition moment so far was winning Poomsae Individuals, and thus a spot on the Collegiate National Team, at Team Trials. After I won this position, my entire team ran up and enclosed me in a group hug. Before coming to university, all of my competition experiences have been solely based on my own performance, but competing with a team at the collegiate level has brought greater joy to this sport than I ever could have imagined. When I won the spot on the team, I felt as if Princeton Taekwondo won because without my teammates’ continual support and motivation, I could not have accomplished this feat.

(TKDI): What was your favorite location you visited for competition or training so far?

(Fu): My favorite competition location so far has been Belgrade, Serbia. However, I enjoy every competition I attend with my university team because we have unforgettable experiences when we travel together. I cannot imagine college without my incredible teammates and the fun times we have shared.

(TKDI): What are your thoughts on the ECTC and Collegiate Taekwondo as a whole?

(Fu): The people in ECTC and Collegiate Taekwondo are one of the best to either continue or begin your taekwondo training. The ECTC is a great environment with strong and dedicated athletes who love Taekwondo and the added team component has brought a whole new facet of sport taekwondo. Competing on a regular basis with this league has taught me countless lessons about leadership, teamwork, and the spirit of competition. Additionally, the incredibly high level of competition in Collegiate Taekwondo pushes athletes and coaches to work hard and improve on a daily basis.

(TKDI): If you could give one tip to up and coming athletes, what would it be?

(Fu): Never lose sight of your goal.

(TKDI): What do you do for fun outside of TaeKwonDo?

(Fu): At Princeton, I am involved in a few other student groups. Over the fall, I help coordinate a bazaar which sells handicrafts from developing nations to raise funds for non-governmental organizations in nations such as Cambodia, Morocco, and Argentina. I also tap dance in our university tap dance company, TapCats. Moreover, I am an officer in P-UNICEF and an international group on campus which helps promotes our international programs and internships. Aside from participating in student organizations, I like doing all the things that a regular college student does: hang out with friends, watch movies, travel, read, etc.








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Sherman Nelson Jr. Please Report To Holding

TKDI interviewed Sherman Nelson Jr., a former National Team Member turned world class coach, coaching top athletes, and has also been honored by the US Olympic Commitee as the 2007 Volunteer Coach of The Year.


Name: Sherman M. Nelson Jr.
Birthday: October 23, 1965

(Taekwondo Insider News): Tell us the story of how you first got into Taekwondo?

(Sherman Nelson Jr.): I was at Howard University one day and saw the TKD Club running down the street. I followed them back to the gym (which was being repaired) and watched them train outside. I inquired and found out that I could join the club and take the PE course too. Ah, the rest is history.

(TKDI): What was Taekwondo competition like for you?

(SN): Competition was my natural habitat. I wasn’t overly athletic growing up, but very competitive. I hated training, I just wanted to fight. I learned that the harder I trained, the better competition would go so, I gave it my all. I have no regrets. (except never being able to beat my brother Peter Bardatsos, just once)

(TKDI): Did you have any pre-competition warm-ups, routines, or superstitions?

(SN): I didn’t eat breakfast the morning of competition because of the pterodactyls that were in my stomach. Once the competition started, they went away and I was fine, but the morning before, I was oppressed internally.

(TKDI): What was the most memorable moment of your Taekwondo competition career?

(SN): Making the National team in 99. Team trials was difficult, I had three matches with Stewart Gill in a row, with no real rest. Back then we fought 3 minute rounds and it was at OTC. That day fulfilled a dream that was over 10 years in the making. Then being able to represent my country at the World Championships iced the cake.

(TKDI): What was it like working at the Emery Recreation Center?

(SN): Wow, working for the DC Government is a challenge because of the political nature of our city. I have a heart for people so working in an environment where I constantly get to interact with people was fun. I hated the administrative paperwork blah blah, but I loved the relationships I formed with the kids, the adults, and the seniors. Since I live 2 minutes away, I still get to interact with them quasi-regularly.

(TKDI): What can you tell us about Mission Possible?

(SN): Mission Possible is my consulting company that specializes in personal/group fitness, sports fundamentals, and personal development. I came up with it in 2006 and always wanted to make it my priority but it was hard to walk away from a job that easily paid all my bills. This year, I had enough of working without being fulfilled so I jumped out on faith and threw all my eggs in the Mission Possible basket.

(TKDI): Is it true you are writing a fiction book?

(SN): Ha ha, I am writing a fiction novel. I am an avid reader of all types of books. Not to mention I have a very vivid imagination. The tentative title is Welcome to America, and it asks the question “what would America look like if we had the chance to do it all over again?” My new work schedule is designed to afford me more time to get it done. It has to be done in 2010.

(TKDI): What is the day in the life of Coach Nelson like?

(SN): Oh boy, its interesting. I have a 6am client or boot camp each day of the week. A couple of days I have a 7am client as well. Then it back home to work on compiling data, organizing training plans, and scheduling classes and training sessions. Afternoon training sessions, and then Triple C practice in the evening. This new schedule allows for lots of creativity and freedom.

(TKDI): Tell us about CCC Taekwondo.

(SN): My team is one of the joys of my life. Triple C TKD came out of my desire to develop athletes in a certain way and see if the system would work. It has been moderately successful and I expect even more now that I have more time to focus on them. A lot of people think that the Triple C, which is the Roman numeral for 300, came solely from the movie 300. Actually the first concept of it came from a Biblical story of Gideon found in Judges 7:7. (Which is why I wear 777 on my team jacket)

(TKDI):What was your most memorable coaching moment?

(SN): Probably the most memorable moment was when I received the 2007 USOC Coach of the Year Award at the Olympic Media Event in Chicago last spring. I can’t even begin to express how grateful I was, plus my parents got to be there. I’ve had a lot of memorable in the ring coaching moments, too many to choose from.

(TKDI): Can you share a training tip, secret, exercise or drill with us?

(SN): Train for speed intentionally. You will not get faster by jogging 10 miles or by coasting through drills in training. Sprint, burst, explode!

(TKDI):If you could give one tip to up and coming athletes, what would it be?

(SN): If you love this sport, do it like you love it. Train without being told to, give without being asked to, and fight like you can’t lose.

(TKDI): What do you do for fun outside of Taekwondo?

(SN): Movies, tv, table tennis, basketball, read, go for long walks in the park (haha, that last one is not true). I am becoming quite proficient in Wii golf, so I might take that up professionally.

(TKDI): What was your favorite location you visited to train, coach, or compete at?

(SN): I loved Thailand (World University Games ’07) and who couldn’t love Brazil (Jr. Pan Am Championships ’03)

Shout outs and thank you’s:
(SN): I want to shout out everyone that has helped make me the man I am today. All my seniors, former teammates, coaches and instructors. I also want to shout out all the athletes that have entrusted their lives into my hands by letting me coach and train them. Finally USAT staff and National team coaching staff for giving me a platform to share my gift.

Any other information:
(SN): I’m glad there are so many young people who love Taekwondo. We have to make sure that we make it a sport that generations to come can love like we do.

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Emma Wu Please Report To Holding

Taekwondo Insider News recently got the chance to interview ECTC All-Star and NCTA Champion, Emma Wu!

Name: Emma Wu
Birthday: July 15, 1987
Competition Weight: Feather/Light
Height: 5’3”
College: Harvard University ’09
Major: Linguistics and Neuroscience
Grad School: University College London ’11
Coaches: Michael Tang, Richard Min

(Taekwondo Insider News): What first got you into Taekwondo?

(Emma Wu): I grew up in a very white neighborhood in Dallas, Texas, and I think my mom was afraid I would miss out on Asian culture. Her solution was to enroll me in Chinese traditional dance, but I absolutely refused. The dance studio happened to be in the Min’s Taekwondo dojang, so we reluctantly compromised on taekwondo. I didn’t even like taekwondo at first; I wasn’t flexible or graceful or naturally gifted. But about a year or two in, something clicked, and here I am.

(TKDI): You competed in the Eastern Collegiate Taekwondo Conference (ECTC), and were also selected as an ECTC All-Star, what was a typical tournament like?

(Wu): The beauty of ECTC (or INCTL, as it was known) is the team format. You could be a ringer and still never win a division, not without your teammates’ success. The resulting team camaraderie, the inter-school rivalries, the cheering and jeering and heightened emotions—all made for great memories.

(TKDI): You took first place at Collegiate Nationals (lightweight), what were you thinking right after you won in the finals?

(Wu): Man, I was on the ultimate high. I had submitted my honors thesis the day before Collegiates, so I was exhausted. Collegiates was intended to be my last competitive hurrah; my only goal was to make the quarterfinals. Winning the finals on my turf (East Coast represent!), to the cheers of Harvard, Brown, MIT, etc, was incredible. National champion, Pam Am team member, and then to receive Female Athlete of the Year? I was flying.

(TKDI): Winning gold at Collegiate Nationals earned you a spot on the Pan Am Collegiate Games Team, what was that trip like for you?

(Wu): I loved the experience of representing the USA at an international tournament. My own sparring wasn’t that hot, but there were some amazing matches by my Pan Am teammates, really inspirational. A great way to cap my collegiate taekwondo career.

(TKDI): What is a typical training week like for you?

(Wu): When prepping for Collegiates and SWUG Team Trials, I would rotate between practices at Harvard, Team New England, and tBos. I’m grateful to all three for giving me so many opportunities to learn and train.

(TKDI): If you could give one tip to up and coming athletes, what would it be?

(Wu): As Coach Tang always told me, “Get in there, and do what you do. Be confident!”

(TKDI): You recently graduated from Harvard, what are your plans now, for both TKD and life in general?

(Wu): I am attending graduate school in London to study cognitive neuroscience on a Marshall Scholarship. Taekwondo will always be ingrained in how I think and move and act.

(TKDI): What is something not many people know about you?

(Wu): I studied Chinese, Spanish, and Polish in college.

Shout outs and Thank you's:

(Wu): I don’t think I’d be the athlete I am without my coach, Michael Tang (“Team Tang... Wha wha!”). I don’t think I’d be the person I am without my master instructor, Richard Min. They both instilled into me confidence, thoughtfulness, and ambition. They will always have my immense respect.

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Jayson Grant Please Report To Holding

Taekwondo Insider News recently got the chance to interview Jayson Grant. Jayson is a 2009 National Collegiate Champion, 2009 Pan Am Collegiate Games Team Member, and a 2009 Summer World University Games Team Member, just to name a few of his recent accomplishments.

Name: Jayson Dennison Grant
Birthday:10/02/88
Competition Weight: 79 kg Middleweight or Olympic Welter
Height: 5'10
College: Quinsigamond Community College
Coaches: Daniel Chuang And Fabio Takahashi

(TaeKwonDo Insider News): What first got you into Tae Kwon Do?

(Jayson Grant): My God-Father had been doing this and I liked martial arts and so my parents were looking around and my God-Father Introduced us to the school and signed the papers and that's how I got started

(TKDI): You have competed in several different weight classes in the past few years, how tough is the transition between different weight classes?

(JG): In my opinion I did not see it as challenging as some people make it out to be, but the harder thing was to keep my speed and my stamina up as well as my strength as I went up weight. For me, I was always the shorter guy coming up never the tallest for any division and so I had to have something they did not have. I have always believed you can fight any weight division if you have the skills and heart.

(TKDI): What’s your secret to cutting weight?

(JG): Believe it or not, I always fought my natural weight, my parents never believed in cutting huge amounts of weight. So during my junior years I never cut a pound and even as an adult as well, never cut a lot because I have seen what has happened to so many tkd athletes and their bodies. Most of the time their bodies can cut the weight but after years of abuse your body starts fighting you and it's never the same. The funny thing about me is I eat the same all year around but when I work out more and more, I shed weight very easily and sometimes get below my weight class but I still feel very healthy. So the secret for me is, eat and constantly workout and then up the workouts and your metabolism will speed up and weight just comes off.

(TKDI): What is your preferred weight class to fight at?

(JG): To be honest I would love to fight the new light weight class of 162.8 pounds would be realistic to me. That's a weight in my head I know I can have success at and could cut down to rather than the 158.7 weight that it use to be. I was a very talented light weight coming up but I then started track and field and started to build muscle. So I knew it would become harder to fight that weight doing track so I went up a weight class. I like welter though because it is a tweener weight class kind of like cruiserweights in boxing not extremely big or not small it's just right.

(TKDI): Do you have any pre-competition routines, or superstitions?

(JG): I tend not to talk much to people or try not to because it can be a distraction and my friends and teammates always worry when I don't talk the day I fight because I'm a very social type of person. I also tend to sleep because I like sleeping and it relaxes you, because if you are stiff and all wound up when you fight you usually don't do well. Rather than my relaxed and confident method because I feel you can make the game of tae kwon do easy if you relax but don't stay totally relaxed still be focused though.

(TKDI): What is a typical training week like for you?

(JG): It changes but this past month, run on the track for a few miles and do some stairs every day except Saturday and Sunday do cardio kick boxing Mon Wed and Fri. Then do open work out after Mon Wed Fri. Tues - Thurs is sparring workout and something I try to do every day is play basketball and on Sunday I train with my coach Fabio Takahashi and always do something new so it's always a surprise when I get there to workout. Saturday is usually my day off my time to do something exciting.

(TKDI): You recently got back from the Summer World University Games in Serbia, what was that like?

(JG): Amazing seeing and walking with so many different countries and sports was thrilling and how there was no political conflicts between the countries in the village or the games. The U.S.A. did receive some boos during opening ceremonies but the rest of the time the countries treated us respectfully. It was an epic event and was a once in a lifetime experience and I was at awe during opening ceremonies and the Games itself.

(TKDI): What was the most memorable competition moment so far?

(JG): I don't have one I have three of them in this order

1. Was winning 2006 senior nationals, the only time I have won and I was 18 years old when I won which was when I became an adult competitor, so I started my adult career off with a bang.

2. Was representing the U.S.A at the Pan American Championships and making it to the quarterfinals.

3. It involves me being there and that's witnessing Terrance Jennings or TJ capturing a bronze medal in the world university Games 2009 because it has gone on for 25 years. But I only know two African American males who have placed and TJ is one and the other is Rudford Hamon in 2003 and that to me is special on its own.
(TKDI): What was your favorite location you visited for competition or training so far?

(JG): Germany 2006 for training was very good and helped my tae kwon do game a lot and Canada in 2008 before my Pan Am Selection Camp was another camp that helped me out a lot as well.

My favorite location for competition would have to be Serbia because competition was high and we had a team which was one of the most talented Tae Kwon Do teams I have ever been on.

(TKDI): You have won gold twice at Collegiate Nationals in two different weight classes, competed at the Summer World University Games and the Pan Am Championships. What’s next?

(JG): Making senior national team for world championships winning pan am championships, pan am games, I also want to win all the top international tournaments in the world, it is a very big goal of mine. Hopefully one day when I retire from the game I can help evaluate and work with tkd athletes and scout them just like the NBA or NFL would is something I would love to do after my tkd career. Maybe Also Getting a program back at the Olympic Training Center because during the past two Olympics we have done well getting medals and at worlds and I think having a program back at the OTC would help our overall team. For example my opinion is if we could get 1/3 of the money that U.S Soccer has gotten we could get better results and in my opinion we have gotten better results then the U.S.A Soccer team overall in the last 8 years. That money could Be Used to develop more athletes more competition camps etc and that would put us on top of the tae kwon do world. That's my opinion on how to develop U.S. Tae Kwon Do.

(TKDI): Can you share a training tip, secret, exercise or drill with us?

(JG): Quality not quantity You can train for hours half ass and become good or you can train solid and efficient for an hour and a half and be great. So train efficiently and hard is my tip. I guarantee results will come if you do this.

(TKDI): If you could give one tip to up and coming athletes, what would it be?

(JG): To be confident in themselves and believe in what they have and remember what has gotten them this far in their young careers and try to progress from that is what I would tell a young man or woman.

(TKDI): What do you do for fun outside of Tae Kwon Do?

(JG): Play X-box fight night round 4 right now. Basketball is what I like to do also talk to my tkd friends and see how their life is going. But Saturday is mega movie day and I watch tons of movies on my digital cable box. Also dancing I love dancing during or out of practice and love to learn new dances and party of course.

Other Information:

(JG): I broke my thumb in early October and had to wear a cast for about 6-8 weeks with stitches and a pin to hold it together then after went to the national qualifier and qualified for world team trials.

(JG): I love any one that doubts me or anyone that hates on me because that is motivation for me to prove all of them wrong and as Muhammad Ali once said "Eat Your Words" is the feeling I want to leave the haters doubters and non-believers because I've heard you're too small for this weight why don't you cut weight. Or why don't you move down here because you can get the results you want if you comedown here to train. Or he is a one trick pony and is just a good athlete and won't be a good senior competitor. I love it when I prove them wrong and have a shell shock look on their face and as longs as I have them I will always be training to be the best.

Awards:
2008 NCTA Outstanding Freshman Male Athlete of the Year
2006 U.S. Cup Senior Player of the Year
2005 U.S. Cup Junior Player of the Year
2003 U.S. Cup Junior Player of the Year

Competition Record:
2009 SWUG Middleweight Team Member
2009 Pan American Collegiate Games (Gold)
2009 Pan American Collegiate Team Member (middle)
2009 National Collegiate Championships (Middle): GOLD
2009 National Team Qualifier (Middle): 3rd
2008 Pan American Championhships Quarterfianlist
2008 Pan American Championhships team member
2008 U.S. Senior Nationals (Welter): BRONZE
2008 Collegiate World Trials (Welter): 2nd
2008 Collegiate Nationals (Welter): GOLD
2008 York National Qualifier (Welter): GOLD
2007 World Tae kwon Do Open (olympic welter) Bronze
2007 Toronto Open: SILVER
2007 Olympic Trials (Light/Welter): 4th
2007 U.S. Senior Nationals (Welter): SILVER
2007 Pan Am Games Trials (Light/Welter): 3rd
2007 German Open Quarterfianlist Welter
2006 U.S. Senior Nationals (Welter): GOLD
2006 Pan American Open: GOLD
2006 Senior National Team Trials (Light): 3rd
2005 Junior Olympics (Lt. Middle): SILVER
2005 AAU Senior Nationals (Light): SILVER
2005 AAU Team Trials(Lt. Middle): GOLD
2005 AAU National Team Member (Jr. Lt. Middle)
2005 U.S. Cup (Sr. Light): GOLD
2005 U.S. Cup (Jr. Lt. Middle): GOLD
2005 Senior Nationals (Light): BRONZE
2004 East Coast Open (Junior): GOLD
2004 AAU Nationals (Junior): GOLD
2004 AAU Team Trials (Junior): GOLD
2004 AAU National Team Member (Junior)
2004 U.S. Cup: GOLD
2004 U.S. Cup Team Member (Junior)
2004 Irish Open (Jr. Middle): GOLD
2003 U.S. Cup: GOLD2003 U.S. Cup Team Member
2003 Germany Park Pokal (Jr. Lt. Middle): BRONZE

Favorite International Tae Kwon Do Athletes:
Choi Yeon ho ,Hadi Saei Bonehkohal and Daba Modibo Keïta and Servet Tazegul , Sebastien Konan , Chinedum Osuji.

Favorite U.S.A Tae Kwon Do Athletes (No Particular order):

Jason Han , Juan Moreno, Steven Lin , James Howe, Terrance Jennings, Rudford Hamon, Jermaine James , Johnny Nguyen, Jason Neville , Anthony Bell, Charles Smith jr., Nia Abdallah , Simone Devito, Elisha Voren, Eleini Koutsillianos

Favorite Athletes:

Muhammed Ali , Roy Jones Jr , Pernell Whitaker, Anderson Silva , George St. Pierre , Fedor Emilienko, Michael Jordan , Tracy McGrady , Paul Pierce, Kobe Bryant , Lebron James, Kevin Durant , Vince Carter , Roger Federer, Robihno , Ronaldinho , KaKa , Wayne Rooney, Thierry Henry, Ladanian Tomlinson , Randy Moss Peyton Manning , Chris Johnson , Ronnie Brown Antonio Cromartie , Ray Lewis Justin Tuck Osi Umenyiora , Brandon Jacobs.

Favorite All Time Winning Athlete:

Bill Russel Quote Greatest Celtic To Ever Wear The Uniform.

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