The Oryx Taekwondo Team brought pride to the UAE at the 8th Heroes Taekwondo International Championships, held on August 9–10, 2025, securing 10th place overall out of 321 teams and more than 4,000 athletes worldwide.
For Head Coach Master Mary Ann Rivero Lopez, the achievement was the result of months of hard work, discipline, and unity between athletes, coaches, and parents.
“This year marks our second time joining this international competition, and we worked hard to surpass our achievements from last year,” Lopez shared. “At Oryx Taekwondo, passion and professionalism come together in the pursuit of excellence. We challenged not only other teams but also ourselves, aiming to raise the bar every time we step onto the mats.”
To prepare, the team underwent one month of intensive training, practicing from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM daily, with some athletes even continuing into the afternoons. “The dedication of our jins was remarkable,” Lopez said. “As coaches, we made sure to provide the best training programs and ensure proper execution to help them secure medals and excel in the event.”
Lopez herself also invested in professional growth by attending a five-day International Master Course in Korea last July. “I wanted to stay updated on the latest developments in Taekwondo, especially in Poomsae and Kyorugi, and bring that knowledge back to benefit our team.”
The coach emphasized the importance of collaboration beyond the dojang. “Our coaches and assistant coaches truly gave their all to help our jins achieve their goals. And of course, none of this would be possible without the parents. Their willingness to bring their children to training and support them at home made us this prepared.”
Competing in an international field of thousands was daunting, but Lopez believes such challenges are essential. “Yes, it is very challenging, but if we do not step out of our comfort zone, we will not grow. The improvement of our jins will be very slow if we don’t embrace opportunities like this.”
When asked about the team’s success formula, Lopez pointed to timeless values. “Humility, dedication, determination, patience, hard work, and consistency—these are the essentials. There are no shortcuts. Always play fair and just. That is the secret. And above all, always be grateful to the Lord and to the people around you.”
But for Lopez, the lessons go beyond medals and rankings. “In every competition—even in this one—we encounter challenges, unjust games, or moments of unfairness. But we always remind our jins that we cannot control other people or their actions. What we can control is how we respond. Choosing kindness and reacting with integrity is already worth more than a trophy or medal. At the end of the day, becoming a good person is the greatest achievement of all.”
Looking ahead, Oryx Taekwondo has its sights set on bigger stages. “There are no changes to our vision—to help parents and our jins secure a better future. We will continue joining local competitions, international competitions, and we are now planning to take on a bigger stage next season. May God be with us in this journey, and we pray to keep our hearts clean and pure so that we can do this wholeheartedly.”
