Sample of Taekwon-do World Championship pics- UK July/Aug 2013

The Team at the venue: Day 1 comp. I'm on the right somewhere.

Training nonsense

Senior Men's team. Shake 'n' Bake.

Team "Shrink" Debbie.

"Da Boyz".

Roommate and Veteran Competitor: Mr Burn, 6th Degree.

My Central Coast family. The juniors, Matt and Heather, began Taekwon-do at my school about 8ish years ago, and continued on at my best mate's school (Gary) when I left to study at QCA in '06. Very proud of them.

My "Big Brother" Gary.

The Australian team, Master Moore, support crew and coaches, early Day 2.

My stuff.

2nd Fight.

A tough fight; was humbled to hear from Master and several competitors it was the bestfight of the division, and an unlucky draw to get the eventual gold medalist so early, and off his Bye. 2 Judges awarded it to RED, 1 to BLUE and a Draw. Haven't lost a fight in years. It was tough,  the rules were different, but not as good on the day. It's been a big year. Regrouping begins.

The nice Hyper weight guy from Ireland who requested this photo "...of the bloke who knocked me out". 5 seconds into our team sparring match, he was asleep on the mat. Sorry mate. Was still a little agitated after the last loss.  Discovered later this gent got the Bronze medal in Hyper weights, so I felt a little better about the day overall. All the best, mate.

Coach, Veteran competitor and mate Scott Bower with "some" of his medals. Every Aussie came away with at least 1; and I believe we took 68 (?) overall. 

America's big Hyper-weight, Chad. Nice dude.

"Big Sister" Penny scores a small pile of veteran medals. World Champion :D

World Champion Power Breaker Gary King.

Vets Scott Bower, and close friend Andy Smith with Grandmaster Hwang, being presented with Overall winner's trophies for their age groups (Veterans).

Mr Bower, Mr King, with other close mate, Mr Nigel Paul. 

My Aunty Lin and Uncle Terry from Birmingham drop in to say hello.

Matty and his Medal.

Scotland competitors (with Australian team nurse Karen) The gent on the right was who I fought in the first round. Nice guy, albeit not too happy here :P

A smattering of photos from the Unified ITF Taekwon-do Open World Championships, held in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK in July/Aug. I recently attended it straight after San Diego Comic-con. A tonne more photos, but this is probably more than enough reminiscing on a great trip for now. 4 world championships, 5 teams...mixed emotions in general, but opportunities to continue in the future, and perhaps a coaching role on the Australia team too. Life is turbulent enough at the moment to think ahead. Will bury myself in the next challenges and see if the sun comes up tomorrow.

Something a little different: Australian ITF Taekwon-do team in England

A couple of recent pics from team training here in England. Cheers for the support, Soldiers!

Clowns.

More updates soon :D

Some Soldier colour stuff, and lame attempts to fund-raise!

A bit of colour added to this Mignola/Kirby inspired scribble.
This may become a print which will be available at Oz Comic-Con, Melbourne in July for those who are keen. Keep you posted on others.

In the meantime, I'm almost at begging-level prices for my ill-fated attempts to fund-raise for the Unified  ITF Taekwon-do World Championships in the UK July/August 2013. Free sketches and almost giving away prints and comic books just to peak interest in helping me out! 

I should have picked a better career and a government sponsored sport or something. It seems you do the hard work getting ahead and then have to make your own way across the globe to fufill the goal. In my case, for both the panel/comic book release at San Diego Comic-Con, and my individual Hyper-weight Sparring spot on the Australia team. Fingers crossed the price-slashing brings a few more bucks in. Many, many thanks to the kind folks who have bought some goods so far- the sketches are almost done and the parcels will head out next week :D Any issues with the price slash for pre-existing customers, I'm happy to throw in another character sketch. All I can give right now is a piece of time, if you let me :)

Take a look here: http://paulmason.bigcartel.com/ and feel free to email me at pmason83@gmail.com with questions/Commission/con sketch requests like a person already did ;) Cheers! Much appreciated.

   

Head sketch examples: Darkseid and The Human Fly.

Gotta run, hope you're all well :)

No, I'm not dead: Free Comic Book Day, and other stuff

Ok, super brief update for those who give a damn.

Paul Abstruse, GFTG's Darren Parker, and me, with the exclusive GFTG "Judge Dredd #1" variant covers.

Huuuuggggge thanks to the boys and girls of 'Gifts for the Geek' for flying us down for 'Free Comic Book Day' on the 4th of May in their cool store in Geelong, Victoria. Loved all the kind folks who came and got their Soldier books signed, or grabbed a copy- you are way too kind :D

One of the sketches that keep us busy, from open to close- Congratulations for a successful day, GFTG!

FORCES of GEEK's BIG ON JAPAN Article part 2 dropped at some point, with Soldier Legacy stuff:
http://www.forcesofgeek.com/2013/05/big-on-japan-fistful-of-international.html
and Part 1, just in case ;)
http://www.forcesofgeek.com/2013/04/big-on-japan-fistful-of-international.html

Umm, not much else; last squad training for full Aussie team last weekend in Canberra (before we head to the UK for the World TKD Championships), and I managed to pull another 2 x Golds at the latest tournament (NSW/ACT titles)- happy with progress so far, despite going into the weekend with hamstring strains. I hope to continue working through my program (and schedule to keep my brain in check while I find the time to train, courtesy of good friend Candice Land of Enitor Health and Performance), and continue the good fortune when fights roll around in London come the beginning of August. Big, big thanks to my "brother" Sabum Gary King, and Sabum Penny King for their help and hospitality, my "other" family "The Greigs, and Master instructor Jamie Moore in particular, plus the Central Coast contingent, Sabum Scott, Andy, Nigel, Dave and the rest of the Aussie team.

Photo courtesy of John Sutherland.

What was weird was my worlds mixed for a moment when a nice young dude from the Central Coast Authentic Takewon-do branch, caught me between events to get a copy of "Soldier Legacy's Strange Tales #1" signed :P When he asked for a photo, I said " did you smile?" "Uh-Huh"...tricked me :P

Anyways, gotta run. The grind of the day job, prepping for UK, US, drawing and colouring some prints for Oz Comic-Con in Melbourne July, and getting 'the Soldier Legacy' back into gear post- 'New Adventures of the Human Fly #1'.

Lots to do, and barely keeping the head above water. I have Arnold Schwarzenegger's quote in front of me at the computer: "What are you really made of?" When I feel like I've made lousy life choices every day when my alarm goes off in the morning, I try to think of where I started, and where I'm trying to go. I might feel like I'm the invisible guy trudging on to hit these personal milestones, but I do know I have a handful of close people, family and friends giving genuine praise and encouragement, and genuine readers who dig the comic stuff too. Thank you guys- I hope not to let you down.
12 plane flights this year so far, 6 Australian states (including ACT and my home state); it's been busy and my bank account has suffered. But I've had a lot of fun, met and caught up with a lot of people; I guess I'll dig all of this when I'm older and looking back at my stupid a** in these photos and convention schedules, right?

Cheers, Diggers.
Paul.

On an unrelated-to-comics note, I'm on my 4th Australian TKD Team :D

(Please excuse the self-indulgence of this post. It's not often I get to share this sort of news :) )
Random images below from recent seminar/Open National titles, where I've slowly started to get back into I.T.F Taekwon-do. A couple of Golds in the last couple of tournaments has allowed me a spot on the Australia team for the World Championships next year in South Korea.
Congratulations to all the successful practitioners to make the team, including some old friends, such as Coach Scott Bower, who was on the team with me in 2003 (who helped me get there in the first place), Sabum Nigel Paul and Sabum Andi Spark from 2005, and Sabum Gary King and Mrs Penny King who were on the 2005 and 2007 teams. Thank you to former coaches, current team over seers and close friends, Master Jamie Moore and Sabum Gary King. (All pictured below in among the fresh faces.)
Not including the 2010 team training before politics cancelled the team trip, this will be my forth stint in an Australian Taekwon-do team, the first one being almost ten years ago in Greece, 2003...

Man, I feel old.

Random images below for the curious. A little different to the Olympic-style (W.T.F...no really, that's the acronym), as you can see. Fun and games :)


The 2013 Australian junior, senior and veterans team.

Part of the "circle of death" ;P Sparring rounds, 1 vs all, here against one of my closest friends, Sabum Shane. Good to see him back in the dobok too. He was part of 2003, 2005 and 2007 teams as well, and a tornado of a fighter.

And some randoms from the past

2005

2005: Australian Team Power Breaking line-up. Bronze Medals :)

2007: First Round of Hyperweight Sparring

2007

2005 Team Sparring line-up

2005 team training. Yes, that's an idiot in a 'Punisher" tee-shirt ;P