The surface of the rink at the LeRoy Community Centre was covered with floor mats, and you won’t get five for fighting. At least not on this day.

The International Taekwondo Federation Sask Cup was on in LeRoy with over 100 participants in action. The arena is buzzing with athletes, instructors, officials, and interested spectators. 

The Korean martial art has gained a great deal of popularity both worldwide and locally. With its emphasis on graceful sweeping kicks, many at head height, the competition is both graceful and intense. 

It’s a sport that tournament organizer Jeff Turchyn has been working at since 1996. He coaches students in Watson and area, some as young as four years old. 

Turchyn marvels at the increasing popularity of the sport. 

“The sport is in over 65 countries in the world, and there are over 2 million people doing it in the world. I brought it to Watson in 2013 as I was still affiliated with my own club in Saskatoon. Our club started with 10 students and now we’re up to 29.”

Turchyn’s students compete at provincial and national levels and many have proven successful at that calibre. Devdan Chegus is one of those students. In April, Turchyn and Chegus were in Munich, Germany competiting in world competitions.  

The Sask Cup is an open tournament for any competitors from Saskatchewan and Alberta. The opportunity for the Watson club to host came after Saskatoon’s previous efforts in putting on the western Canadian competitions. Turchyn and a host of volunteers stepped in to give the Sask Cup a home at the facility in LeRoy. 

Approximately 100 participants of all ages made the trip to LeRoy. The late September date allows the athletes to compete five or six weeks before national competitions. In effect, the Sask Cup provides a post-summer tune-up for the competitive season. 

Turchyn was pleased with the turnout and grateful for the help of a host of volunteers who helped to set up the venue. 

With officials dressed in formal attire and the white-clad athletes spinning and hurtling through the air, the sport has the elegance of dance. Make no mistake though, the demanding and physical nature of taekwondo requires a toughness and resolve that takes years to master.