#3: ITL Goes Spartan For The First Time

Does Taekwondo fitness training give you the ability to complete a grueling Obstacle Course Race? We put it to the test.

For the first time ever, the ITL took part in the world-renowned SPARTAN 5K sprint, an OCR known for its daunting obstacles and mind-over-matter moments.

The race took place on the 22nd of October 2022.

Rope climbs, A-frames, atlas balls, balance beams, tyrolean traverses, and jumping over a blazing finish line - ITL head coach Gianluca Barbara put his skills to the test after just two months of Taekwondo training within the ITL. Presently, the club also engages in mixed-functional training that includes an added emphasis on upper-body work.

In his first attempt, Gianluca completed all obstacles with a time of 55:26. This recorded time meant a 50th overall finish (out of 296 contestants) with an overall 11th place finish in his age group (out of 46 contestants) and a 43rd place finish in his gender category (out of 190 contestants).

The competition marks the beginning of a healthy transition as the ITL enters the world of mixed-fitness events, with team martial artists trained to meet any challenge head-on. Not only those faced on the mat.