Students Put British Taekwondo in the Picture

Doncaster College media students have been working with British Taekwondo, the National Governing body of Taekwondo, on a number of exciting projects over the past few months.

John Stopforth, Programme Coordinator for Performing Arts and Media at Doncaster College, and a Chief Instructor and 5th Degree Master in Taekwondo, explained how it all came about.

“Because of my links with British Taekwondo, the President Master Adrian Tranter was put in contact with me. He said he was looking to develop a new media branding and was interested in what our students did and wanted more detail. I explained the courses we have and how we try to work on projects for companies and clients where possible to give the learners experience at a practical application level.

He told me of the new digital TV channel he was looking into for the National Governing Body and how he would like to discuss the possibility of Doncaster College working as a media partner with British Taekwondo, developing the channel and content for it.

After a number of meetings between Ian Latham, Assistant Director of Performing Arts and Media at the College and British Taekwondo, a Memorandum of Understanding was drawn up between the two parties to allow the planning for the production to go ahead. This was signed by George Trow, Principal and Chief Executive of the College and Master Adrian Tranter, President of British Taekwondo.

John continued, “The Memorandum of Understanding between Doncaster College and British Taekwondo has given the students from the college an amazing opportunity to work with real clients on a ground breaking digital media project and offering them truly vocational experiences from their media courses.”

Students have worked on photographing the British Taekwondo National Championships and three Moving Image students, twelve TV & Film students and four Music Technology students recorded the British Taekwondo national training syllabus part one. They recorded moves and techniques performed by members of the National Poomsae team. Students will edit the video footage over the coming months and Dartfish TV will give them a workshop on editing for the digital TV channel. During editing, motion graphics will be added by interactive media students.

In November, Photography students will attend the largest ever Black Belt grading to record the day’s events for British Taekwondo.

Next year in February 2013, Film and TV students will undertake part two of the syllabus training material recording the remaining moves and patterns for the TV channel, up to 7th degree Black Belt.

It’s a truly win-win scenario for both organisations!