“Tactical, physical, motivation”… the Biterrois taekwondo player Martello returned victorious from Belgium
After a successful first senior season, this taekwondo player had to stop.
His life could be like a movie, where the hero comes out of nowhere and wins. Even if Nicolas Martello probably refused the term “hero” to characterize him, he conceived that his recent successes in Belgium would have something to tickle the curiosity of certain screenwriters.
Born in Montpellier, Nicolas Martello, 23, has been wearing the electronic breastplate on taekwondo tatami for more than ten years. And with 16 victories out of 17 fights in senior, the pupil of Lee Won Sik, in Béziers, remains “humble and respectful”, according to his club. Something to make the champion of one meter 85 smile. “You need these values, which are those of the martial arts, to continue learning”believes the student in history college in Montpellier.
A stop linked to the Covid and his sick father
Since he was 12 years old, the former student of Henri-IV has learned these values alongside his trainer and his father. “He was a fan of martial arts. He pushed my big brother and me into this universe.he remembers. I started with English boxing then, thanks to a friend, I branched out into taekwondo.”
The young man, a friend of analogies with great athletes, remembers his first training session: “I had arrived late… And I quickly understood that it had to happen no more”laughs the Biterrois, just landed from Montpellier for the weekend.
Very quickly, the young Nicolas Martello hooked on this discipline. He becomes familiar with the rigor imposed by Master Lee. “At first, I was not cut out for this sport. I had no flexibility, for example”laughs Nicolas Martello, who tastes competition at the dawn of his 15th birthday : “I left with a bruise and a bloody nose but that didn’t put me off.” A lucky car, a few months later he won his first medal, in bronze.
Then, the blue-eyed champion starts ringing the breastplates all over France. Before living his “best year”. With 13 wins in 14 fights, Nicolas Martello is having a remarkable first senior season. Even if, as a great competitor that he is, his only defeat still remains in his way.
“A medal for Master Lee and my father”
But then, one day, the fate is reversed… “I had family problems, my father was seriously ill, then confinement arrived”says the Biterrois champion coldly.
A period during which the smiling Nicolas Martello lives far from the tatami mats and loses his father. Until finding the way to the gymnasium during last season, “once my family situation is more stable”.
bronze and gold
Since then, the Biterrois has been pushed. “I feel like everything I learned before is multiplied tenfoldhe backs up. That’s why last February I said to myself: “I’m going to try the Belgian Open and bring back a medal for Master Lee, the club and my father”.
Alos, Nicolas Martello prepares like a boxer who sets a deadline. He remembers his shortcomings from the good old days. It boosts his physical abilities. Then he appeared for the first time in a European competition, in Belgium. On September 24, in the midst of European medalists, Nicolas Martello took the bronze medal in “technical” taekwondo. The next day, the board in taekwondo “combat” stands in front of him.
Without being particularly stressed, the champion wants to play on his new weapons: “tactics, physique and motivation”. And as if all the stars had aligned that weekend. Or as if Nicolas Martello were playing the main role in a film: everything suits him. He does not lose a turn.
And he takes the gold medal. “I’m still amazedhe explains. All the pressure drops. These medals come at the end of a long, tiring and proven journey with my father, the Covid and physical effort.” This successful return to competition does not make the former Pic man dream. “I just want to refine myself on the national level… Afterwards, we will see.” In the meantime, Nicolas Martello is still slowly recovering from his emotions.
Two types of taekwondo in Béziers
The Biterrois taekwondo club offers the possibility of learning “technical” and “combat” taekwondo. The first runs alone. The taekwondoist must perform “Poomsae” to bring to life combat impressions.
The second is the best known taekwondo, with breastplates and points depending on the areas supported. It is disputed by category (in less than 74 kg for Nicolas Martello) in two winning rounds.