Prospect man Stephen Boag headed off to Taiwan on Monday to coach Australia at the 2018 world taekwondo poomsae championships.
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Boag was appointed one of three coaches to the national team just last month.
“These jobs you have got to put a special interest in, put your name out there, apply and hope to get it,” Boag said.
Boag, who holds international refereeing credentials, had been a coach for the 2016 Oceania championships.
He brings expertise in the technical side of poomsae’s defense-and-attack motions.
The 56-year-old martial arts stalwart dating back to 1983 will coach males in the 35-strong national squad.
“We just have to make sure we get them on the floor, get them settled, a lot of general stuff – it’s difficult to know what will happen at a world championships like nerves and that,” Boag said.
“So we encourage, maybe offer a tip, but at this stage, it’s too late to change much.”
Boag’s record on the floor extends to Australian selection on three occasions that included a best-finish of 11th at the 2013 world championships. He also won gold medal at the 2012 Oceania titles.
The St Patrick’s College teacher paid tribute to the contribution of his Hoju Martial Arts school in Launceston to Australian taekwondo.
“We’ve had other students make world championship level and grand master David Warren was my instructor and was head coach of the Australian team, who passed away back in 2016,” he said.
“So the club has had a really strong heritage there.”