Melissa Timperley: Kicking and Punching towards the ITF World Championships

ABOUT ME & MY BACKGROUND

Hi everyone, my name is Melissa Timperley, but my friends call me Mouse, I am 22 years old and a 3rd Degree Black Belt in the Korean Martial Art of ITF Taekwon-Do.

In 2002, at the age of 9, I discovered Taekwon-Do at a local Have-A-Go Day, where I instantly fell in love with the Art. At the time, time I was unaware just how important Taekwon-Do would become, and how much it would impact my life.

13 years later, I am representing New Zealand, for the 10th time in a number of events including:

• Individual Senior 3rd Degree Patterns (current World Champion);

• Individual Micro-weight (-50kg) Sparring (current Bronze Medallist);

• Team Patterns (current Vice World Champions);

• Team Sparring and;

• Team Special Technique (current World Champions).

I have enjoyed many competition successes both locally and internationally, and consider myself a dedicated, genuine athlete.

Dedication, passion, love, sacrifice. Blood, copious amounts of sweat, and the occasional tear; it is never an easy road to gain this opportunity to compete against the worlds best, but it is one I cherish and am devoted to achieving. I love the competitive side, the feeling of winning and leaving my all in the ring, but I also love the comradeship which is created alongside the team, knowing I am doing my family, friends, supporters and my country proud on the international stage.

I am driven to be the best I can be and determined to succeed in achieving my dreams.

But there is more to me than just my passion for Taekwon-Do. I am also studying at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) with an A average, where I have achieved my Bachelor in Sport and Recreation, majoring in Health and Physical Education and currently enrolled in the Masters programme for Teaching and Learning (Primary).

Taekwon-Do is not just a sport to me, but in fact my passion and a lifelong journey.

WHAT IS ITF TAEKWON-DO

The original Taekwon-Do was developed by General Choi Hong-Hi in 1952 for the purpose of military combat, after which the syllabus was modified, forming the basis of the ITF style being founded in 1966.

Due to historical political issues, today there are two main styles of Taekwon-Do: The International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF; the style I participate), and the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF; the style seen at the Olympics).

Currently the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) promotes a variety of skills including: self defence, sparring, patterns and other disciplines, also promoting a wholesome and active lifestyle. At competitions you have the opportunity to compete as both an individual and part of a team event, as described below:

• > Patterns is a set of movements in a technical form judged on technique, power, balance and precision;

• > Sparring is what most people would recognise, where two opponents ‘fight’ in a ring, scoring points by landing punches and a variety of kicks on their opponent within 2x 2minute rounds;

• > Special Technique is where competitors perform set jumping kicks to hit boards at heights in excess of 2.3 metres;

• > Power, as the name suggests, is the destruction of boards

• > Team Pattern, is where a group of 5, perform a choreographed pattern together

• > Team Sparring, like individual, is where two opponents ‘fight’ or spar for two minutes. The team with the most points at the conclusion of all 5 members sparring is the winner

• > Team Special Technique is again like individual, where each member in the group performs their specific speciality.

• > Team Power is the same as individual, however with a similar format to the running of Team Special Technique

If you would like to know more about ITF Taekwon-Do, please feel free to visit our organisations webpage at http://itkd.co.nz/index.php

MY EXPERIENCE & MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS

> Been representing New Zealand for 10 years (2006-2015)

> EPSON Under 18 Female National Champion from 2003 – 2009 (when I became too old to compete in the series any longer)

2014

World Cup - Montego Bay, Jamaica –World Cup Champion -50kg Sparring, Silver, 3rd Degree Patterns, Bronze, Special Techniques, Best overall Senior Black Belt

Nationals – Gold 3rd Degree Patterns, Gold Micro/Lightweight combined sparring, Bronze Special Technique, Gold Team Patterns, Bronze Team Sparring, Bronze Team Special Technique, Best overall Senior Black Belt,

Award - Sportswoman of the Year at ITKD National Awards

Finalist for Sportswoman of the Year at Counties Manukau Sporting Excellence Awards

Nominated for Halberg Sportswoman of the Year

Competed a Bachelor in Sport and Recreation, Majoring in Health and Physical Education

2013

Senior World Championships - Benidorm, Spain – World Champion 3rd Degree Patterns, Bronze -50kg Sparring, Gold Team Special Techniques, Silver Team Patterns, Runner up Best Overall Senior Female Black Belt

Nationals – Gold, 3rd Dan Patterns, Silver Micro/Lightweight combined sparring, Silver Special Technique, Gold Team Patterns, Gold Team Sparring, Gold Team Power, Silver Team Special Technique. Best Overall Female Team

Awards - Nominated for Halberg Sportswoman of the Year

Trained in Ireland with National coaches and competitors for a week, before attending Polish Summer Camp for 10 Days with World Class Instructors and Coaches (Only person from NZ to attend)

2012

World Cup, Brighton, England – World Cup Champion 3rd Degree Patterns

2011

Senior World Championships - Wellington, New Zealand – Bronze 3rd Degree Patterns, Bronze Team Patterns

Nationals – Gold 3rd Degree Patterns, Gold -50kg Sparring, Gold Team Patterns, Gold Team Sparring

Spent two months traveling around, training in Ireland and England, before attending the Summer Camp for 10 days in Poland (Only person from NZ to attend).

Dublin Open – Gold 3rd Degree Patterns, Silver -50kg Sparring

Celtic Cup, Cardiff, Wales – Gold 3rd Degree Patterns, Gold -50kg Sparring

Wateford, London – Bronze 3rd degree Patterns, Bronze -60kg Sparring

2010

Asian Championship - Ho Chi Mihn City, Vietnam – Gold 3rd Degree Patterns, Silver Middle-Hyper weight Sparring, Gold Team Patterns, Bronze Prearranged Sparring

Nationals – Gold Junior 2nd Degree Patterns, Gold Micro/Lightweight Sparring, Silver Special Technique, Bronze Power Breaking, Silver Pre-arranged sparring, Gold Team Patterns, Gold Team Power, Best over Junior Black Belt.

Award – Junior Student of the Year

2009

Junior World Championships - Mar Del Plata, Argentina – Bronze Special Technique, Gold Team Patterns, Gold Team Special Technique.

Manurewa Sports Awards - Sportswoman of the Year and International Achievement Award

Stephenson Papakura Youth Awards – Sportswoman of the Year

Passed to 3rd Degree Black Belt with Distinction (over 80% of marks)

2008

World Cup - Riva Del Garda, Italy – World Cup Champion 2nd Degree Patterns

2007

Junior World Championships - Quebec, Canada – Gold Team Special Technique, Silver Team Patterns

2006

Junior World Championships - Tegucigalpa, Honduras – Silver Special Technique, Silver Team Patterns

BUDGET

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – Jesolo, ITALY – MAY 2015

• Flights from Auckland to Jesolo, Italy and home again - $3,116.00

• Accommodation for 11 days - $1125.00

• Entry Fee - $185.00

• Travel and Competition Insurance - $200.00

• Dobok (uniform), team tracksuit and gear - $1,383.00

• New Zealand Team Training Camps from December 2014 – April 2015 = $600

• Weekly trainings ($10 per week for venue costs) total - $170

• Total Costs - $6779

SUPPORTER JOURNEY

This journey is not just about me, I would love for you to join me and be involved on this incredible journey, attempting to defend my titles.

Firstly, to everyone who has PLEDGED to support my journey, Thank you! I will definitely be taking you with me in my suitcase and carry on to Italy. Well that’s what it will feel like.

Social Media and I get on like a house on fire, just check out my Facebook page (facebook.com/MelissaTimperley92), Twitter (@TKD_Mouey) and Instagram (Miss_Mousey92) for regular updates, by way of post, photos and even possibly short videos (internet connection dependent of course).

For those who pledge:

All Pledges – Will personally thank and promote your support through my social media pages.

Pledges over $500 – We can personally discuss suitable means of support to you or your business. (For example: promotion by wearing your company / personal name/logo on a t-shirt which will accompany me and my number 1 supporter to trainings throughout NZ and to Italy)

$1000 + – Will receive a 1 hour personal training session with me upon return on an introductory lesson to Taekwon-Do (fundamental movements, patterns) or basic self-defence.

If you’d like to get on board and support my project to defend my title, please click ‘PLEDGE now!! :)