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Al Harthy does Oman proud

By Abdulaziz al Jahdhami - MUSCAT — Mohammed bin Ahmed al Harthy is a distinguished Omani grand master in different martial arts such as Taekwondo, Kung Fu Kalintaw and Hapkido. He was influenced by such a sport from childhood. Commenting on his learning experience he said: “I learned the sport when I was in China with my father who was working there. I was seven-year-old then. I continued practicing them until I reached my secondary school”.

Al Harthy participated in his first championship in 1975 and has won many medals since that time which encouraged him to do even better. After that, he founded his own team starting with three members who were training in an open field in A’Seeb area. When the number of members reached 170, he started his own independent club, Challenging Taekwondo Club, in 2004 at Al Bahja Shopping Centre.

The members of the club participated in their first two championships in 2007. The club is open for Taekwondo enthusiasts both for men and women with special classes for men, women and children. It welcomes students from different ages from two and a half year old and above. From 270 members in 2006 the number increased to 700 in 2010. The club comprises of 422 members this year with mostly Omanis.

Apart from being the president of the Challenging Taekwondo Club, Mohammed is also the president of Kung Fu Kalintaw Association in the Middle East and Asia. He is the only person holding the ninth Dan in Kung Fu and sixth Dan in Hapkido in the Middle East and Asia. Mohammed is the only Omani holding the seventh Dan in Taekwondo.

“I express my sincere thanks and appreciation to General Ali al Sinani, President of the Oman Taekwondo and Karate Committee for supporting us. My thanks also to Master Ajey Ajit for providing us with a nice place in which our club is located and with many Oman players becoming champions,” Al Harthy remarked.

TAEKWONDO STAR AARON COOK MADE A REAL-LIFE ... - London Olympics 2012

TAEKWONDO STAR AARON COOK MADE A REAL-LIFE POWER RANGER

One of Britain’s most promising London 2012 Olympic hopefuls has been transformed into a giant action figure to become a real-life Power Ranger toy.

Aaron Cook, 20, the current British Taekwondo Champion and one of the UK'S strongest contenders for a gold medal at London 2012 Olympics, is the only person outside of the TV show to wear the iconic red suit and the first ever honourary member of the Power Rangers.

To mark the occasion Cook will be exhibited in a giant 3 metre by 1.5 metre replica toy box at Westfield shopping centre (Friday 1st July) in front of hundreds of Olympic fans.

Cook comments: "I was mad about Power Rangers as a kid so my parents took me to a local Taekwondo club in Dorchester where I fell in love with the sport. The rest, as they say, is history. I'm hoping that by joining the Power Rangers I'll help to inspire British children to follow in my footsteps, which will hopefully include a medal at the London 2012 Olympics."

The Power Rangers TV show started in 1993 following the adventures of five teenagers with attitude known as the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers as they battled to save the planet from evil space aliens. The show is broadcast in more than 60 countries and translated into numerous languages.

Toy maker Bandai is hoping that the immortalisation of Cook will kick-start strong sales of Power Rangers Samurai, the latest incarnation of the hugely successful franchise. Since its launch in 1994 Power Rangers has become the number one kid's action toy selling over 24 million action figures world-wide.

Darrell Jones from Bandai comments: "Aaron is a fantastic addition to the Power Rangers team and an obvious choice to uphold the new Samurai values. We look forward to working with Aaron and hope his Power Rangers training holds him in good stead for the London 2012 Olympics.

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ROTC college handbook, 1989-90