THE BIG PICTURE

Click for full resolution panorama shot

Austrian Open Poomsae, 15th June 2013, Vienna - At first, I edited this picture putting out of focus the whole scene except for Patrick Bogusch's terrific yeopchaghi. Then I realized the girl inside the back square was the amazing Matea Bersinic, and I felt sorry for blurring her, because last saturday I had already seen the judges wash out her performance with ungenerous marks. Later, I noticed many more faces and situations I really wanted to keep sharp, because apart from Patrick's side kick and Matea's choombi, this shot reveals a whole constellation of personal moments and feelings from the competition day. The judges are scrutinizing players on the mat, one coach is watching his pupil in apprehension, someone is resting, someone is bored, someone is stretching, someone is eating, someone is using his dobok to clean his nose. In one hour or so, some would be rejoicing, some would be crying, some would be thorn between delusion and relief, some others would be happy for themselves but upset for their friends and vice versa. It's TKD competition. It's one day and one place where hundreds of sport stories interwine in one piece of life cloth. It's something you can only feel when you're there. It's an event infinitely larger than your own performance. It's an experience that can always inspire you in spite of how poor was your result. It's something you can either enjoy or suffer while you're living it. It's something you cannot but miss when it's all over.

WINNING IN HAIRSTYLE

Whereas fighting helmets forbid to show off creative hairstyles, Poomsae's gearless outfit and emphasis on presentation truly let TKD girls unleash their princess within. And man, buns are all the rage here! Large or small, high or low, braided or sponge sustained, donut or onion-shaped. Big international Poomsae events nowadays look like chignon parades, staging a competition within the competition for the cutest head on the mat. God I love this sport :P

PEEP SHOW

If you're a veteran of TKD events, you might have noticed how many people think to make you a favor obstructing your view in a climactic moment. Fortunately, their attempts are not always successful.

RING-A-RING O'DOVES

The Olympic Champion Carlo Molfetta instructing more than a hundred children: <<You can do anything you like. If your master says so>>.
Then apparently it is freedom and discipline that make you a champ. And a pinch of humor, I guess.

Carlo Molfetta kicking the gigantic Liu Xiaobo (China) at London 2012 (photo twitter.com/taekwondofita)

PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS

After watching over and over again my Koryo performance at the last weekend Poomsae event, I have come to a grave decision. I have to shave my moustache, it makes me look terribly old from the distance >__<