Dad, son to get kicks in Korean bid

Alex de Vos
An unstoppable Corio father and son duo is gearing up to take on the rest of the world at a prestigious World Taekwondo Championships in South Korea.
Australasian taekwondo champion Phil Zdybel, 45, and eight-year-old son Josh will battle competitors from countries including Russia, Ireland and America at the title event on June 27.
In preparation for the biggest tournament of their lives, Mr Zdybel said he and Josh had been living and breathing taekwondo.
The veteran competitor had increased his training sessions and was dedicating almost every waking hour preparing for the championship.
“I’m feeling pretty good about the championships – I think I’ll win the bloody thing,” Mr Zdybel told the Independent.
“I’m visualising myself up against the best of the world and wondering what my competitors will be like and I’m pretty confident I’ll come back with a medal.
“But if I don’t then I’ve stepped on the map and I’m not the world champion but at least I’m one of them.”
Mr Zdybel, who started learning taekwondo at the age of 20, said Josh was a valuable component in the team’s hectic training regime.
“It’s great because he pushes me,” Mr Zdybel said.
“He’s been putting in a lot of work and his efforts have been great this week.”
Mr Zdybel said Josh would participate in the junior leg of the competition, while his own eyes were on the veteran title.
He planned to perform his last kick at the event before hanging up his professional uniform.
“I’ll keep training and teaching my son but it will be the last of my competition days,” Mr Zdybel said.