This year’s Iron Island Training Camp brought together 105 athletes from 11 different countries, Malta, France, Italy, Ireland, Poland, Sweden, Luxembourg, Israel, Germany, the United Kingdom and Greece, for a fantastic weekend of high-level training and friendship.
The camp was held at the beautiful Salini Resort, overlooking Malta’s clear Mediterranean sea. The location suited the camp perfectly. It offered excellent training facilities and the kind of atmosphere that helps athletes stay focused, recover properly, and enjoy time with others.
Over the weekend, the camp included three main sessions (each run for kids, and for cadets/juniors/seniors), and each one brought something different to the experience.
The camp began on Friday with a tactical session led by Gianluca Barbara. It set the standard straight away, with structured training on distance and timing, competitive drills, and practising different match situations.
On Saturday, athletes trained with world-class coaches Vaso and Toula Christidou from Greece. Their session was intense and full of quality. It focused on precision, strong technique, and competitive sharpness, and left athletes feeling both challenged and inspired.
Sunday was dedicated to sparring, and the atmosphere was electric. Centre-ring sparring put athletes in the spotlight, while everyone else sat around the mat watching closely, supporting each other, analysing what they saw, and creating plenty of noise. The energy was infectious, and every sparring exchange felt important. It gave every athlete a chance to improve while training under pressure.
On Saturday evening, there was a special awards presentation to recognise people for both their contribution and their success.
Awards were presented to Vaso and Toula Christidou to thank them for their time, support and expert coaching throughout the camp. Recognition was also given to Gianluca Barbara, Michelle Chircop and Anna Vassallo for their hard work in organising the event and making it happen.
Four athletes were also honoured for their outstanding achievements in Taekwondo:
- Dwayne Micallef (Malta) – Kids European Champion
- Serghei Dominici (Luxembourg) – European Masters Champion
- Asaf Yasur (Israel) – Two-time World Champion and 2024 Paralympic Champion
- Adnan Milad (Israel) – European Vice Champion
Their achievements were a real inspiration for everyone at the camp, from the youngest athletes to the most experienced competitors.
However, what truly made the weekend special was not only the training, but also the spirit among the participants. Athletes and coaches connected easily, shared experiences, built friendships, and learned from each other, no matter their nationality or level.
From elite champions to developing young athletes, everyone helped create an environment built on respect, hard work and shared improvement.
The feedback from both athletes and coaches was extremely positive. The camp was not only a chance to develop technical skills, but also a reminder of what makes Taekwondo special: community, challenge and passion.
As the weekend came to an end and everyone said their goodbyes, one thing was clear, this was more than just a training camp. It was an experience that created lasting memories, strengthened relationships, and helped raise the level for everyone involved.
The Association would like to thank all the athletes and coaches who attended, the management of Salini Resort for hosting the camp, and the local clubs for working together so smoothly. It would also like to thank the on-site photographers, Steve Barbara and the_pixelmood, whose event photos can be purchased online.
