Interview made by Jerzy Jedut and Tadeusz Łoboda
Jerzy Jedut: Was it easy to find motivation to train Taekwon-Do so many years?
Neil Ernest: It is easy to go to the classes because I enjoy what I do and also competition. It’s harder to train outside the classes, because I train alone.
Tadeusz Loboda: What is your best result according to your opinion?
NE: I think my best result must be 1st place in World Championships in 2003 in Poland and 2nd place in WC in Italy in 2001. I remember Argentina in 1999, where I was in my best condition, but I was disqualified in quarter-final. I remember also final in ECH when I lost with Tomaz Barada, because this was my hardest fight-physically. Also, now I’m happy in becoming European Champion in 2004, after 9 years of trying.
TL: Taekwon-Do can create friendships and different kind of relations with other people. Do you get that kind of relations because of Taekwon-Do?
NE: Taekwon-Do has given me an opportunity to travel to many different places and meet some really great people. Also I’ve learned a little from different cultures and I’ve met true friends.
TL: What are your plans for the future, what would you achieve?
NE: Now the most important things are World Championships and European Championships 2005. I would like to do it again, because maybe I have 3-4 years left as a competitor. Than I would like to concentrate more on promoting , teaching and coaching the national team, but I won’t leave the Taekwon-Do life.
TL: What is the reason you’ve come to Poland now?
NE: We’ve stayed for Christmas and New Year in Poland with my wife, she is Polish and we spend three weeks with her family in Lubartow.
JJ: How it happened that you have Polish wife?
NE: I’ve met really good friend in Taekwon-Do, Daniel Dzia³a and I’ve stayed in his house for 5 months two years ago, and I’ve met my wife in the town Lubartow.
TL: Do you practice all parts of Taekwon-Do equally or do you prefer special part for example: self-defence, pattern or sparring?
NE: My favorite part is sparring, but I like patterns as well, because I found a little success in patterns, two bronze medals and one silver in European Championships, but my favorite part of Taekwon-Do is sparring, so I spend most of my time preparing for sparring.
TL: Looking from the perspective of those 22 years, do you think that that you made a good choice with practicing Taekwon-Do or if you had another chance to choose martial art would you Taekwon-do-do or something else?
NE: I’m happy that I chose Taekwon-Do, because life is giving me great opportunity to travel a lot, to meet great people, but I could’ve be good in athletics for 800 meters. I could be successful with athletics on the high level also. I had to make a choice.
JJ: Do you think that Taekwon-Do is efficient as a martial art?
NE: You can work in two ways with the training. The sport side, and the Martial Art. Form a very early age, I was in competition. Everything for me has been competition, the sport side. I think I can defend myself when I need to. Many people from the sport side don’t practice enough self defense. I think we can be better on self-defense.
TL: Where do you teach, and what is the age of students?
NE: I have two schools in Cardiff, and one just outside in a place called Rhoose. I have about 60 students. I’ve been teaching for one year, they are mostly children from 6 till 15.
TL: Have you recognized any talent among your students?
NE: Yes, a few students. One boy, he is 7 now, he can do almost every kick, he is really small, but pattern is good, sine wave is good, power is good. But you know many students come through the class with exceptional talent and then they find something else to do.
TL: Do you like being a coach? Is it easier job then being a competitor?
NE: No, I don’t think so. It is easier to train and to be a competitor.
TL: In your school you must convince people to join, to come and take part in classes. Is it easy in Wales, to do it?
NE: It is difficult. It is quite easy to advertise in different ways. But it’s hard to bring people in, because Taekwon-Do is minority sport and there are so many other things to do for children. Many people train Taekwon-Do, but children also take part in many other activities including football and rugby, which are most popular in my country.
JJ: So it is quite good if you have 60 people?
NE: Not bad, first time.
JJ: Is your school developing?
NE: Yes, I think it’s ok. I expect in the future more people and more schools.
JJ: Can you say something about structure of Taekwon-Do in Wales?
NE: The situation is positive. The Federation in Wales is called Taekwon-Do Federation of Wales. Taekwon-Do is very small in Wales in general, we have 7 instructors. President of the Federation is Master Ian R. Lawes, 7th degree, Vice president is Mr. Paul Jermyn IVth degree. My function is manager and I’m also Coaching.
JJ: What kind of targets do you have in your Federation?
NE: To increase number of competitors, to make sure the technical level of Taekwon-Do is practiced correct, to high standard, to produce champions, to take full team for championships.
JJ: What plans do you have for 2005?
NE: I plan to go to Sweden for the Viking Cup, maybe with few persons, to the Match in Poland, European championships in Italy with a team and to the World Championships in Germany.
JJ: Do you plan to organize an international tournament in Wales?
NE: At the moment just very small, we plan to make small tournament for juniors firstly and in the future we would like to be a host of international competition. Cardiff has really good facilities, small city center with a lot of hotels so it will be an ideal place for European Championships.
JJ: How much time do you spend on training to prepare yourself for competition?
NE: Hard training before competition 2-3 months. When World Championship is coming, I treat it as the most important. I train 5-6 days a week mostly two times a day at least 2 months before competition.
JJ: Do you have any injuries?
NE: No I don’t have at the moment. Only broken nose.
JJ: Who did it?
NE: Lithuanian guy on the European Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland. My coach tried to make it straight, but he only managed to put so far. (laugh)
JJ: Who is your idol in Taekwon-Do?
NE: Paul Germain, he inspired me especially when I was younger because he was spectacular. Stephan Tapilatu, and also Tomaz Barada. There are many different fighters which I looked at.
JJ: Do you have any hobby?
NE: I like to play snooker and chess. I mainly play chess on the computer.
JJ: Do you remember spectacular competitions?
NE: I liked the World Championships in Italy, atmosphere, nice place, and nice weather. Everything seemed to go smoothly.
JJ: Who can be the hardest opponent in 2005?
NE: Mariusz Walach from Poland, Ales Zemlijc from Slovenia if he’s at -71kg. I think there are many good competitors in this weight category, so anyone can win, really. So you have to have luck, you have to have your day.
JJ: What’s your opinion about the situation in Taekwon-Do in the world?
NE: It’s difficult in Wales, because it was a split right in the middle and part of the high grade holders went to the other side. I think it’s a shame on a world level, because there are two opinions, two different sides, maybe now ITF Taekwon-Do is little weaker, than it should be. It’s bad for publicity, many people are confused, it is not democratic way.
TL: You chose ITF leaded by Master Trân Triêu Quân. I do not ask you why? I prefer to ask you, what do you hope?
NE: I hope everybody would be democratic about the situation. If everybody followed the constitution of the ITF after the sad passing of our founder General Choi, then ITF would not be in this situation now. I hope that one day ITF will again become one.
JJ: What can you say about Poland and your contacts in Poland?
NE: I enjoy my time in Poland. This is different this year because there were no snow, so I was little bit disappointed. People in Poland are nice and coaching is different.
JJ: What is your favorite food?
NE: I like Cantonese food, similar to Chineses but slightly different, from different region in China, and my grandmothers chicken in rice – is the best.
JJ: Would you like to say something to all people who are practicing and dream to achieve this kind of result like you did?
NE: You must not have any distractions, go for 100% and dedicate themselves. If you don’t dedicate yourself, you will never be successful. The dedication and sacrifice.
JJ: Can you imagine that your son will practice Taekwon-Do?
NE: It would be nice but I’ not gonna push him to practice. I think if he can be more successful in another sport, I will support him to go that way.