Peacock representing Canada at world championships in Finland

Third-degree Taekwon-Do black belt Nathan Peacock has been named to Canada's team for the ITF Taekwon-Do World Championships in Tampere, Finland, from Sept. 4 to 10. 

Peacock, 23, was selected to compete in individual and team sparring events following a rigorous three-day training camp in Regina and has become the first student of Cochrane's Trinity TKD's to take on the world championships. He's exactly 6-ft. tall and will be competing in the under 69 kg. weight class.

This is Peacock's first time competing on the world stage and he wants to leave them with something to remember.

"I may win, I may lose, but no matter what, I'm going to give everything I have. So whether I win or lose, they're going to remember me. They're going to remember our match."

Besides seeing how he compares to the rest of the world, he views it as an opportunity to grow as a competitor.

"I'm looking forward to being to learn from these other fighters across the world, see what I can bring back, and just help overall with Canada's next generation."

With Trinity TKD on summer break, he's found other ways to continue his training with clubs in Edmonton and Calgary.

His intense personal training schedule includes what has been described to him as the Navy SEAL assessment test that was recommended to him by one of the Team Canada coaches.

"Essentially what it is is you have to run a mile, you have to do 100 perfect push-ups, 100 squats sprawls, which is essentially a burpee, except you're not shooting your legs out until you've done a proper squat, and then 100 squat crawls. And then you run another mile and you do it all in 75 minutes."

His best time at this writing was 37 minutes, 46 seconds.

"I'm actually very proud of that number. I do this test every week on Tuesday, so we'll see if I can beat my record or not."

The intensity of his training is starting to decline so that he'll be in his best possible condition upon arriving in Finland. 

Peacock is currently fundraising to help cover the cost of his additional training as well as travel to Finland.

"I pretty much have all the equipment needed at this point in time, but it would help further with my training and it'll open up more opportunities to be able to train with a club that's maybe a little further away."

A GoFundMe has also been organized on his behalf.

"Nathan is having to largely fund his way to the event as there is not exactly a lot of funding for our sport," explains Trinity head coach Cameron Macdonald, "so we have launched a GoFundMe."

About $3,900 has been raised towards a $6,000 target. You can access it here.

"We're all trying to help him out as much as we can," says MacDonald, "Not just financially supporting him, but cheering him on from back home. Hopefully, we'll hold a viewing party or something together."

The world tournament is being live-streamed.

Peacock says they completed 11 hours of training while at the Regina camp that began with a concentrated tournament to assist Team Canada coaches in making their final decisions.

Nathan Peacock lands a kick while sparring at nationals earlier this year. He went on to win gold in the 63 to 69-kilogram weight class. (photo supplied)

"We had to do what we call simulations, which are essentially just matched between us. They were shorter matches where we showed what we can do, then the rest of the weekend was to improve upon them."

Peacock estimated between 50 and 60 people were vying for the spot and about 30 to 40 made the team.

The world championship is held every other year, and you have to be selected for Team Canada to compete. In between, the World Cup is held, where blue belts and up can compete. A black belt from Trinity competed there last year.

"I think it's pretty remarkable that Nathan Peacock has made his first attempt at this high-calibre tournament because I think some would try going to the World Cup first, and then maybe a world championship," says MacDonald. "He definitely has his work cut out for him, but I think he's up for the challenge."

Peacock joined the Trinity dojang at age 6. Under instructor Cam MacDonald, he earned his black belt at age 13, He's been instructing ever since.

Trinity is celebrating its 20th anniversary this fall. It is a family-focused martial arts club providing classes to children, youth, and adults while teaching valuable life skills along the way. More information is available here.