Martial arts
“The long-term goal is the Olympic Games in 2028 or 2032” – Ebnat-Kappler Taekwondo talent is a candidate for a European Championship medal
From November 7th to 9th, the Cadets (up to 14 years old) will be fighting for titles at the Taekwondo European Championships in Tirana. In the category up to 65 kg, Davud Güllü from Ebnat-Kappel is considered a medal candidate. The 14-year-old trains at the Wattwil martial arts school and is currently ranked second in the European Taekwondo rankings.
Footwork is one of Davud Güllü’s (left) strengths.
Image: Urs Huwyler
In the European ranking, the Wattwil cantonal student (sports class), born in 2010, is in 14th place. “That’s not quite right,” counters Wattwil’s headmaster and Davud Güllü’s trainer Peer Steinkellner. “The list is not up to date. If the points won in August are added and the juniors are removed from the list, Davud is in second place, together with a Swede, behind a Serbian.”
The Toggenburg native, who joined the martial arts school at the age of six, completes seven training sessions a week. His advantage: Peer Steinkellner has remained national coach after structural adjustments within Swiss Taekwondo and is therefore also responsible for the national squad. In addition, the Wattwil martial arts school is recognized as a “regional performance center” for the Korean self-defense style. This means that the Swiss young hopeful no longer has to travel to training sessions.
Five times on the podium
Whether Austria (1st/1st), Belgium (2nd), Luxembourg (1st) or Bulgaria (1st), Davud Güllü was in the finals of all five ranking tournaments. Most recently, the multiple Swiss champion won the Youth competition in Vienna. After his category was sometimes understaffed in the past, he started in the lower and higher weight classes or in classes where height (-172 cm/- 176 cm) is decisive.
Davud Güllü is currently number 2 in Europe
Image: Urs Huwyler
What qualities make the technically skilled, extremely agile Davud Güllü a serious opponent for any fighter? “My strengths lie in my footwork, among other things. I am able to implement the trainer’s tactical instructions quickly and I learn by watching.” Peer Steinkellner adds that it has happened several times that he has thought that Davud should now try this or that combination – and in the same second his protégé has started to do it of his own accord.
Wattwil Open next Saturday
On the way to a European Championship medal, the “5th International Wattwil Open” organized by OK President Peer Steinkellner and the martial arts school will take place on Saturday in the Rietwis sports hall. Almost 300 fighters in the categories Benjamin, Minime, Cadets, Juniors and Seniors (Elite) have registered for the major event in the Olympic sport. The Wattwil team has been awarded the “Swiss Open” for 2025.
Non-experts in the audience will probably be surprised to learn that the “VAR” (Video Assistant Referee), which is much discussed in football, has been used in Taekwondo for years. For Peer Steinkellner, video control is an indispensable technical aid for being able to identify hits in critical situations without a doubt.
National coach Peer Steinkellner organizes the Wattwil Open.
Image: Urs Huwyler
Davud Güllü will fight the fights (maximum 3 x 90 seconds) at his home match as a build-up step towards the European Championships. Following the Wattwil Open, there will be a week of training in Tenero and during the two weeks at the Friedrichshafen performance center, he will gain further fighting experience against other opponents.
Next season, due to his age, he will have to start in the juniors and fight his way back up. A victory in front of his home crowd and a European Championship medal would be the ideal end to the first phase of his career. And the long-term goal? “Is it the Olympic Games in 2028 or 2032?” says Davud Güllü. The 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games will begin in Dakar (SEN) in 770 days. These are also on his master plan.
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