The Costa Blanca Taekwondo Olympic Training Camp concluded in La Nucia after four intense days, as 30 athletes and four coaches from diverse backgrounds trained together from December 26 through December 29 at the Muixara Pavilion, located in the Camilo Cano Sports City. The event brought together the Furyo Sports Club Taekwondo program and the LaNucía Sports Department for a holiday period focused on athletic development and discipline in a supportive, shared environment.
The campus has long been a collaboration between the Furyo Club and the La Nucía Sports Council. Held during school holidays, it attracts numerous young athletes who want to stay active, learn new skills, and refine their Taekwondo fundamentals. The closing ceremony took place on Friday, December 29, around noon, with attendance from notable figures in the local sports scene, including Suso Castellanos, CEO of the Furyo Club; Hugo Arillo, a top Taekwondo athlete who finished second at the 2023 World Championships and earned European gold; and Sergio Villalba, a member of the La Nucía Sports Council. These leaders spoke about the importance of consistent training and community support for young competitors.
Over the four days, participants completed a rigorous program that covered practical and theoretical aspects of Taekwondo. The participants focused on technique refinement, including specific Paos training and fight simulations, as well as recovery, stretching, and warm-up routines. The curriculum also included nutrition basics, injury prevention through proper physiotherapy practices, protective measures, and conditioning concepts designed to reduce risk during intense sparring and competition preparation. The overall aim was to build stamina, precision, and strategic awareness while maintaining a safe, structured training environment. The coaching team ensured every session integrated both physical and tactical elements, enabling athletes to translate practice into competition-ready performance.
Leading the coaching staff were Suso Castellanos, the Furyo Club CEO, and Hugo Arillo, an esteemed Taekwondo competitor with a track record of recent podium finishes. Arillo’s presence underscored the value of high-performance guidance for up-and-coming athletes, and his experience in European and world-level events provided practical insights into training at elite standards. The camp’s emphasis on holistic development—balancing technique with fitness, recovery, and strategic understanding—echoed the ongoing commitment of the organizing bodies to nurture talents within the region. The event also highlighted the strong collaboration between local sports institutions and private clubs, illustrating how shared resources and expertise can elevate the level of youth sports programs. All practical activities were conducted on the main competition area at the Muixara Pavilion, where a dedicated surface overlay supported safe, uninterrupted practice sessions amid a busy training schedule. The experience illustrated the potential of integrated sport programs to sustain momentum for young athletes during school holidays while keeping the focus squarely on skill advancement and personal growth. The camp’s outcomes were summarized by the organizers as progress in technique execution, competition readiness, and a reinforced sense of team spirit among the participants. These gains align with broader regional efforts to promote Taekwondo as a pathway to discipline, perseverance, and healthy living. The event’s success contributes to an ongoing tradition of high-quality, youth-focused Taekwondo camps in the Costa Blanca area, reinforcing the region’s status as a hub for seasonal sports training and development. The lessons learned from this edition are expected to inform future programs, encouraging even broader participation and continued collaboration among clubs, municipalities, and sport councils. The net effect is a more dynamic, well-supported community of athletes who can pursue excellence while balancing education and athletics. The experience served as a powerful reminder that consistent, well-structured practice—paired with strong leadership and a clear development plan—can propel young Taekwondo practitioners toward greater achievements in national and international stages. At the same time, it highlighted the importance of safety, mentorship, and a sustainable approach to training that emphasizes long-term growth over immediate results. The Taekwondo campus thus stands as a model for similar programs aiming to combine sport, health, and education within a supportive regional ecosystem, with continued emphasis on athlete welfare and professional guidance. The culmination of this four-day program marks not merely the end of a training camp but the opening of new opportunities for the athletes as they apply their enhanced skills to upcoming competitions and ongoing practice. The organizers remain committed to building on this foundation in future editions, ensuring that the Taekwondo community in La Nucía and the broader Costa Blanca area continues to thrive. This reflection on the camp’s impact is supported by ongoing monitoring and feedback from participants, coaches, and the partnering sports bodies. The collaborative effort demonstrates the enduring value of cross-institutional cooperation in youth sport today, as it fosters elite preparation with accessible participation for aspiring Taekwondo athletes. The event’s legacy hinges on continued sharing of best practices, continuous improvement of coaching standards, and the sustained engagement of families and local communities in supporting young athletes. In sum, the four-day training camp left a lasting impression on the participants and the region alike, reinforcing the belief that disciplined practice, quality leadership, and a competitive spirit can together drive meaningful progress in Taekwondo at all levels. The experience is documented as part of the ongoing development of Taekwondo programs in the area, with the hope that future cohorts will build on these foundations and reach new heights in the sport. Attendees and observers marked the occasion as a milestone for youth Taekwondo development in the Costa Blanca region. The event’s success stands as a testament to the power of well-coordinated sports programs that bring together clubs, councils, and athletes in the pursuit of excellence.