MARISA Rinaldi, an 11-year-old, from the Bass Coast has been invited to represent Australia in Taekwondo in South Korea. 

She is the only Australian this year to be invited to compete at the World Police Taekwondo Martial Arts Federation Festival. 

Marisa will be part of the demonstration team, representing taekwondo as a martial art.

She will then be competing in two forms, one of which is a traditional, self-defence style pattern and the other an Olympic style form.

Marisa’s mum Brandi, said that she is very proud to be presenting her club and is looking forward to the competition, which will be held on Saturday, June 24. 

“She’s very nervous and overwhelmed but she said she was going to do her best to be a good ambassador for Australia and her club,” she said.

Marisa started practicing taekwondo in February 2022 and trains six days a week at Heenan Taekwondo in Bass Coast and Pakenham. 

“It gives her mental positivity and physical health. She gravitates towards Taekwondo because of likeminded individuals, and she found her friendships there,” Brandi said.

Marisa competed at the Australia Nationals last year and in her rank, she is second best in the country. 

She was at a competition in Sydney this year in March and Grand Master Kang Wong Lee was one of the judges at the tournament. 

“He brought it to my attention that she brought him honour, which in martial arts, is massive. She brought him honour by listening to what he said and executing the directive that he gave, and he was also judging another division that she was participating in, which is called the freestyle demonstration.”

Freestyle is where the athlete can become creative and create their own form, and Marissa created her own form utilising techniques that haven’t been taught to her yet. 

The Grand Master subsequently invited Marisa to be his personal guest and represent Australia at the World Police Taekwondo Martial Arts Federation Festival. 
Although Marisa is nervous, she is determined to do well and enjoy the experience.