JACKSON READY FOR KOREA

KYLIE Jackson is off to Korea to compete in her second Korean Open, which forms part of the World Taekwondo Festival.

The National and Oceania Champion continues a rapid rise in the sport and continues to overcome her more experienced rivals.

Training out of South Coast Taekwondo Centre Kylie will be joined by Mile Banda, one of the most exciting juniors to come out of the centre, and Master Rob Cooley, who will manage the Australian team.

Mile achieved his black belt in under 18 months and will look to add to his eight wins from eight fights, with six knockouts.

The second time around for Jackson, however, is a stepping-stone to what she hopes is bigger and better things.

I am going to win gold and long term am aiming for the Olympics, she said.

I finished fifth in 2004 and it has been a busy time leading up to this event.

I have stepped up my training in the lead up, its pretty intense at the moment and I am looking forward to my next second trip overseas, added Kylie.

Jackson has recently become involved in teaching the young students at the centre and is following in the footsteps of her close friend Kim Dalton, a former Taekwondo champion and Instructor at South Coast Taekwondo Centre, who tragically lost her battle to cancer in 2005.

It is a real passion of mine to teach. I want to make Kim proud and follow in her foot steps, she added.