Another black eye for Taekwondo

[YoungMan]

In the span of 15 seconds, Matos destroyed his reputation, got himself banned from the Games for life, wrecked the reputation of his school and its students, and tarnished the reputation of his art. Yeah it's one man, but perception is everything.
This is what happens when you don't exercise self control.

 

[YoungMan]

Even if he did have a case, he should have followed proper channels instead of taking matters into his own hands. If you know what the rules are and choose to compete anyway, don't get mad when you find they apply to you as well.

 

[CoryKS]

Should be in prison as well, this is not needed at any level.

Given that this is Cuba we're talking about, that's probably a done deal.

 

[MA-Caver]

This link works even better: http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/share.html?videoid=0823_SD_TKM_AU_L1783

Having watched that video, yeah the guy kicking the judge was totally uncalled for. Rightfully banned.
Spoiled kids playing in the olympics these days. Swedes throwing away their medals and spitting on the judges, Cubans kicking judges...
You're in competition and you know there are rules. Do the best you can in the time allotted and go on.
Should've protected that foot better (or worn pads) fella.

I don't see a blemish on TKD but I do see a blemish on the Cubans.

It's kind of depressing to see that the NBC clip has over 800,000 views, way more views than any of the other featured clips on the popular clips page that comes up after the video ends. This has turned taekwondo into a kind of "freak show" story in the mainstream media.

Disagree here, it doesn't make it into a freak show it makes it into a fair showing of what actually happened rather than hearsay.

 

[jim777]

Personally I think the guys and his coach should be fined. Not only banned but fined. Also if there are charges for for assault, press them as well. A clear message needs to be sent. That these actions are not tolerated.

I'm waiting to see if these two (Matos and coach) get a hero's parade back in Havana or escorted to jail. At this point I wouldn't bet either way...

(And all of the non martial artists who've mentioned the fight to me have been heavily on the "Did you see the Cuban freak out?" side, and not the "Did you see the TKD guy freak out?" side)

And while I feel badly for the youngsters who have trained for the Olymipcs in TKD for years and years and may not now ever get the chance to compete in an Olympics, the hands down sparring Olympic TKD that exists now has to go away. It has to.

 

[Windsinger]

The thing I find almost as shocking as the act itself is the fact that there are so many people supporting this clown! Now, I admit, I tend to have a very optimistic view of the world (some would say 'unrealistic' ). But even so, the adulation some people have for Matos and the demonizing of the ref I find utterly baffling.

The proof is right there in the video that Matos was justifiably disqualified, and that he lashed out at the ref out of anger. How can people believe this guy was right?

I think the most disgusting thing is people saying that the ref deserved it because "he's a ref. They're all corrupt." What utter tripe! My fiancee is a ref in two different sports, so I know that most of the crap refs get is totally unjustified. But even in situations where a ref is in the wrong, there's no excuse at all for this kind of behavior. (Personally, I thought the reffing I saw was pretty good in these matches. The judging... not so much. (*cough*Ivett Gonda*cough*robbed*cough* )

I had one guy on YouTube telling me Matos was justified because he was "defending his honour". Sorry, any honour Matos had he threw away with a single kick. It wasn't his honour Matos was defending. It was his over-blown, misplace pride. He lashed out at the ref because the rules were 'unfair' (read: 'did not favour Angel Matos').

Amusing side story: My fiancee was reffing a high school basketball game. She fouled one of the players, and the assistant coach of that team went ballistic. After a couple of minutes, my fiancee told her to sit down, and if she stood up to complain one more time, she would be receiving a technical foul (she'd been rather vocal through the whole game, even though her team was winning from the outset).

Well, not five minutes later, she went off again. True to her word, my fiancee t'ed her and ejected her from the game.

After the game, as we were walking out, the assistant coach was in front of us talking to someone. She said, "Can you believe she gave me a technical?!"

To which her friend replied, "Did you ever stop and think that maybe you deserved it?"

I was a good boy. I didn't laugh at her. Outwardly.

 

[terryl965]

You know it seem everyone is talking about the Cuban and rightfully should but the words from Jaun Moreno and the Lopezs should be express as well. I believe these words could damage TKD far more than that kick. The kick was bad sportmanship but the words about fixing and making all sign papers not to file a protest because of the all ready bad influence TKD has withen the IOC is disturbing to me. What is everyone else take?

 

[Twin Fist]

Terry,
i think you are more than likely correct.

I also think no one can be suprised that the Lopez clan and Moreno are saying these things, seeing as how to date, they have gotten whatever they wanted..........

 

[FearlessFreep]

And while I feel badly for the youngsters who have trained for the Olymipcs in TKD for years and years and may not now ever get the chance to compete in an Olympics, the hands down sparring Olympic TKD that exists now has to go away. It has to.

I tend to agree.

I will be honest, I watched some of the olympic rounds and these are supposed to be the 'best' in the world and all and to be honest, I find olympic TKD the most boring of the combat sports to watch. It's just excruciating to watch 6 minutes of fighting with a cumulative 10-15 seconds of anything real going on. And I just hate watching that the 'elite' of the sport use techniques that I've been taught and taught are just a bad idea, even *in* sparring. Hands down is one, foot placement is another, combinations being a bad one.

I'll probably still compete in tournaments and such for my own goals and reasons but I'm finding more and more that the more prestigious the fighters, the more boring the fights.

 

[arnisador]

Wow, unbelievable! Kicking a judge!

 

[Tez3]

I'm afraid in the UK the kicking of the judge came a poor second to the judges decision to ignore many of the two British players hits. That made all the papers and the national news reports on the tele.
The sight of a 17 year old lad in tears asking what he had to do to win when he knew he'd given it all and had many of his kicks ignored was irresistable to the press here then the lass in the same state knowing she'd won the match but being denied it made for a big juicy story. It's going to be remembered here for a long time and dragged up time and again. She could have had a gold or silver if it hadn't been for the bad judging is how everyone thinks. The story may die but will be resurrected for the next Olympics for sure.

 

[CoryKS]

I'm waiting to see if these two (Matos and coach) get a hero's parade back in Havana or escorted to jail. At this point I wouldn't bet either way...

Looks like it's going to be the former. Zombie Castro has given his seal of approval.

 

[terryl965]

Looks like it's going to be the former. Zombie Castro has given his seal of approval.

That is a shame but if they did try and sway the official with money then that may have some light on the competitor. We will need to watch and see if it becomes true or not.

 

[Tez3]

What's going to be overlooked now because of the support for the Cuban is the fact that the two boxers among others of different nationalities were robbed.
I can understand the Cuban's frustration if he felt the ref was being unfair but obviously kicking him was the wrong way to redress any wrong that may have happened. Doesn't strengthen your protest to the officials any, tends to make them a bit anti really.

Doesn't he understand if you are going to kick someone like that you do it when there's no witnesses not potentially hundreds of thousands of them lol! :tantrum:

 

[FearlessFreep]

Doesn't he understand if you are going to kick someone like that you do it when there's no witnesses not potentially hundreds of thousands of them lol! :tantrum:

You hold up your hands and say "Hey, man, I really don't want to fight you"

 

[jim777]

Looks like it's going to be the former. Zombie Castro has given his seal of approval.

Yeah, and another. I had a feeling.

 

[granfire]

Blah Blah Blah....more rethoric....:barf:

 

[Kwanjang]

From the information I have gathered, it is quite possible TKD will be removed from the olympics. That is very sad for all those people who invested in the TORCH program and all the "olympic" based schools, IF TKD is indeed removed from the games. As a longtime practioner of TKD, I do not like the olympic version. However, I embrace the traditional aspects.
It would seem the bad sportsmanship from other sports is bleeding into "olympic" taekwondo. I am not trying to ruffle any feathers-just my opinion.

 

[mango.man]

From the information I have gathered, it is quite possible TKD will be removed from the olympics. That is very sad for all those people who invested in the TORCH program and all the "olympic" based schools, IF TKD is indeed removed from the games. As a longtime practioner of TKD, I do not like the olympic version. However, I embrace the traditional aspects.
It would seem the bad sportsmanship from other sports is bleeding into "olympic" taekwondo. I am not trying to ruffle any feathers-just my opinion.

TKD is already locked into the 2012 games. Nothing will change that now. It barely made it though in the last vote The next vote, to determine the sports for the 2016 games, will be held in October 2009. I am sure TKD will be on the chopping block again. We will see if it survives. What helped it survive last time is that so many poorer countries see TKD as an opportunity for their country to win a medal at little cost. If enough of these small poor countries vote again to keep it, than it will stay.

 

[Laurentkd]

Here is a new question:
what are you (or your instructors) saying when students ask about this?
It happened twice tonight, and the gist of what my instructor said was that there are bad apples in every sport, and what we do isn't really Olympic Taekwondo anyway. Sure we teach WTF forms and get Kukkiwon certificates and follow basically the same rules in tournaments, but we do not train as an "Olympic sparring" school. Olympic Sparring is just the sport aspect of the art we practice.
What has been discussed at your dojang?