Term times
Sports Centre
Fitness Suite
Monday Tuesday - Friday Saturday Sunday
10.00 - 22.30 09.00 - 22.30 09.00 - 17.30 10.00 - 17.30
09.00 - 22.00 07.30 - 22.00 09.00 - 17.15 10.00 - 17.15
The Pavilion
(Bookable times for outdoor facilities)
09.00 - 22.00 09.00 - 22.00 09.30 - 17.30 10.00 - 22.00
Interview Leon McCarron on his gruelling trek of China Strike a Balance Useful diet tips from Lucy Hale
ON THE
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OPENING HOURS
Autumn 2011
Please note: The opening hours below are for term times only. During University vacation periods the Sports Centre and Fitness Suite will close an hour earlier.
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CONTENTS
Update News You told us
Wellbeing
Challenge yourself
Nutrition
Strike a Balance
Interview
Leon McCarron
Club focus Table Tennis
Sports Scholars Aaron Kwan Maroje Culinovic Alex Cooper Azim Griffith
Membership Prices/How to join
Feedback
Win a sports goody bag
It’s great that you have picked up our latest edition of On The Move. This is an incredibly exciting time to be involved in sport, with the Olympics now less than a year away. I can feel the excitement and anticipation building month by month.
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This period challenges all of us to play our part in what should be a pivotal moment for sport and physical activity in our country. The UK’s Olympic legacy is all about more people being engaged in physical activity in all its forms - but you have to want to do it.
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Our responsibility is to provide you with the best possible facilities and services in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere to encourage you to get - or remain - fit and healthy.
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The term ‘fit’ takes many forms and in my mind means ‘fit for purpose’. Not everyone aspires to be an Olympic athlete (though we can still be inspired by them). Fit for purpose means being capable of doing the things you need or want to do.
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I challenge you, as part of our responsibility to support the 2012 legacy aims, to be really honest with yourself in answering this question: “Are you fit and healthy enough to do ALL the things you need or want to do?” If the answer is yes, that is brilliant! Keep doing the things that have got you there. If the answer is no, then perhaps now is the time to make some adjustments. There is no better time than now to consider your health and your future, grab the opportunities that are available to you and make the changes in your lifestyle that will get you what you want (these are often only very small changes). We will help you wherever we can to achieve your aims but you must want to do it. I hope you have a great year, lots of fun, and perhaps give a thought to my little challenge.
Graham Holmes Director of Kent Sport University of Kent
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WELCOME
to the University of Kent Sport’s Autumn 2011 edition of On The Move magazine
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ON THE MOVE 02
UPDATE
NEW SPORTS FACILITIES COMING IN 2012 As part of Kent Sport’s ongoing commitment to improving the sports facilities and services at the Canterbury campus, we are delighted to announce that we will be building new amenities and redeveloping some existing ones. This work is planned for completion at the end of the Olympic year 2012, when Kent Sport will be able to provide the following: Major extension to the fitness facilities almost tripling current capacity including: brand new CV equipment, a greater range of free-weights, lifting platforms, a new dance studio, a wellness clinic and physiotherapy service. A new covered structure over some of the tennis courts at the Pavilion, providing indoor tennis/netball and, where possible, other sports. This is a major commitment by Kent Sport to improve and expand the range of services we currently offer. We are presently working with architects on designs and plans for the various projects and we will display these as soon they become available. We will keep you fully
Nepalese athletes are likely to arrive in Kent in June 2012 to prepare for the Games. They will stay in University accommodation on campus and make use of its facilities for table tennis, weightlifting and powerlifting among other sports, depending on qualification.
informed throughout the development of these exciting projects. Make sure you check out the Spring 2012 edition of On The Move magazine for a special feature on our facilities.
Nepal to use University of Kent to prepare for London 2012 Games
String’em up A new racket restringing service is now available at the Sports Centre. Starting from just £10.50, the service will mean that you don’t have to go far to get your racket repaired.
One round left in the VC’s Cup
Nepal has chosen the University of Kent’s Canterbury campus as its main base in the lead-up to the London 2012 Games.
The VC’s Cup staff competition has been in full swing over the summer, with several competitions taking place including the School Sports Day, Rounders event and Bat & Trap challenge. The School Sports Day saw staff taking part in a variety of fun events from the egg and spoon race to a welly-throwing competition.
Following a visit by Nepal’s Olympic and Paralympic committees in July to assess facilities and services at various locations in Canterbury, the Nepalese delegation decided to use the University as its main training venue. The University will provide a range of training and accommodation facilities as a pre-Games training camp venue for Nepalese athletes qualifying for the Games. University Director of Sport, Graham Holmes said: ‘We are delighted to be hosting both Nepal’s Olympic and Paralympic squads’.
The Rounders event brought out many members of staff and was extremely competitive, as was the Bat & Trap. InterDev United came top in the pub quiz with an impressive 83.5 points out of 90. The Cup will now culminate in a Netball competition on Monday 17 October.
‘With a long track record for supporting elite sportsmen and women here at the University, we are looking forward to welcoming Nepal’s athletes. We will also be aiming to develop the University’s relationship with Nepal in cultural and educational areas as well.’
NEWS CHARIT Y
New sports facilities in the pipeline, Olympic and Paralympic teams to stay at Kent, VC’s Cup nears its climax...
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EVENT PINK ZU MBATH ON IN A BREAST ID OF CANCE R CAMPA Join Jeni IGN and her fitness cr two-hou ew for a r Zumba on Satur class in a d id Purchase ay 22 October 2 of charity 0 y 11 at 09 o u r tick Centre r eception ets from the Spo .00. r ts now.
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ON THE MOVE 04
UPDATE
You told us
We are always keen to hear what you think of Kent Sport and our Tell Us feedback forms have provided invaluable information in helping us improve our service and facilities. Between January to June this year we received 134 completed feedback forms, from both members and non-members, rating our service, facilities, helpfulness of staff, cleanliness and value for money. Our Welcome 84% of customers who completed a feedback form in the six months from January-July 2011 rated our welcome as excellent. Our service 72% of customers who completed a feedback form in the six months from January-July 2011 rated our service as excellent. Facilities 91% of customers who completed a feedback form in the six months from January-July 2011 rated our facilities as good or excellent. Helpfulness of staff 78% of customers who completed a feedback form in the six months from January-July 2011 rated the helpfulness of staff as excellent. Value for money 92% of customers who completed a feedback form in the six months from January-July 2011 rated Kent Sport value for money as good or excellent.
‘As an over 50s member for many years I cannot fault the helpfulness of the friendly staff. It is very good value for money and the social friendship is excellent.’ P. Wenman March 2011
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Responses to your comments
VISIT VISTA VISTA
C = your comments R = our response/action
C. The weights section needs to be slightly larger. Overall I’m impressed with the quality of the facilities and staff. (S. Salimali, February 2011) R. Over the summer we have improved the free weights area by installing new mats and reorganising the area. We have also secured funding for an extension to the Sports Centre, which will include a larger gym to be ready by the end of 2012. C. The Sports Centre should promote and organise friendly tournaments among students to keep it interesting. (E. Ahrs, March 2011) R. The Sports Development team have increased the number of intermural events this year including the introduction of the Inter College Cup, which this academic year will feature events based on the 2012 Olympics including weightlifting, mixed handball, an athletics Sports Day and a sports pub quiz.
NEW AT THE PAVILION
C. Please open the gym earlier on Mondays. (From the Kent Sport Survey 2011) R. The Fitness Suite now opens at 07.30 on weekdays.
You may have noticed that the Pavilion Café Bar has now become Vista Vista – an eatery selling freshly made pizzas, pastas and salads. The bar/restaurant has a brand new menu offering snacks, quality meals and hot drinks. You can also get a pizza to takeaway. Vista Vista is also fully-licensed to sell beer, lager, spirits and other cold drinks.
C. Keep the Sports Café open longer. (A. Moftagna, June 2011) R. The Sports Café is now open 09.30-17.00 Monday - Friday during term time, instead of mornings only.
Vista Vista is situated opposite Park Wood accommodation. During term-time, we are open Monday to Friday, 12.00-23.00 (and open until 01.00 on Wednesdays). Vista Vista is a great place to chill out with mates, whilst watching some sporting action from the viewing balconies overlooking the outdoor pitches and courts.
C. Could you please put a plastic bottle bin in the gym. (S. Sharma, June 2011) R. We have now installed recycle bins in several areas around the Sports Centre.
Make sure to check out Vista Vista and sample our new menu.
If you would like to tell us what you think of our service, our feedback forms are available at the Sports Centre and Pavilion receptions and online at www.kent.ac.uk/sports/contact. We will endeavour to continue to improve our service and are always keen to hear what you think of Kent Sport.
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WELLBEING
Kent Sport offers you the opportunity to compete in friendly, organised sporting tournaments and leagues, learn new skills and gain sporting qualifications. This autumn term we have put together a comprehensive programme of workshops, courses and competitions for you to do and enjoy. Whether you want to improve your racket skills, train to be a football referee or take part in the Inter College Cup, make sure you check out what’s on offer. Details of our autumn programme and how to book a place/team are on our website. Alternatively, please ask at the Sports Centre or Pavilion.
SPORTS COURSES IRB Rugby Ready Coaching Certificate Monday 3 October 2011 (19.00-22.00) Pavilion 3G pitch / £18.50 The IRB Rugby Ready programme is intended to raise awareness of good practice and help stakeholders manage the inherent risks of the sport by putting appropriate safeguards in place.
This autumn, why not learn a new skill, train to be a ref or coach, or compete in a sports tournament? Go on...
CHALLENGE
YOURSELF
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The IRB Rugby Ready Programme is a pre-requisite for anyone wishing to move onto the RFU Level 1 coaching course.
RFU Entry Level Referee Award Sunday 2 & 9 October 2011 (09.00-17.00) Pavilion & grass pitches / £50 The Entry Level Refereeing Award is the best introduction to refereeing rugby union and the ideal place to start your officiating career. The course outlines the laws applying to the different phases of the game and is delivered in a practical manner. This is also reinforced through classroom presentations of the key learning points. >>
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WELLBEING
FA Basic Level Referee Course
LEAGUES & TOURNAMENTS
Sun 9 & 16 October 2011 (09.00-17.00) Exam Thurs 20 Oct (18.30) Pavilion & grass pitches / £100
Racket Ladders
Bursaries are availabe to University of Kent students interested in registering for the Kent Sport Volunteering Programme. Please contact us for further information.
The racket ladders offer players of all standards an opportunity to play other students and staff on campus at their own convenience. Ladders are available in badminton, squash, table tennis and tennis and there is no limit to the number of ladders you can join.
FA Level 1 Certificate in Coaching Football
Dodgeball
Bursaries are availabe to University of Kent students interested in registering for the Kent Sport Volunteering Programme. Please contact us for further information.
This course provides an introduction to the organisation and delivery of safe and enjoyable coaching sessions for players. The course will introduce practical drills to develop players’ technical skills, such as shooting, turning with the ball and heading. It is ideally suited to those working with groups of young players. The course is open entry and participants do not need any experience to take part, just an interest in coaching and the motivation to improve their skills and understanding.
WORKSHOPS Introduction to Squash (Six-week workshop, every Monday) Begins Monday 3 October (13.00-14.00) This six-week beginners’ workshop is designed for those wanting to try squash for the first time or who have limited experience.
Introduction to Racketball (Six-week workshop, every Friday) Begins Friday 7 October (12.45-13.45) This six-week beginners’ workshop is designed for those wanting to try racketball for the first time or who have limited experience.
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Begins Monday 26 September 2011 Main hall, squash courts and tennis courts Free to full members, PAYG members pay appropriate PAYG rate
This course will provide an introduction to the laws of the game as well as developing the practical skills required to be a football referee. The course is run over five modules including the completion of six matches as a trainee referee, two of which should be observed by a mentor.
Sat 15 - Sun 16 October & Sat 22 - Sun 23 October 2011 (09.00-17.00) Pavilion & grass pitches / £170
INTER COLLEGE CUP Inter Autum term events Colleg The Inter College Cup (ICC) is Cup e a multi-event sports competition focused around the build-up to the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
All events are aimed at students at the University of Kent and played between the five colleges on campus. Colleges accumulate points throughout the academic year based on the results from each event. Rowing Starts Monday 26 September 2011 Open to men and women throughout the Autumn and Spring academic terms, individuals will have the option of completing any of the varied distances from this and previous Olympic Games staged in London (2,412m in 1908, 1,850m in 1948 and 2,000m in 2012).
Wednesday 14 December 2011 (12.00-14.00) Sports Centre main hall / £20 team entry fee Get in the festive spirit by throwing balls at one another! A mixed sport with a maximum number of six players per team on court at any one time, the main objective of each team is to eliminate all members of the opposing team. Fancy dress is optional and prizes will be awarded for the best dressed team as well as to the winners and runners-up. You’ve seen the film, now get involved!
There is also the option to perform the distances in teams of four (consisting of at least one female). Two teams per college.
Cost per game, per player Sport Centre members: FREE PAYG members: £3.20
Weightlifting Starts Monday 26 September 2011 Akin to the Rowing competition, the Weightlifting will take place in the Fitness Suite between the Autumn and Spring terms, with disciplines including bench press, squats and dead lifts. All three lifts must be attempted (with as much or as little weight as you can manage!) and participants’ positions on the leader board will be calculated according to the accumulative results, weight and sex of the individual.
SoccerZone is the umbrella name for the University’s five-a-side football leagues played every Friday between 12.00-17.00. There are five leagues of eight teams.
For health and safety reasons, participants must be supervised by a qualified member of the Fitness Team and results will be posted on the Fitness Suite noticeboard. Two teams per college.
Set up to increase football participation on campus, teams are limited to three Inter College Football players and one Kent FC player per squad. Captains should be wary of this when submitting their squads as any teams breaking the quota will be replaced by a team on the reserve list.
Men’s Basketball Starts Sunday 9 October 2011 £300 team entry fee Now entering a fourth season since its inception in the academic year 2008/09, the Inter College Basketball League has become a regular addition on the intramural calendar.
Soccerzone Begins Friday 21 October 2011 (12.00-17.00) 3G artificial pitch / £37.50 team entry fee
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Fixtures are played on alternate Sundays between 13.00-17.00 in the Main Hall at the Sports Centre. One team per college, with minimum of eight, maximum of twelve players. Men’s Football Starts Wednesday 19 October 2011 £350 team entry fee The Inter College Football League is the oldest running intramural competition on campus and consists of two teams from Darwin, Eliot, Keynes and Rutherford; as well as two from the Park Wood residential estate and a postgraduate team from Virginia Woolf. Park Wood residents and former residents have the option of representing their affiliated college or either of the Park Wood teams. All other players must represent their affiliated college. Please note that due to the high levels of interest in football on campus, any players selected to represent the University of Kent will not be eligible to participate in the Inter College Football League. Two teams per college, minimum of 16 maximum 24 players. Mixed Handball Wednesday 7 December 2011 £20 team entry fee A popular European sport, handball is a fast-paced game played between two teams of seven players who aim to score in the opposition’s goal using only their hands. The tournament is a mixed event and requires each team to have two ladies on the pitch at all times. Teams will be permitted a maximum of 11 players per squad. Two teams per college minimum of 7 maximum 22 players.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO BOOK A PLACE/TEAM ON ANY OF THE COURSES, WORKSHOPS, TOURNAMENTS AND INTER COLLEGE EVENTS, VISIT OUR WEBSITE OR ASK AT THE SPORTS CENTRE OR PAVILION.
ON THE MOVE 10
NUTRITION
Lucy Hale Sports Nutrition Lecturer University of Kent
I have been a sports nutritionist at the University of Kent for eight years. One thing I notice regularly each year is the struggle that students have to adjust to the sudden change in lifestyle that they are faced with. When you are new to student life, there are many adaptations that need to be made. Adjusting to living independently, finding a study/social life balance and a financial balance, to name a few. One thing that tends to be forgotten about is the food and exercise balance. By eating a good diet and maintaining physical fitness the ‘other’ things in life tend to be more manageable. The key to a healthy balanced diet is not to completely remove any food groups that you enjoy but to balance what you eat from the main food groups in the correct proportions so that you can maintain good health. Fruit and vegetables should provide approximately a third of your diet. One way to make sure you are eating enough is to make them part of every meal and include fruit snacks (three to five servings per day). Serving sizes can be confusing but generally a serving size is usually a small cupful. Not only are fruits and vegetables important in providing essential vitamins and minerals, but they are also an essential source of antioxidant vitamins.
It’s easy to fall into bad eating habits, especially when you go away to study. Bear this in mind on your next food shop...
Antioxidants have received more and more attention in recent years as research suggests they play an integral role in maintaining the health and structure of our cells and help protect us against diseases such as cancer and heart disease, as well as sport-related issues such as muscle soreness. The vitamins and minerals in fruit and vegetables are also important in the formation of enzymes that allow your body to metabolise fuel.
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When young athletes tell me they don’t like fruit and vegetables, I ask them how important it is to them to be successful in their sport. When they say 100%, I tell them that not eating fruit and vegetables will affect the way their bodies can make energy and therefore their bodies will not be able to fully adapt to the benefits of their training. >>
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NUTRITION
Carbohydrate (bread, rice, potatoes and pasta) is a food group that should also provide approximately a third of your diet. Carbohydrates are also found in fruit and vegetables but foods made from grains tend to contain a more energy-dense form of carbohydrate. Starchy carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy. The best types of carbs to include in your diet are unrefined carbohydrates as they contain the whole of the grain. For example, there are more nutrients in wholegrain bread than white refined or brown bread. Rice is an excellent form of carbohydrate and research suggests that it is more of an anti-inflammatory carbohydrate than wheat-based carbs. Meat, fish, eggs and beans are forms of protein. Protein is used to produce energy in small amounts especially when carbohydrate intake is low. This is why carbohydrate is called a protein sparer and it is important to consider both carbs and protein intake when trying to promote muscle growth and adaptation to training. It is important to have both animal and plant sources of protein in your diet. Meat contains more of the essential amino acid building blocks of protein than plant protein does. So if you are a vegetarian, it is important to mix a range of beans, grains, lentils and dairy products to make sure that the amino acid building blocks
complement each other to form a complete protein. Soy products and edamame beans contain the highest quality plant protein. The casein and amino acid found in milk and whey makes it a great post-training drink, as it helps to prevent muscle breakdown. Because of this, a chocolate milkshake is the perfect snack to have after an exercise session. Fish is an excellent source of protein and minerals. Milk and dairy are also rich sources of protein and calcium - though semi-skimmed and low fat versions are preferable. Fats should be eaten in moderation especially when eating animal products because of their high saturated fat content, which means that lean cuts of meat are preferable. Oily fish contains EPA and DHA omega-3 oil, which is claimed to have anti-inflammatory properties as well as improving the oxygen-carrying ability of the blood during exercise. Omega-3 is also linked to the improvement of many clinical inflammatory conditions and is used in conjunction with rheumatoid arthritis therapy. Generally, as a population we need to reduce the overall amount of saturated fat we consume and replace what we do consume with good fats from foods like fish and olive oil. Fluid is one of the most important nutrients. However, it is also one of the most difficult to consume for some people. We need to drink at least two litres of water a day. For each hour of exercise we do, an additional litre of water is required on top of that. Some of this water can be derived from food as there is some water content in fruits and vegetables. If you exercise for over an hour, you should aim to drink between 800 and 1,000ml of water per hour. An isotonic carbohydrate drink with a small amount of sodium will help keep carbohydrate stores topped up in the muscles and the sodium will help maintain electrolyte balance in the blood. It is also important to consume enough fluid in the recovery period after exercise. A good tip is to weigh yourself both before and after exercise and replace the amount of weight you have lost in fluid. For example if you lose 0.5kg you should replace 500ml of fluid, for 1kg replace 1,000 ml of fluid and so on.
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Source: www.food.gov.uk
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INTERVIEW
This autumn, former University of Kent student Leon McCarron will undertake a gruelling 3,000-mile trek of China, as part of a new TV series. Commissioned by National Geographic to produce the programme, Leon and adventurer Rob Lilwall will walk and kayak from Mongolia to Hong Kong, carrying with them everything they need to survive the challenging journey. The pair are also hoping to break a world record for the first known people to portage (carrying watercraft or cargo) across China. Since graduating from Kent in 2008, Leon has gone on to become a freelance cameraman, specialising in expedition and endurance events. Last year, he cycled over 14,000-miles solo and unsupported around the world.
On The Move EXCLUSIVE Kent alumnus Leon talks to us about his exciting new challenge, his forthcoming TV show for National Geographic, how he became a cameraman and tells us how Kent Sport has supported him in the lead-up to his trek of China.
LEON
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Before he heads off to Asia, we talk to Leon about his forthcoming adventure and how he has been preparing for it with the help of Kent Sports fitness intructors, Oli Prior and Chris Payne. What did you study at Kent? I studied Film. I started my three-year course in 2005, and initially had a mix of practical and academic modules. Eventually though, it became apparent that the practical side appealed to me more, and so I began to focus on those elements. When did you graduate? I graduated in 2008, with a first class honours degree. How did you become a cameraman? After my course, it had become clear that I wanted to be making films, and documentary especially was my passion. I had a job at the
McCARRON KENT.AC.UK/SPORTS
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ON THE MOVE 16
INTERVIEW
Gulbenkian Cinema at evenings and weekends, and during the day I tried to do as much camerawork as I could for free to build experience. Eventually I got paid expenses, and finally was even getting paid a fee to do camera jobs, although they were still infrequent. It’s a hard one to break into, but very rewarding and even while I was trying to build my CV I had some great experiences that were absolutely worth it - shooting a film in Rwanda was a highlight. How did you get into cycling? Cycling was a means to an end, in many ways. At least, that’s how it started. I’ve always been keen on keeping fit and staying healthy, and I love the ease and pleasure of cycling as a means of transport. It's also good for the environment, and so I’ve always tried to use sustainable transport as often as possible. During University, I began to cycle further and for longer periods, and I really loved the freedom it brings. I still find that going for a bike ride is one of the most relaxing things in the world. Why did you decide to cycle around the world? I’d been thinking a lot about all this freedom that you can get from riding a bicycle. I was also wondering how to further my camera career, and had pinpointed ‘expedition videographer’ as the term for the job I’d like, although I’m not sure I even knew exactly what that meant. But adventure has always been something that has driven me, and I feel taking risks, setting goals for ourselves and aiming high is crucial, and something that we should all strive to do. So eventually a plan formed where I could combine all my passions - I could cycle around the world, making a documentary about the people I met along the way! Makes sense, right? It did to me anyway! And it also allowed me to raise money for UNICEF, a really worthy charity, on the way as well. Once the idea had taken shape I couldn’t shake it, and so I started preparing and telling people about it - once everyone knew, there was no way I could back out! Tell us about your latest adventure? Starting this November, I'll be travelling 2,500 miles from Mongolia to Hong Kong, by foot and portable kayak (packraft). I'll be walking and
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paddling in the company of Rob Lilwall, a British adventurer who cycled from Siberia to London a few years back, taking three years to do so and passing through places like Afghanistan, Tibet and Papua New Guinea along the way. We will be unsupported, and trekking in winter, and hope the expedition will take around four to five months to complete. The big thing about this one is that we’ll be making a TV show for National Geographic - it’s to be called Walking Home From Mongolia, as Rob now lives in Hong Kong, and so we will self-film the entire thing.
Leon at Powder River Pass in the Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming
How did National Geographic get involved? Rob had made a TV show for Nat Geo before, about his cycling adventure. The idea for this journey was his, and when I came on board we began to hone it and then started pitching it to TV channels. Nat Geo were very interested, and eventually after a few months of negotiations they said they’d love to make a TV show of our adventure. What is your pre-trek training regime? It’s a bit of a tricky one in some ways, as there’s a lot of different elements to it. I can’t train too much for the rafting, as there’s a month of walking before that. So currently I’m in the gym here at the University a few days a week, and the Kent Sport fitness team are helping me work on my core strength, flexibility and mobility. Outside of that, I’m doing training hikes to get use to walking with weight on my back, and I’m trying to get time on the water when I can. It’s tough as I’m so busy with the other planning elements, but as I approach the last couple of months before departure, things will be getting amped up a bit.
motivation - I never fail to be impressed by the dedication and single-mindedness required to achieve what they do. What are your plans for the future and do you hope to do any more expeditions or challenges? I certainly do hope for many more expeditions and challenges - I just have to come back safely from this one first! Endurance events are a big draw for me, and I’d love to take part in more endurance expeditions. And my sense of adventure is not going to go away - I’m sure of that now! I’m trying to make a career for myself in this area, and hope that I can encourage many other people to do similar things - after all, I didn’t have any particular skills when I started doing this, apart from basic camera knowledge. I’m keen to have a career where I can continue to combine all my passions, and keeping pushing myself further and further - if I’m still doing that in years to come, I certainly can't have any complaints!
Who/what inspires you or motivates you? I’ve always had a strong admiration for people who are determined, and who really challenge themselves. Living outside of our comfort zone isn’t always pleasant, but the buzz and feeling that can be had from pushing ourselves is incredible. The explorer Ernest Shackleton is my hero - his story of getting stuck in the ice on his Antarctic expedition is truly incredible - I’d recommend his book South about the adventure to anyone. I suppose a lot of my inspiration comes from other adventurers, and there are so many amazing people out there doing fantastic things. Professional sportsmen and women as well are a
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www.leonmccarron.com
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Anyone for Ping Pong? Find out more about the sport that began life on Victorian kitchen tables
TAEKWONDO
CLUB FOCUS
Article by Mark Simmons
What is WTF Taekwondo?
Why do Taekwondo?
Taekwondo is one of the most popular martial arts in the world, officially practiced in over 120 countries by more than 20 million people and stands among the official games of the Olympics. It was originally developed in South Korea and is one of the more dynamic martial arts. Taekwondo focus’s predominantly on rapid combinations and high flying kicks. The name Taekwondo literally translates as the way of the foot and the fist. The modern form was not confirmed until 1955 but the art has its roots in various Korean forms stretching back over 2,000 years.
Taekwondo can be enjoyed for a number of reasons: Self defence: You will learn physical and mental skills to deal with potentially dangerous life situations Fitness: Taekwondo is a physical sport and will improve your cardiovascular endurance, power, muscle strength and flexibility Competition: We practice sport Taekwondo that involves a point scoring system. There is opportunity to compete at all levels whether it is friendly competition with fellow club or association members, or against other Universities at National competitions.
Philosophy of Taekwondo The philosophy behind Taekwondo involves the main belief that the legs are the longest and strongest offensive weapon the human body has. The legs are best equipped to deliver strong blows to an enemy whilst keeping the body (and particularly the head) furthest away from attack or counter-attack. Strong blows in the form of kicks, often multiple attacks, delivered from a mobile fighting stance are characteristics of Taekwondo. The closest cousins to Taekwondo are Karate (particularly free-style and Shotokan) and Southern styles of Kung Fu; however Taekwondo's impressive kicks are what make the Korean art quite unique. In many ways WTF Taekwondo competition sparring resembles western boxing in its appearance, particularly the types and speed of strikes coupled with fluid movements in a point scoring system with knock-downs, standing counts and knock outs.
TAEKWONDO >> >>
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CLUB FOCUS
with relative ease and the men’s first team were crowned South Eastern Champions for 08/09 season. The year after, the men’s first team were introduced to the rigours of first tier play and dually answered when called upon to showcase their talents. Sadly, they fell short at the final hurdle and succumbed to third place in the league. Despite not winning the league, Kent still managed to beat league leaders Imperial College. Although faltering in the domestic league, the men’s first continued to thrill with exemplary precision in the BUCS Knockout Cup, defeating challengers from the Midlands, Northern England and Wales before finally coming third in the Cup. That said, the club has earned one gold and two bronze medals in two competitive years, which by most standards is an accomplishment.
backgrounds in a relaxed sporting environment. It is also a good way to keep fit and it allows the players to determine the pace of the game. Furthermore, table tennis is relevant to all ages in life, as it can be enjoyed by both the young and the old, as well as male and female players. How to get involved? Anyone wishing to either join a team or simply come have a knockabout for fun, can feel free to email the Club President, Azim Griffith or the Club Secretary, Uli Eyesan at ag282@kent.ac.uk or ue6@kent.ac.uk respectively. They are both more than willing to answer any questions regarding the Club. Alternatively visit: www.kentunion.co.uk/organisation/UKCTT
The sport has expanded steadily on campus and the Club now boasts a record of four scholars, (two men and two women). The table tennis trophy cabinet is overflowing for the 2010/2011 season, with the men’s first team winning the Men’s Trophy Knockout Cup final at the BUCS Indoor Team Championships and silver in the South Eastern League; the women’s first team in their first year came second in the Women’s Championship in Sheffield and also won the South Eastern League. The men’s second team won a bronze medal in the South Eastern League. Scholars Azim Griffith and Caroline Huang won bronze in the BUCS Mixed Doubles tournament and Caroline also won silver in the Women’s singles, losing only to Emma Vickers, England’s No.5 ranking female player. Azim Griffiths also won Sportsman of the Year at Kent’s Colours Ball and the women’s first team won Team of the Year. Our congratulations go to all the players.
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Why play Table tennis? Table tennis can be enjoyed for a number of reasons. The major reason is undoubtedly the fun that the game brings, which entices those caught in the rapture of social play. The game is commonly enjoyed by work colleagues as well as family members in the comfort of their own homes. Being a part of such a great social sport allows you to meet new people of various
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STRING’EM UP ASK AT THE SPORTS CENTRE FOR FURTHER DETAILS 01227 827430 / sportsenquiries@kent.ac.uk KENT.AC.UK/SPORTS
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SPORTS SCHOLARS
SPOTLIGHT
In every edition, On The Move magazine focuses on four University of Kent students who have been awarded a Sports scholarship, to find out more about them I’m also a big fan of stand-up comedy - Dara O’Briain and Reginald D Hunter being among my favourite comedians. Describe a typical day for you as an athlete I consider myself lucky to have two similar days in one week! In my ‘peak times’ of the week, I have my fitness training in the morning, which may consist of weights sessions, running or swimming. My day then varies depending on what time my lectures are, with BUCS matches on Wednesday afternoons. After a light dinner, it’s off to fencing training, either on campus or in London, followed by a heavier supper to replace all the energy burned at training. Aaron Kwan Fencing Accounting & Finance How did you get into your sport? Having watched fencing at the Sydney Olympics, the huge adrenaline rush from that made me want to try it for myself. The secondary school programme in Singapore requires students to choose a sport as an extracurricular activity for four years from the age of 12; one of the reasons I chose the school I attended was because they offered fencing as one of those sports. Do you have any other interests and hobbies? Other sports I follow apart from fencing include Formula One and football; being your stereotypical Singaporean, I also enjoy table tennis, tennis, and badminton, although I haven’t shown any proficiency to entice me to switch sports!
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Who has had the biggest influence on your career so far and why? I have to put my success down to my coach, Maciej Wojtkowiak. About four or five years ago, I was starting to gain a reputation as just a talented junior - one who would never quite fulfil his potential. It was then that he took me on, stripped my fencing down to the basics, and started to build it up again. Since then, not only have my results improved drastically, but I’m winning matches in style and enjoying my fencing more than ever before. I owe so much of that to him. Who or what motivates you? I’ve had a lot of help to get me to where I am today, so the desire to prove to those people that they made the right decision, that I was worth the risk - that’s what pushes me to train >>
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university off the courts were made possible through the things that I am able to do and the people I met on the courts. I guess I owe something to tennis.
week after week. From the financial and moral support that my mom gives me, the technical help from my coach and teammates, to the relief away from fencing that my other friends provide, everyone has been a factor in getting me to my current standing. What is your greatest sporting achievement so far? Being called up to the England Universities team for the Home Nations Championships and winning the Inter-County title with the Kent team are obvious highlights, but among everything else, my performance at this year’s Slough Open is one that I always use as a benchmark. Going into the tournament with a hand and back injury (and yes, hindsight says I probably shouldn’t have been fencing in the first place), I drew a tough group for my round-robin and went into the knockout stages seeded 50th. This drew me against the 15th seed, whom I managed to defeat narrowly 15-14. How has the Kent Sports Scholarship helped you and what does it mean to be a sports scholar? Being a Kent Sports Scholar has probably been the most important contribution to my fencing this year. Previously, I would be planning how to pace myself through tournaments to hold off the effects of fatigue. With the help of the Scholarship programme and the trainers involved, that has no longer become an issue. I now go into tournaments knowing that I will outlast my opponents, all the while beating them for speed. Having an environment where I am surrounded by other athletes that have accomplished so much in their chosen sports is also such an inspiration, to the point where it makes me feel that what I’ve achieved is minor in comparison. The desire to live up to my fellow scholars and to earn my place among them is what drives me to keep training and improving.
How has the Kent Sports Scholarship helped you and what does it mean to be a sport scholar? The scholarship gives me and my team the essential boost we needed. It is not only the chance of working with professionals on my fitness and strength, but also being surrounded by great sportsmen from other disciplines that inspires me! I am especially grateful to my fitness coach Steve who is also working with my team mates and scholars Alexandre Melot and Alvaro Gonzalez-Moral. Without him we could have never stepped up our game like we did and pulled off such a great season. Besides, he is probably the nicest fitness coach in the UK!
Maroje Culinovic Tennis Economics How did you get into your sport? Tennis has a deep meaning for my family. When my dad was my age he used to play in Germany to finance his studies back home in Croatia. A few years later he became a full-time tennis coach in Germany. As a matter of fact, I have been holding a racket for as long as I can remember.
What is your greatest sporting achievement so far? An achievement that makes me very proud is the promotion of the UKC Tennis team to the first tier of the BUCS system! The UKC Men’s Tennis team is a unique collection of guys - we all love tennis and are so hungry to win, but what really lets us get the best out of each other is that the team spirit off the courts is just as big as on the courts! Sharing such success with these guys is unforgettable. It feels so good to be part of this team and group of characters!
Who is your sporting hero and why? I definitely admire Novak Djokovic. It’s so great to see how much longing for the title he shows on the courts, but the unique thing about him is that in all this seriously intense competition on the tour he never lost his boyish playfulness - the YouTube videos of him just fooling about behind the scenes at the big tournaments are legendary! To see such a warm-hearted guy being able to break Nadal’s and Federer’s reign with pure devotion and hardiness just makes professional tennis a little more human and so much more pleasurable to watch.
Who is your sporting hero and why? Within the sport of boxing, my sporting heroes are ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. Both of these athletes had great speed and a power that I admire. They also have shown the world their greatness. How did you get into your sport? I started boxing after realising I want to compete in a sport where I would only have myself to lean on. Soon enough, I attended a boxing taster session at the University, coach Norman Phillips spotted me and asked me to come along to a session with a really talent boxer called Aaron Hulston; who won gold in the English University Championship, and silver in the British University Championship for the University, I had a sparring session and from then I was hooked. How often do you train? Training when leading up to a fight takes up all my free time, away from studying. Mornings are early; I am running between three-to-five miles depending on the day of the week. Afternoons consist of a short gym session, followed by rowing, biking, cross trainer and skipping. My evenings are taken up with skill training and weights with my coach. Four hours out of my day are dedicated to training when leading up to a fight. >>
How does your training affect other aspects of your life, if at all? When I am in the gym with my fitness coach Steve or on the courts with my team, neither deadlines nor any other troubles matter. I am pretty sure that my sport contributes in its own special way in giving me the right balance to feel at ease and cool. Plus, probably the most beautiful things that happened to me at this
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Alex Cooper Boxing Politics & International Relations
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Describe a typical day for you as an athlete? Like a lot of sports, training and self-discipline is required. You need to be emotionally prepared before you can even think about being prepared physically: I feel like I have two different lives. I find when I am leading up to a fight, I feel like a modern day monk: I find I am in bed early and up even earlier. I’m very strict with what I eat, and the company I surround myself with; I want to always be in a positive state of mind. I work in a school called Stafford House School of English as an activities teacher, doing sports and games, alongside taking students to different sites around the country, giving walking tours of London, Cambridge, and sometimes Brighton. Luckily enough, the school is very supportive of my studies and want me to do well in my sport. They create a very flexible timetable for me to work around. How does your training affect other aspects of your life, if at all? Training has really made me respect time, and the hours in a day. I understand the importance of putting good fuel into my body and the importance of a good night’s sleep. Who has had the biggest influence on your career so far and why? The biggest influence in my sporting life has been my coach Norman Phillips, who has taught me everything to do with the sport and is always looking out for my best interests, like a father would his son.
well and this calls for commitment and focus, which are both mental skills required for excellence in sport, but are implemented to the studying of my degree as well. It is my belief that with a strong mind, anything is achievable, whether in sport or academics, as the steps we take today guide our path tomorrow.
Who or what motivates you? I enjoyed competing from a young age. I would always want to race up the stairs trying to beat the elevator, friend or member of the family that was in it. I also love the feeling of winning like most completive athletes. It is a key motivator in my life, whether it is in a sport or just passing a test set. What is your greatest sporting achievement so far? My greatest sporting achievement so far in relation to boxing was winning the University Boxing Championship, alongside being nominated for Sportsman of the Year. It’s a good feeling knowing that my peers at the University acknowledge my success.
Azim Griffith Table Tennis Law LLB
What are your future hopes and ambitions? Like most people my age, I have many ambitions. I’m going to keep boxing and keep improving my skills in the ring and out. I am going to continue to put 110 per cent into everything that I am passionate about, become successful in multiple fields of business and my life, and buy my Mama a real nice house.
How did you get into your sport? It may be rare for a male athlete to say but I can posit that I got into my sport thanks to my mother. When I was around eight years old I got into table tennis because it was my mother’s favourite past-time and in her prime she was a pretty decent player. I use to watch her play so much that I eventually picked up a racket. This led to me challenging her and subsequently being astonished to see that my mother could beat me in a sport. She even use to give me points so I wouldn’t feel too bad. This didn’t sit well with my ego, I trained, and trained, and trained so much. Initially, my sole goal was to be better than her but in doing so I caught the eye of the national coaches. They saw potential in me, and thereafter nurtured and moulded me into a junior champion at national, regional and international level in U-12, U-14, U-16 and U-18 fields of play. Based on that, I guess I can really say I owe it all to my mother.
How has the Kent Sports Scholarship helped you and what does it mean to be a sport scholar? I would not have had the expertise, which showed me how to get to the correct weight and conditioning to achieve the gold medal. Being a sports scholar allowed me the time to train harder with those of greater experience.
t? t spor a range of a l e c xcel in u ex offer s Do yo ersity of Kent students who e
How does your training affect other aspects of your life, if at all? Training and preparing for table tennis helps me with time budgeting and discipline. In my position as captain of my team and president of my club, I have always needed to orchestrate the smooth operations of the club and to ensure all players are ready for every match that they have to play. The training regimes I instruct my team mates to follow are, of course, required of me as
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What are your goals for the future? I aspire to be the best player in my country. To hold my national flag as high as it can fly above the greatest table tennis sporting countries in the world. I know this is not an easy task, so I’ll need to advance my skills piece by piece, to become the best in Canterbury, then the best at university level, then I’d like to take the number one spot in my country. After taking this title, I would (as I’ve sure most persons would) like to represent my country at the Olympics. This is easier said than done, as to be at that level requires training everyday and detailed regimes to ensure a cycle of constant improvement. That said, I plan to pursue my legal career and hopefully continue my table tennis aspirations after I have a solid plan to fall back upon. How has the Kent Sports Scholarship helped you and what does it mean to be a sport scholar? The scholarship award is an accolade to add to your self-worth first and foremost but the responsibility that comes with it should be the focus for every athlete. I am no different. Over the years I’ve received this scholarship and I’ve maintained my aim throughout. Hard work and determination embody the spirit of excellence and it is through the added financial backing of our establishment that I can pay more attention to the technical side of my game on the board without spending thought on possible financial hindrances. The team assembled is efficient and caters to the needs of the scholar by providing a support team to guide their fitness, advise against misdirection and expect high standards of output. It is the combination of the award with the input of the support that creates the responsibility to achieve great feats that culminates in the true meaning of the award to me.
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Anyone can become a member of Kent Sport. We offer peak and off-peak memberships for University of Kent students, staff and public Membership includes:
Prices
Unlimited visits, use of all sports facilities including the Fitness Suite, and entry to ALL fitness and dance classes.
University of Kent Students January - August 2012 Peak Off-peak
Discounts on courses, personalised fitness assessments and exercise programmes. So what’s the difference between peak and off-peak? The only difference is the times that you are allowed to use the Fitness Suite (see below). Apart from that, the memberships are the same. Peak times: access to the Fitness Suite at all times. Off-peak: access to the Fitness Suite weekdays between 09.00-1100 and 14.00-16.00, Saturday 09.00-13.00 and Sunday 10.00-13.00. Are there any extras that are not included in your membership? An additional fee is required for fitness consultations, exercise inductions, fitness assessments and programmes, some courses/events and equipment hire.
£157 £130
Pay-As-You-Go membership
Win a sports goody bag
Kent Sport facilities are available on a pay-as-yougo basis. There is a £1 annual fee to become a PAYG member. Charges for each activity thereafter are:
We are always keen to find out what you think of Kent Sport. Over the last year we have implemented ways for customers to provide feedback and ask us questions, including our Tell Us forms and online feedback form.
Students: £3.20 per visit Univeristy of Kent staff: £4.20 per visit Public: £5.20 per visit
You can purchase membership online at www.kent.ac.uk/sports or at the Sports Centre and Pavilion. Student membership is valid until 31 August 2011.
Please note that the above membership/visit prices are valid until 31 August 2012
University of Kent Staff (annual membership) Peak £209 Off-peak £184 To apply, complete a staff membership application form, available from the Sports Centre or our website. Return the form to Kent Sport with your staff contract, last payslip and payment. If you would like to pay via Payroll, please contact us for further details.
FEEDBACK
MEMBERSHIP
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All feedback is reviewed and helps us to further develop what we offer to you, our users. To encourage customers to tell us what they think we regularly give away tickets to Gillingham football team’s home matches. This term all customers fully completing our feedback forms will be entered into a free prize draw to win a sports goody bag. So let us know what you think and complete a form today, available from the Sports Centre and Pavilion receptions, or online at www.kent.ac.uk/sports/comment Also see our feature on p5, with details of the responses you have given us during the first six months of this year.
If you are taking out ‘partner’ membership you will also need to supply proof of ID. Public (annual membership) Adult Peak Adult Off-peak Junior (14+) Peak Junior (14+) Off-peak
£401 £376 £267 £240
Please contact Kent Sport to join. See our website for further details regarding membership options.
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Please note that the above membership prices are valid until 31 August 2012
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