KENNETH EDWARDS, Jamaica’s taekwondo representative at the upcoming London Olympics is 26 years old, but said he feels like 21, after spending the better part of this year in New York, training with renowned Jamaican coach Alvin Bernard. Edwards, a member of Jamaica’s combined martial arts team, historically qualified for London 2012, becoming Jamaica’s first taekwondo Olympic representative. To further hone his skills, Edwards was sent to Bernard’s Team USA Taekwon-Do Fitness in Fort Lee, New Jersey, to master Olympic-style taekwondo. Mainly a practitioner of International Taekwondo Federation-style (ITF) taekwondo, Edwards qualified in third place from the Pan Am region, fighting World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) style – the art used in the Olympics. Combined team captain Jason McKay believes the ‘Bernard factor’ could transform Edwards from outsider to possible medallist in London this summer. Bernard, who held national titles in the United States in both styles, was called on to make Edwards a lean, mean WTF-style fighting machine. A sixth-degree black belt, Bernard is an international instructor, international Class A umpire/referee, US national team coach and chief instructor at Team USA Taekwon-do Fitness. His interest in martial arts began at age 15 in Germany. Over the years, he has trained […]
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