#52: ITL Co-Leads Training Camp With Renowned Greek Coaches

The Malta Taekwondo Association’s latest event - the Island Fight Camp - delivered exactly what it promised: a ‘weekend of fun and hard training!’

Led by renowned coach, Professor Andreas Christidis and ITL coach Gianluca Barbara, the camp registered 50 total participants from Greece, Estonia, Libya and Malta.

All participants of the Island Fight Camp

Andreas Christidis (left), Gianluca Barbara (centre) and Joanna Scicluna; MTA Secretary (right)

The event didn’t begin and end with taekwondo coaching in the traditional sense. This was due to a number of sport psychology sessions organised by leading Greek psychologist: Dora Tzatzaki, who not only offered mindset classes, but one-on-ones, too.

Dora Tzatzaki (left) and Child athlete/ITL Emma Lautier (right)

Christidis, author of ‘Taekwondo & The Child’ is famed for his spectacular talents when working with young children. During camp, he got to do just that.

Over the four days (9th till the 12th of May), he delivered five remarkable sessions incorporating creative play. And naturally, the participants loved every minute!

A second group (cadets, juniors, and seniors), engaged in a heavier form of training dealing with advanced sparring strategies. It all came together on the final day (Sunday 12th May) with athletes pairing together for simulated sparring situations and, of course, sparring.

All ITL athletes joined the fray on sparring day.

Coaches Andreas Christidis and Gianluca Barbara leading the kids’ first session

Christidis’ contribution to the development of Malta’s local talent became the Association’s latest venture, with promises of more to come.

On behalf of all ITL members, I would like to thank Andreas and Dora for their knowledge, experience, and time. It also thanks the Libyan, Estonian, and Greek athletes who attended. All of them were able to contribute and share their own experiences.