Tauranga’s Team KO Taekwondo entered the Big Boss International for experience, not medals, but exceeded expectations with two golds and trophies for best team and coach, surprising Master Kesi O’Neill.

The tournament took place in Taiwan for the first time on March 8-9. Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and combat sport involving primarily kicking techniques and punching.

Eight taekwondo practitioners aged 15-48 attended the tournament from Tauranga to compete against more than 2500 other competitors from 12 countries.

“It’s the biggest [tournament] we’ve ever seen,” said Team KO Taekwondo instructor Master Kesi O’Neill.

Competitors from Thailand, Indonesia, India, Korea, Australia, and more gathered in Taiwan for the biggest competition the local club has ever attended.

Despite the tough competition, O’Neill said the team was well prepared.

“We trained for seven weeks [five days a week]. We had a PT that came and took them to the gym for strength and conditioning.” He said in training, they did drills “over and over”.

“I prewarned them, “This is a big step, we go in there just to experience it, not to win any medals, if we win, that’s a bonus, but just go to experience.

“We were the underdogs.

“I rather they came out of the ring healthy and safe.”

O’Neill said this tournament allowed the club members to learn more about the sport from other cultures.

He said it was an eye-opener for the athletes to see how taekwondo is practised in other countries.

They saw new techniques, how others trained and presented themselves, and the attitudes of others while in the ring.

O’Neill divided the athletes into two categories, A and B, so they could spend more time on the mat, gaining more experience and exposure.

He said he was surprised when the team won gold medals and trophies, considering they only entered for the experience. “I was proud. The whole team did really well,” he said.

While winning the medals and the trophies was a bonus, O’Neill was most impressed with the team’s determination to excel and concentrate on being a team.

“It was good to see they took the things we trained for with them in the ring and the confidence they had.”

O’Neill said they made a mark for New Zealand and took their culture with them to the tournament, performing a haka during the opening ceremony.

“I think that’s why we won the best team award: We brought the culture, plus we were yelling at each other and supporting each other.”

Now, the team will compete on home soil at the Budo South Open, a Tauranga tournament in April.

The team will attend the national tournament in Christchurch, the Kukkiwon Cup in June.

Later in the year, the team will travel to Australia to compete in the Brisbane Open Taekwondo Championships.