TKD Certified Coach Comments on Houston Chronicle article. Please Read!

In the July 27th edition of the Houston Chronicle, Sports Writer David Barron wrote an article titled "First family of taekwondo realizes Olympic dream". Within that article he wrote:

"Steven Lopez qualified in 2007 for his third Olympics, and Mark and Diana followed suit this spring at the Olympic trials, where Diana defeated 2004 silver medalist Nia Abdallah of Houston in overtime in a hotly disputed match."

NOT SO FAST MR. BARRON! LOOK AT THIS COMMENT LEFT ON THE WEBSITE IN RESPONSE TO THE ARTICLE AND THE OUTCOME OF THE FIGHT.

2win wrote:
I saw the video for the first time. My coach saw it and stated that Nia should have won that fight. I agreed.

I am a TKD Blk belt and have been competed since 83, and also a certified referee and also a coach. Looking at round by round:
Round 1:
Nia 4 points ( 3 round kick: 1 on left kick, 1 on the double kick, fake right and landed on left kick, 1 on left kick, 1 on fast double right/left) This happened with in 30-40 second into the fight. Nia did not score on the head kick on this round is because it contacted on her shoulder and not on the face. Therefore shhe did not score 2 points.
Diana - 0

Round 2:
Nia: 2 points to the head (an "illusion" kick ie. make it seems like a round kick but then hook at the last second to contact to the face) Nia definately had a solid kick on that at the 30 second into the 2nd round. Diana fell down.
Diana: 0

Round 3:
Nia 2(scored first on the right leg fast kick. Then 1 more on the right leg fast kick

Diana: 0 ( She kicked a bit more, but nothing landed)

Sudden death: (Rule: First one landed a kick, wins)

Nia- scored first on the right leg lunge round kick. It was not too clear though..ie..solid enough but it was there. 1 more on the right leg round kick, then Diana counter with her right leg and fell down. Nia kicked first on this exchange. Nia then 1 more on the right leg round/push kick and Diana lost her footing. A solid kick. 1 more solid round kick to Diana and Nia lost her footing and fell.

Last 30 second Diana kicked and MISSED, and Nia counter with her right leg and landed.

Result:
Nia: 0 ( with many FIRST kicks and landed)
Diana: 1 ( with 1 missed kick)

Diana won.

Critique on the ref:
- should have given Nia a -1/2 on turning the back on the fight when she just turn around and walk off. She was hurt and I do not know how.
- Should have given both fighters more -1/2 for stalling.

Summary:
Nia was definately the better fighter: Superiority on kicks, superiority on initiating kicks, landed more kicks.

Statistically, Nia delivered more kicks and landed more. Diana kicked, but nothing was landing. Lots of jammed kicks. She did do more on 3 round and on the sudden death. But it was not landing.

On the old system (USTU) when "sudden death" round was non-existant, the center ref will decide on the superiority of the fighter. Nia was the superior fighter. She could have represent the US much better than Diana.

With that said, Diana now really have to proof herself in Bejing. With the burden carrying to China, Diana really, really have to give it all and let the TKD people in the US that she has what it takes to represent the US TKD or else the Korean will have her for lunch.

Diana looked very hesitant and not confident at the trial.

As for me, I fought National and went to Team trial before way back when. My coach was up there with Clay Barber, Juan M., Ms L. Love, Ms D. Holloway...way back when.

Posted: 7/28/2008 11:19:08 PM

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READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE,OTHER COMMENTS AND SPEAK OUT AT: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/oly/5909541.html