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Tae Kwon Do Champion DiesFamily, friends mourn Fitim “Timi” KadriuANCHORAGE - The Alpina Garage was closed on Monday, but not to observe President's Day. It's a family business, and their only son has just died. There’s a sign on the door of the Midtown garage explaining that they’re taking a few days to grieve. They weren't open, but the shop was full of people observing an Albanian tradition where friends and relatives gather to comfort the bereft. Surfaces were stacked with food and bouquets sat on the counters. Women gathered in the front office while the men were in the garage. The grieving included Timi's four sisters, his parents and other relatives. On Friday, Fitim Kadriu, or "Timi," died of a seizure. He was only about two weeks shy of his 21st birthday. His best friend and coworker was his father, Rasim. Rasim's shop walls were covered in photos, ribbons and trophies of Timi's accomplishments. Those he trained learned more than martial arts from Timi. His friend Woon Choi said, "I learned what man should be, what proper man should be as a man, as a friend, as a person, and as one character." A small consolation for the family is a letter he left. He wrote it several years ago after he started having seizures. In it, he tells his family not be sad when he's gone. |
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Dan said on Saturday, Feb 23 at 11:20 PM
This was a great kid, he trained my son @ Champ and I think he would be disappointed to see the bickering about all of this. This isn't about Champ or Primal, this is about the loss of a quality young man by all who knew him.
114369672pilar said on Tuesday, Feb 19 at 11:33 PM
Please stop blaming each other, all of you are wrong, I do not think that any one is trying to take advantage of this tragedy, everyone is so sensitive and critical to each other, the best thing to do in memory of Tim is to forgive each other and live in harmony, and love. RIP TIm.
114015681Primal Martial Arts said on Tuesday, Feb 19 at 9:44 PM
We are angry. Not at Champ Taekwondo or KTVA, we are angry because someone that we loved and trained with has left us much too young. We were not interested in the politics before this tragedy and we are definitely not interested now. Master Tim was a part of our family and touched the lives of the instructors and his team mates. He surely did the same when he trained at Champ Taekwondo. Honor him by bringing a smile to someone's face, lending a helping hand, encouraging someone, say something funny randomly, or simply picturing his smile when you are having a hard day. Master Tim was going to the World Championship with us at the end of February and our team is devastated, but we will train, fight and win... because Master Tim would have done the same.
114010001Please Stop! said on Tuesday, Feb 19 at 9:03 PM
Please stop this negative garbage. Its sad enough without bickering on why the camera man zoomed in on a logo. Why all this assumption??People are trying to be careful as possible about being respectful, if you want to complain about the camera mans choices then call KTVA!
114007901Shameful Poster????? said on Tuesday, Feb 19 at 8:58 PM
Obviously you didnt take the 5 minutes to watch the video clip!!! If you want to watch the clip and then say that Champs wasn't mentioned I'm sure somebody will also offer to buy that ocean front property you are selling in Arizona. It focused on their logo, their place, and their students.
114007451Seriously? said on Tuesday, Feb 19 at 8:51 PM
Just watch the video again. We left the Champ program for the same reasons Timi did. I think "shameful" is the right word that was already used. Timi was the most respectful young man my family had ever met and everyone loved him regardless of the school he trained at which is why it is weird that there is so much focus on the champ's icon. All the pictures used were off facebook in the broadcast because KTVA didn't bother to talk to the people "that knew him best". If it is about Timi, why was the business named at all?
114007022I AM SHOCKED! said on Tuesday, Feb 19 at 7:55 PM
Why can't people see that Timi touched the lives of so many people including my son since the age of 5? It doesn't matter what school he trained or where. It's all about being a family. Timi did what he did out of passion. I can say that without knowing who he was outside of taekwondo because it showed in his training. It was clear what kind of human being he was. Why can't we just let it be ok that a lot of people had a lot of love and respect for him. There is no way that Champ's is trying to "get a plug" out this tragedy. That is just ridiculous! Can you not see how hurtful these comments are to all the people that knew him at Champ's? Including little kids that can read these kinds of comments left publicly? All anyone wants to contribute right now is love and support to the family. Including Champ's who has played a significant role in Timi's life since he was a little boy. Why can't that be a positive part of his history as we all reflect and mourn?
114003061shameful posters said on Tuesday, Feb 19 at 7:31 PM
All of you complaining about Champ Tae Kwon Do should re-read the article. Nowhere does it mention Champ Tae Kwon Do. The article also states 'had trained'. It doesn't say 'was training' Additionally, if he was turned away I am sure there was a good enough reason. The boys passing was unfortunate and a tragedy. Quit your complaining about other people and organizations and just focus on the heart of the article.
114001012What a sham!!! said on Tuesday, Feb 19 at 12:43 PM
After watching this report and knowing Tim, KTVA has lost any respect that I had for them. This story was nothing but a free plug for Champs TKD!!! You have managed to disrespect this outstanding young man and his memory. Shame on you KTVA.
113963381His Girlfriend said on Tuesday, Feb 19 at 10:40 AM
This was frankly the rudest thing I have seen so far. How could you use Timi's life and passion and use it to support Master Yu and Champs. Timi changed schools to Primal Martial Arts and did not support the message that that Champ offered. Above that the school didn't make Timi, he made himself great. They capitalized enough off of Timi at Champs, why can't they let his memory rest in peace? This is disgusting, I wish the world knew how great and determined Timi was and not associate him with any place, but this was an advertisement for a place that he not only left, but was not welcomed back to until he died. Woonsuk loved him dearly, and Timi loved Woon, but the rest of this shows how some people cannot let a man who worked so hard just lay in peace, he always wanted me to speak my mind, so I am doing it now. I hope Master Yu and Champ understand how disrespectful this is to Timi, his family, Primal, and his life.
113949492Out Raged said on Tuesday, Feb 19 at 10:27 AM
The news report was inaccurate and a shameful 5 minute commercial for a business. Tim had not trained under that school for quite some time, received his Master 4th degree from his new school and was fighting Nationally under that new school who had been training him 5 days a week for the last year and a half. Tim planned to open a school in Anchorage under the banner of that new school. Tim was not even allowed at Champ Taekwondo without specific permission from Master Yu and was recently turned away at the door. This shameful plug for a business in the wake of such a great loss just compounds the tragedy and the employee of KTVA affiliated with Champ Taekwondo should be ashamed.
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