Above: Taekwondo star Jade Solomons has won seven consecutive Victorian titles, but has her eyes firmly set on the national championship next month. By Glen Atwell
REMEMBER the name Jade Solomons.
The 13-year-old taekwondo star from Eumemmerring is on her way to Australian Open Taekwondo Championships in Tasmania next month.
After winning seven consecutive Victorian Taekwondo Championships, Jade is aiming to go one better and win the national title.
“That is definitely my main goal. I am practising really hard to do well in Tasmania,” she said.
Jade’s first title came when she just six years old, not long after her mum, Jenny, enrolled her in taekwondo classes.
“It started at Chris Bransden’s Taekwondo in Hallam,” Jenny said.
“I was bullied at school, so I enrolled Jade initially as a means of self-defence.”
But it was soon clear Jade had a natural ability and possessed amazing agility.
She moved to Joono taekwondo in Dandenong, where, under the guidance of Master Joono, she learnt the craft of taekwondo.
Jade is now part of an elite high-performance squad where 10 carefully selected children are moulded into future Olympians.
“I am trained by Paul Lion, who is the Australian junior coach,” Jade said.
Jade also trains at the Victorian Taekwondo Academy under John Collinson.
Daniel Trentham, Athens Olympics taekwondo silver medallist, is also working with Jade to harness her skills and natural gift.
“Daniel is amazing,” Jenny said.
“The work he is doing with Jade is boosting her confidence and teaching her many new things.”
Fighting in the 28-31 kilogram division, the pint-sized blackbelt trains four nights a week, but still places her education as the highest priority.
“School is okay,” Jade said.
“I’m in year eight, but I know I need a good education to succeed.”
For Jade, participating at the 2012 Olympic Games in London is an achievable goal, but for now, her eyes are firmly set on state and national events.
“Next year the junior games are in Melbourne as part of the Commonwealth Games,” she said.
“I hope to be fighting there.”
Jade said she listened to music as motivation before events.
“The song Eye of the Tiger really pumps me up,” she said.
“I use positive energy to get me pumped up for a fight.”
Jade said her coaches Collinson and Lion had played a big part in her development and she would not have won so many titles without their support and guidance.
“I say a big thank you to my coaches and everyone who has helped me along the way,” she said.
While Jade has won seven consecutive state titles, Jenny is still overwhelmed when her daughter steps out into the tournament arena.
“I get very nervous when watching Jade, it’s always the same, I can’t help it,” Jenny laughed.
