In Italy's gyms, a silent yet precious search is being conducted every day: that of discovering the talents who could grace the Olympic mats tomorrow. It doesn't happen under the radar of advanced technology, but under the expert eye of instructors who recognize the rough diamond hidden behind a child's imperfect kick.
La Italian Taekwondo Federation He built this capillary network with painstaking patience, transforming each gym into a sensitive antenna capable of capturing hidden potential. It is an ecosystem where tradition and innovation merge, creating paths that lead straight from the suburbs to the most prestigious international stages.
Giugliano: Where Masters and Referees Shape the Future
The Palazzetto of Giugliano in Campania has been transformed into a cathedral of martial knowledge, where Angelo Cito has found the purest essence of the federal movementWelcomed by the regional president Domenico Laezza and the councilor Isabella Martinetti, the number one of the RIBBON It touched the deepest chords of the educational philosophy that inspires every gym in Italy.
"The teachings that your Masters have passed on to you must be passed on to your students.", he declared addressing the Technical Teachers gathered for the refresher course. Not a simple transmission of techniques, but custodians of a flame which must continue to burn from generation to generation.
But the meeting also reserved space for Race Officials, a category often overlooked yet fundamental to the integrity of the discipline. The call for gender equality in the refereeing profession He highlighted how taekwondo is an Olympic sport also in terms of values: "Men and women trained together, capable of managing every dynamic together. This is the Olympic spirit that leads us to shared goals."
Puglia, a land of talent: 25 years of dedication rewarded
In Puglia, a land that has always been able to nurture martial talents with the generosity of its soil, Angelo Cito found confirmation of how local roots are the lifeblood for the entire national movement. The meeting with amateur sports associations organized by Martino Montanaro's Regional Committee revealed a federal structure. full of authentic passion.
"In Campania I saw the same enthusiasm I found here in Puglia: so many people united by a single, great passion.", the president declared, underlining how Geography never stops the soul of taekwondoBut at the heart of Cito's reflection, a fundamental concept emerged: recognizing talent isn't just about identifying future Olympic medalists.
The most emotional moment came with the recognition of the Monopoli Taekwondo Center of Master Martino Montanaro, celebrated for over 25 years of activity.
It might interest you
"Entering the gym for me means going back to my roots," Cito confessed with that nostalgia that only belongs to those who have experienced the tatami from the inside. The teacher-student relationship remains the irreplaceable pillar on which every Olympic dream is built.
TaekwondOver and International Vision: A Sport Without Borders
President Cito reserved a special thought for the project TaekwondoOver, an initiative that transforms every gym into a laboratory for intergenerational coexistence. "Together, two worlds meet and complement each other: children learn the value of discipline and respect, while adults rediscover vitality, motivation, and new visions."
It is not simple social inclusion, but alchemy that transforms demographic diversity into shared wealth.On the tatami, generational differences disappear to make room for a universal language made of shared movements and values.
Cito's gaze then broadened beyond national borders, embracing the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation which from next year will take the name of Humanitarian Sport Foundation. "Its great success is demonstrated by the participation of many disciplines", the president proudly emphasized.
In a world crossed by conflicts, taekwondo confirms itself messenger of peace who unites rather than divides, demonstrating how sport can build bridges where politics often raises walls.
The Master and the Apprentice: Where Tomorrow's Champions Are Born
The real search for talent does not happen through sophisticated algorithms, but in the intimacy of a gym where master and student look into each other's eyes and recognize each other's hidden potential. It is in this primordial relationship that characters are forged even before techniques.
"Training seriously is the foundation for excelling and, one day, dreaming of the Olympics.", Cito recalled with the wisdom of someone who knows that every great champion was first of all a child who learned to respect the rulesThere are no shortcuts in taekwondo: the gym remains the sacred place where we grow together.
Italy's outskirts hold hidden treasures just waiting to be discovered. In every imperfect kick of today, tomorrow's Olympic medal may be hidden., as long as there is a teacher capable of believing in the daily miracle of human growth.
Comments (1)
The article is interesting, but I think more attention needs to be paid to how refresher courses are managed. Teachers don't always have the resources necessary for adequate training, and this can impact the quality of teaching.