TAEKWON-DO GENERATION ISSUE 03

Taekwon-Do International Taekwon-Do Federation www.tkd-itf.org

generation ISSUE 03 / SEPTEMBER 2015

2015 ITF

WORLD championships P. 26

GRAND MASTER wim bos

P. 8

harmony program

P. 94

world cup budapest 2016

International Taekwon-Do Federation • www.tkd-itf.org • 1

P. 110

Ed i t o rial Direc tor International Taekwon-Do Federation

Ed i t o r Communications & Development Committee:

06 gr and m a ster w im b o s

Stephen Ryan Paco Ferrando Fabian Izquierdo

C o l l a borators Alejandro Tiratel

C o ntributing Wr iter Grandmaster Pablo Trajtenberg Master Paul McPhail Master Gato Gato Master Giovanni Cecconato Master Tadeusz Loboda Master George Vitale Grandmaster Armando Grispino Mr Gabriel Colina Mr Eduardo Barile Iara and Alana Dacak Master V. A. Affatigato Master Gordon Wallace Grandmaster Hector Marano

26

Mr Peter Scasz

P h o t ograp hy Master Jerzy Jedut

2015

Tran Fusion

itf wo r l d

Geneviève Boivin

c h a m p io n s h i p s

Daniel Desmarquis Master Gordon Wallace

A ddi t iona l Photograph s p r ov i ded by: Grandmaster Wim Bos Ms Julia Cross Mr Jaroslaw Suska Master Edgardo Villanueva Master George Vitale Master Armando Grispino Sooryon Ji Dojang Mr Eduardo Barile Iara and Alana Dacak Master V. A. Affatigato Grandmaster Hector Marano Mr Peter Scasz International Taekwon-Do New Zealand Master Paul McPhail

70 h isto ri c a l Sgt Han Cha Kyo

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74

index grand m aster wi m b os

Page 6 new zeal and

mi do jan d

Page 16 puerto rico

Page 22 2 0 1 5 itf worl d ch a mp ion s h ip s

Page 26 itf congress

Page 42 taf isa

Page 46 COMPETITORS FOR EV ER Julia Cross

Page 50 Jaroslaw Suska

Page 54 OUTSTANDING PERSONALITIES

Page 60

94 HARMONY PROGRAM

108

coach experience Master Edgardo Villanueva

Page 64 historical Han Cha Kyo

Page 70 m y dojang ATT - Argentina

Page 74 Sooryon Ji - Uruguay

Page 76

O VER

ABATI - Buenos Aires

1 0 0 IIC COURSES

Page 78 AIT-Paraguay

Page 80 America

Page 82 high perf orm anc e p rog ra m

Page 86 harmony program

Page 90 k ids

Page 94 umpire experienc e Master Gordon Wallace

Page 100

112

over 1 0 0 iIc cours e s

Page 106 worl d cup 2 0 1 6

Page 110

Wo rl d c up 2016

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4 • Intenational Taekwon-Do Federation • www.tkd-itf.org

dear ITF Community

Here we are facing the third issue of the Official Magazine, since we renewed its format.

Just look at the diversity of content, breadth of coverage and the particular visions arriving from different places of the planet, to understand through them, the magnitude of our Organization.

This magazine is a meeting place that allows us to enjoy an interview or the summary of a relevant fact, helps us to recall incredible moments through a photographic stroll or the words of an interviewee who shares a series of anecdotes.

Through this publication we can learn from the experience of an instructor, from the beginnings and the events that had to face in his/ her Do jang in some remote place in the world.

That´s why I believe we can regularly meet in this place, and through the reading of notes and interviews, get a sense of the micro and the macro, of the interpersonal relationships, of the human stories, the stories of countries and continents, of individual and group projects, of our advances, our setbacks and of our growth.

Finally, I consider that in the following pages we can enjoy from the story we are writing and from the story that we will write in our ITF. It only remains for me to invite you to do so.

GM pabl o trajtenberg President

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GranDm

maSTER

W i l l em Jac o b Bo s Born in Appingedam, Netherlands on November 11th, 1952.

8 • Intenational Taekwon-Do Federation • www.tkd-itf.org

grand

grand master wim bos I saw the general for the first time in Germany in 1973 as I was for a week training in Pforzheim at the gym of Kim Kwang Il at that time a 6th degree.

As a child your first sport was soccer/ football I think? what pulled you away from that and attracted you to TKD? Yes I started playing football at 9 years old as my father wanted me to do a sport. It was a nice time but I didn’t fit in a team sport, as I was too much an individual player.

One day after training on my way home I saw some persons in a white kimono and thought let’s see what they are doing ...that time they called it super karate... anyhow I did one lesson but didn’t like it because it was too much traditional.

Some months later a friend invited me to come training.... in Delfzijl a town in the north of the Netherlands near my home town Appingedam.... at his brothers gym so I went and we fought…at least I tried... for one hour. That was it!! I became a Taekwon-Do practitioner.

I started 3 times a week and became a green belt after 6 months and from that moment every day training until today, so already for 47 years.

Who was your first teacher/instructor?

My first instructors were Nico Dahler and Bas Tualena at that time both brown belts...no red belts were used during the beginning years of the ITF in the Netherlands..

Later their instructor Jan Suiveer became also my instructor as I went for training in Groningen the other days.

You started 2 years after the TKD was introduced to Holland/Netherlands (1966)?

Was TKD in a primitive state in the country; was there any connection with General Choi in those times, or other ITF masters or did that come later?

Yes I started on September 1968 and the highest degree I knew from that starting time was a 3rd degree. No connection as far as I know with the General during those years.

It was a big surprise you might imagine!

During those years we received trainings in the Netherlands from 4 Korean instructors once a year. I remember very well because they never agreed about the pattern movements. They all had their own opinion.

The training in those days and even TKD in those days must have been very different?

Training was very different and yes indeed very tough and lots of hand and arm conditioning.

A stick was also used and sometimes you got a blow when you did wrong!

Beautiful time and I loved every minute and never missed training.

Did you have to travel so seek out new training methods, courses with the General and others?

Yes I travelled once a year to Germany to train with a Korean instructor to get more knowledge however my instructor did not like it. I think he became jealous however that has not changed, it still happens all the time.

Also to know more I bought books about stretching methods and started to become more flexible doing exercise every time when possible during the day.

A lot of people who began in those times have suffered from injuries (back, knees, hips etc), however you have stayed in great shape… What is the key? Did you seek out better training methods; educate yourselfin conditioning, flexibility etc?

Yes I also suffered from back pain and still it causes once a while some problems however we need to listen to our body and find a good chiropractor (laughing).

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In my opinion everybody needs a routine and train more often.

During my career I imagine how much time people invest to become more flexible seeing the result at all those IIC’s.

At least 85% of Taekwon-Do practitioners can’t make a split, which means from the very beginning of their career they did not invest too much time becoming more flexible.

Before you moved to Italy you had established a very successful school in Holland yourself and trained a lot of champions, who stand out as the most talented students from those days?

Yes in the Netherlands my school was doing well with many champions as Master Wijnand Tapilatu and Henk Meijer just to mention two who are still practising.

When did you make the move to Italy?

During an IIC in Vienna in 1985 with GM Park Yong Tae I met the Italian team members and their President Maurizio Massatani who asked me to come to Rome for a weekend seminar.

This went well and so he asked me to become the national coach for Italy, which I accepted.

In 1986 I started working and went to Italy once a month during 4 years. I moved to Italy in 1990.

The Italian Federation is now a real success. Tell us about some of the key people in Italian TKD, what makes it such a great federation; the structures you have helped put in place, the people?

First of all its important to know that 30 years ago things were different and Instructors had lower level belts so they did not pretented too much. Its important when a federation becomes bigger and the belt level raises that also the rules and regulations must change because the higher the belt is the more the people like to be independent. So through all those years I am in Italy I have modified some rules for the better, even I think that many instructors don’t realise how well our federation really is structured as they don’t know the real world outside their own country.

There are many persons to mention that made this federation, as it is now like my wife Tiziana Mimmocchi, secretary general for many years and now communication manager, former Presidents Maurizio Masssatani, Stefano Favero and Giovanni Cecconato and current President Master Carmine Caiazzo.

You have led the way in modernising ITF TKD competition, the rules, the structures, umpiring, hosting etc, before we speak about your journey on an ITF level what about your journey as a competitor and coach yourself. Did you have a successful Taekwon-Do competitive career? What moments stand out as both competitor and coach?

Yes I also was a competitor and won 1st place in sparring up to 63 kg at the 1st European Championships held in Rotterdam, Netherlands in the year 1976.

Also I have been a 7 times National Champion in Sparring up to 63 kg and National Champ in Patterns 1978. Took part at the World Championships in Oklahoma, USA in 1978 and won a 3rd place in Special Technique.

In 1979 I realised that I needed to give my time to my students and stopped competing even though I still was quite young. It was a choice and I never regretted it.

I became the National Coach for the Netherlands in 1982 and the biggest victory was winning the 1984 Wold title in sparring with the Dutch team winning against former Yugoslavia.

Did it take time for you to transition to a different culture, maybe a different TKD? Different organisation? Did the Italian federation know of your skills and talents from the start or did it take time for you to establish yourself and for them to accept you coming from another country?

Besides one very jealous and negative person who always was against everything and finally left in 2001, I did manage to build a solid federation based on rules and regulations and lots of seminars in order to increase their technical level.

Only after 8 months of my first seminar Italy had its biggest achievement at the 1987 Athens, Greece World Championships where Master Carmine Caiazzo became World Champion as well some 2nd and 3rd places. Never had Italy achieved any medal before, I think it was easy to work for me as a foreigner so between them there were no fights anymore. Some people left as they did not accept me as a leader but after a few years Italy started to grow very fast and we have some 90 clubs nowadays.

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Also some 4 Individual titles we won at that event.

However the tournament was a disaster like most of the tournaments those years.

What kind of man was Gen. Choi? Of course without him there would be no TKD...

Who really knew General Choi?? I think nobody!! He founded the ITF, He taught around the world ... and all of us have been lucky to start with the ITF the most beautiful thing on earth, at least for me its like that.

Many people always talk about the General as they were so close etc. but I have my doubts.

I might state that he trusted me giving me the opportunity of organizing better competition events.

Who were the other key players in ITF in those days?

There were many fantastic players those times and one of the famous one was Paul Germain from Canada a student of GM Tran those times.

When did you start to work in ITF at an international level? How did this come about? Had you already established a rapport or relationship with Gen. Choi?

Its a nice storey to tell...It was in Russia 1993 during the probably worst organized World Junior Championships ever held when GM McCallum came to me and said THE GENERAL WANTS TO SEE YOU! Well you might imagine what goes through you when the General wants to see you so I said to GM Tom, why? I did not do anything wrong I am just here as an official for Italy nothing else...No don’t worry GM Tom said, come with me...

I stood in front of the General he pointed to me and said Wim Bos take over...I replied take over what Sir?? He said…a little angry… Go and take over the organization of the event. (Just know that the first day of the event it went on to 4 o’clock in the night!!). I replied you mean Sir that I take the position as chairman?? The General only said GO! I went to head table and send all the Koreans who were in charge away…it was a way to make friends!!

Later you became chairman of the ITF tournament committee and began the process of modernising the rules, what key changes did you make from the start?

EI started to work for the ITF after receiving the mandate from General Choi and Master Sabree Salleh (the organizer) as Chairman of the Umpire and Tournament at 1994 at the Malaysian World Championships.

I prepared and introduced 17 new scoring forms, which we have used for many years until we changed for the electronic system.

The tournament was a great success however during that event I noticed that the tournament rules in place were not good enough to continue to give benefits to our competition system.

I don’t remember how many changes I made but a lot during those years and little by little as the General did not like to have changes even it was for the better.

You have held several other roles in ITF related to tournaments, the board, technical committee etc, can you give us an overview of the journey?

That’s a 47 years too long overview but to answer in a few words I am just a lucky man with strong character that wants to dedicate all my life in every aspect concerning Taekwon-Do ITF.

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The latest project is of course the ICC; tell us a little bit about this?

To create an ICC has been my idea for many years and I wished to have it as part of the IIC however there was no time enough to introduce those items, which we are now teaching in the ICC. The ICC has to do with competition items, how to perform better, how to become more flexible and stronger, how to break better, how to jump higher, sparring tactics etc.

Follow the ICC at Facebook in order to become more and more updated.

You are a very driven individual and always seem to either reinvent yourself or have a new idea or concept for the benefit of ITF, what motivates you?

What motivates me?? My passion for Taekwon-Do! In all kind of ITF aspects I always see something that could be done better and/or different.

Also I think that working at the ITF at the highest level and being a professional all the efforts must been given to any matter possible!

How important is it for ITF to have people like that, that always want to keep moving forward?

You were of course on the ITF technical committee for several years.

How important a role do you think that committee played and still plays in standardising ITF technique?

I have enjoyed being a member of the IIC showing my ability, knowledge and teaching methods and that the standardization has been completed.

Nowadays I notice the level of the competitors at the World events and feel happy that I have been a big part of their improvement.

You have also been the host of many major ITF events? Which ones stand out for you as the best memories?

Every event is special however it’s always how you look at it. For example 90% of events organized by me have been done at cities with a beach because it’s a nice environment and competitors feel free and happy, however its my personal opinion and not everybody might agree with it.

However after the 2013 and 2015 World championships held at beach places the comments were extremely good.

Personally I think the 2001 Rimini, Italy World Championships has been the most successful one because until today it had the most countries (72) and adults (784) participating, and there was only one ITF.

In recent times you have put a lot of work in with the ITF tournament and umpire committees in modernising the rules, what key changes and improvements have you seen?

I like to remember that changes and improvements are done by our Tournaments and Umpire Committee members however of course I am the engine and we all put the gears.

Looking back major changes are the implementing the electronic systems, better daily schedules, a much better visibility at the ITF website concerning the numbers of competitors, draws etc.

After each World event the Umpire and Tournament members come to Benidorm, Spain in the ITF HQ to discus the rules and trying to make improvements.

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Time will tell lets wait for the new generation!

DO YOu get much time to relax or is it TKD 24/7 for you?

I am trying to slow down a bit but...need to work to remain in shape and show that also some oldies still may give an example to younger generation trying to tell them don’t give up training hard and to show yourself and others that you can do it!

Finally tell us, why in your opinion the ITF is doing well and growing?

What are your hopes for the future?

The ITF is still growing, receiving lots of replacement certificate requests, therefore new membership, however we always have to face the others also calling themselves ITF therefore its remains a difficult situation.

The future might be in the hands of young people surrounded by the old generation in order to get the right balance and moving forward to keep our ITF the number one in the World, however In my opinion it would be correct for the whole ITF community to contact the other groups to talk and find solutions”

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nEW ZE

EALAND

What’s going on in….

NEW Zealand?

One of the things I really love about the ITF under GM Trajtenberg is how countries have the ability to seemingly come from nowhere to the forefront of the competitive world.

New Zealand is a good example of this, as is Ireland – and now Romania also seemed to have come from nowhere at the recent World Championships in Italy.

This was not possible in days gone by, when there was a much lower level of umpire training, impartiality and stringent auditing processes. Today everyone has an equal chance of winning a match, and countries are learning how to train to their medal count advantage.

Each country seems to have their own strengths and weaknesses, and competition aside the same applies to how they run things at home. In this article I will share a little about how things are run in New Zealand and how although small both in terms of our size and our overall practitioner numbers, we manage to kick above our weight.

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HAVING A STRATEGY In New Zealand we start with having a “big picture” view of why we exist. Through an extensive process of surveying our members we identified five key values and four strategic priorities

OUR VALUES: • Love for the Art • Excellence • Inspiration • Collaboration • Accountability

was Self-Defence with the formal introduction of a new self-defence syllabus.

126 instructors and assistant instructors attended the courses.

Six two-day black belt gradings were then held throughout New Zealand with 84 candidates, plus a senior dan grading. In March we held our second annual Masters Summit, where our six masters gathered for training and discussions together.

Our “Instructor Induction Courses” also continued with Mr Michael Lowe running eight courses which were very well received and 144 members attending.

We also have Instructor Development Officers conducting many small group and individual instructor development sessions throughout the country.

In June, Master Mark Hutton visited us from Scotland again for a series of seminars - his contribution to our organisation is much appreciated and it is always an honour to host him.

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES: • Strong Organisation • Maximum Participation • Quality Experience • Maximum Potential

Our strategic plan is currently under review, and the Board are aiming to simplify it further so that instructors and clubs become involved in these strategies.

LOTS OF ACTIVITY Believe it or not, one of the complaints we get from some instructors is there is just too much on. I know the feeling … and these days I just tell people that you have to just pick and choose what you can come to, as it is impossible to attend all the events.

To give you some idea, last year began with “Instructors’ Update courses” being run throughout the country by myself and Mr Andrew Salton. The theme for these courses

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In November we held an Examiners Course in Auckland with 15 in attendance. Five of these were candidates to become new examiners with one being successful. He now moves on to his practical training period before being appointed as an examiner. These strict rules are something we take pride in.

Also in November we held the 4th ITKD Instructors Conference which was a great success with 60 instructors in attendance. Mr Phil Thompson from Protect Self Defence was a special guest speaker and workshop leader, giving valuable insights into self-defence and how our new syllabus fits in. Master Daher, President of the Oceania Taekwon-Do Federation was our guest instructor from Australia.

Our in-schools programme called “Kiwisport” had an amazing year again with over 1,800 children attending courses in one region alone. Our government sports organisation “Sport NZ” acknowledges ITKD as the “Best Practice” example for other sports. We created an entirely new syllabus for teaching Taekwon-Do in schools. If anyone would like a copy please email me at pmcphail@itkd.co.nz On top of all that we had tons of tournaments, umpires courses and other seminars such as Master Rounthwaite’s breaking seminars and our special guest Louise McCagh from Ireland running a sparring seminar… both featuring on www.tkdcoaching.com.

So maybe that’s our secret… we just get stuck in and provide LOTS of opportunities for our members to learn, compete, take part, contribute and support. We have a strong, dedicated team of instructors, staff, board members and Masters who all put in so much work to make this a great organisation.

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puerto

to rico

puerto rico

LONG, LONG WAY TO THE PODIUM It all started during the 2001 Championships in Rimini, Italy, when we stood just one step of the podium.

By then Sabun Albert Camacho was already coach and me, captain of the national team. We had very good rounds, but like with many others, the team of Poland took away from us the dream of the first place.

That dream of seeing the 6 of us at the peak was always present, but it was not until 2005 that we could and we started to make relevant decisions.

The truth is that a triumph of that magnitude, as the one obtained in the last World Championship in Jesolo, is not obtained alone nor is by chance.

There are a number of factors that must be aligned in

22 • Intenational Taekwon-Do Federation • www.tkd-itf.org

order to achieve it; the commitment of so many years of the Head Coach Albert Camacho, all my trips to the IICs, the creativity of Coach Rodolfo Riviere, the integration of the Coach John Rodriguez, the valuable assistance of the Board of Directors of the National Team, the unconditional support of peers, family and friends and the recruiting of talented youngsters, disciplined, with a very clear dream but above all, with an incredible sense of team.

With the creation of the Board of the National Team in 2009, we were relieved from the “burden”.

Fundraising, uniforms, inscriptions, flight tickets, hotels and hiring a psychologist and a nutritionist, was left in the hands of the Board, while we were focused in our training and in coaching the team.

The World Cup in Jamaica was really a big test; we had the option of following the trend of the winning teams or showing something more dynamic representing a real challenge. Obviously we chose the second option and, after seeing the reaction of the judges to the new choreographies we presented there, we realized that was worth the risk assumed.

At first it was very difficult to create the necessary environment; we came from a group that had lost confidence in its leadership.

We had to capacitate ourselves, educate people and, above all, to commit them.

For that, we had to earn their trust, and we did. Today we have an organization integrated by happy, committed and willing to assist people. This year we started with a Development Program for candidates to the National Team.

To do this, we have created some workshops which are carried out throughout the year, with the intention of identifying prospects; start with the development of their skills and to work them technically.

We, the coaches and the competitors, are highly motivated and after the first place obtained at the World Championships in Jesolo we realized that a dream, with effort, passion and commitment, can become a reality.

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2015 ITF World

Championships

2015 itf WORLD Championships ITALY: AN EXPECTED SUCCESS

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International Taekwon-Do Federation • www.tkd-itf.org • 27

Hard work, professional team and will to succeed have been the ingredients that have allowed Master Giovanni Cecconato, organizer of the19th Senior & 13th Junior World Championships, to reach his goal: a world event to be remembered for the massive participation, for its technical content, for the atmosphere, for the organization and for the touristic offer.

Everything has been planned to please and receive all participants with the well known ‘Italian style’, with warmth, attention to details, problem solving attitude and joyful atmosphere. More than 2.200 people registered , according to their comments, enjoyed Italy, delicious food, fantastic weather and, most of all, met friends

and shared great moments of healthy life.

The beautiful city of Jesolo with its long and golden beach offered a very nice welcome to all. The weather has been perfect too, giving the chance to enjoy the free time thanks to a well planned schedule. In addition, the proximity to Venice, Treviso and Padua crowned the dreams and expectations of many visitors coming from all over the world. Almost everybody chose to visit these well known sites and take a picture kicking in front of many famous monuments.

Besides the professionals working in the organizing committee, such as GM Wim Bos, Tiziana Mimmocchi, Alessandro Oliverio, Paolo Gentile and Ennio Saccon,

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the massive help of a fantastic team of volunteers made the difference. TaekwonDo students, parents and friends came to work with heart and passion greatly contributing to the success of the event.

The atmosphere amongst the workers has always been nice and full of energy and, even in the most stressful moments, the calm attitude that characterizes Master Cecconato has always helped to get the maximum result. GM Bos has always been present and, with his experience and direction, the staff was easily lead to accomplish every task.

The social media helped a lot in keeping up the friendly atmosphere and the commu-

nications among all participants giving the chance to exchange pictures, impressions and information of all sorts.

A glittering opening ceremony fascinated our eyes and ears with lights, colorful and dynamic demonstrations, artistic choreographies and a stunning performance by the renowned tenor Francesco Grollo that surprised the audience with the most famous arias from operas and classical repertoire. It has been rewarding to realize that also the young people appreciated the show and joined the tenor in the well known songs with choirs and hand waving. Not to forget the great enthusiasm of our Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Philip Lear.

All the members of the Board of Directors attended the Championships giving prominence to the event with great appreciation of the organization committee. Master Cecconato offered them a class hospitality in Hotel Le Soleil that hosted many Board meetings and nice relaxing moments. The Gala dinner offered by Master Cecconato to the Board and to all the VIPs was also highly appreciated and hosted the ITF Outstanding Personalities awarding ceremony.

The attention was focused on the 1019 athletes from 56 countries that gave their best performances to achieve the medals of their lives and to obtain the maximum

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satisfaction after hard training sessions and mental preparation. Their hard work needed to be supported by a professional Umpires Committee and selected Referees. Master Alberto Katz, Chairman of the Umpire Committee, and his Committee members did their very best to accompany the competitors through the finals and to give the most possible professional judgment.

To give more relevance to the athletes performances, the organizer set a streaming forecast covering all the competition. Unfortunately it was not successful during the Opening Ceremony but it was then satisfactory during the championship. Almost 110.000 streaming contacts were registered, leaving the organization committee with a great taste of success and confirming that the investment done was an excellent choice. Much more can be done in this field that, in our opinion, is now mandatory in every big event.

Results were published in real time on the Promis website http:// wchamp2015.pztkd.lublin.pl/ and are still visible with all classifications, another fact that marks the difference between us and other organizations.

Rumania was the big surprise of the championship by reaching the second place in the Country classification between New Zealand, that outclassed all with 14 gold, 8 silver and 13 bronze medals, and Poland. Nice to see a very strong and happy team cheering and sharing their joy with everybody.

From the organizing committee and the staff point of view, the WC has been a fantastic and unique experience. Much more could have been done but the goals were all accomplished and this fulfill the efforts and expectations.

We wish the best of luck to Ireland, organizer of WC 2017, and will look forward to meeting all friends and colleagues, ready to cooperate for another big ITF success.

International Taekwon-Do Federation • www.tkd-itf.org • 33

World

medals PATTERN

SENIOR

SENIOR: SILVER MEDAL /FEMALE PATTERN SENIOR: GOLD MEDAL /FEMALE PATTERN

CAN BOND, ISABELLE ITA FARIGU, SILVIA IV-VI DAN IV-VI DAN NZL TIMPERLEY, MELISSA NOR LIND, MARIELE III DAN III DAN USA SUAREZ, STEPHANIE NOR LIND, MADELEINE II DAN II DAN ARG GRANADA, LARA NZL GILES, ROISIN I DAN I DAN

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PATTERN

SENIOR

SENIOR: GOLD MEDAL /MALE PATTERN

IV-VI DAN CAN BUJOLD, MAXIME III DAN NZL CANTON, DANE II DAN CAN O´NEIL, RYAN I DAN NZL MCMILLAN,DANIEL

SENIOR: SILVER MEDAL /MALE PATTERN

IRL RYAN, STEPHEN IV-VI DAN POL REDUCH, ANDREJ III DAN FIN ROSSI, SAMULI II DAN NOR SOLHEIM, KNUT BRAATHEN I DAN

SENIOR: BRONZE MEDAL /MALE PATTERN

FRA DOULAY, LYLIAN IV-VI DAN ITA PERSIA, MASSIMO IV-VI DAN PRY RAMÍREZ,NESTOR III DAN RUS KIM,VLADIMIR III DAN ITA DILLON, EDDIE II DAN NOR MALMIN,TRANE II DAN FIN LAITINEN, ALTTI I DAN FIN PIIPONNIEMI, VILLE I DAN

SENIOR: BRONZE MEDAL /FEMALE PATTERN

CAN BLOUIN, MARIE -CHRYSTINE IV-VI DAN ITA SANTUCCI, BARBARA IV-VI DAN CAN MADUK, KAYLA III DAN RUS KHARZHEEVA, ELENA III DAN NOR HENRY, PHILLIPA II DAN SVK BALAZOVA, VERONIKA II DAN DEU LEHNE, SARAH I DAN NLD ROOK, BO I DAN

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SPARRING

SENIOR

SENIOR: GOLD MEDAL /FEMALE SPARRING SENIOR: GOLD MEDAL /MALE SPARRING

DEU ADOLFS, BRITT

50 KG DHUN RIZMAYER, NORBERT 57 KG POL DZIALA, ILONA 56 KG NOR DRANGE, ESPEN 63 KG POL OMIECINSKA, ILONA 62 KG IRL SHELLEY, ADAM 70 KG ARG GARELIK, PATRICIA 68 KG DEU ADOLFS, COLIN 78 KG RUS KUZLACHKOVA, EKATERINA 75 KG ARG MARIN FERNANDO 85 KG NLD MEPPELDER, NINA over 75 kg

ENG ESPI CASTILLO, ZAK over 85 kg

SENIOR: SILVER MEDAL /FEMALE SPARRING SENIOR: SILVER MEDAL /MALE SPARRING

ENG PENA, JENNIFER 50 KG FIN RAMBERG, JARI 57 KG CHL URBINA, CAMILA 56 KG SVN LJUTIC, SANEL 63 KG ENG FOX LONGDON, LAURA 62 KG IRL FITZGIBBON, DYLAN 70 KG ENG WHITTAKER, HANNAH 68 KG CAN O´NEIL, SEAN 78 KG SWE SCHANDER, ISABELLE 75 KG ENG O´ROURKE,SHANE 85 KG POL MISKIEWICZ, WIOLETA over 75 kg POL MROZ, MATEUSZ over 85 kg

SENIOR: BRONZE MEDAL /FEMALE SPARRING SENIOR: BRONZE MEDAL /MALE SPARRING

USA SUAREZ, STEPHANIE 50 KG CAN BUJOLD, MAXIME 57 KG NLD PATTIPEILUHU,ASMARA 50 KG NZL DAVIS,MICHAEL 57 KG CAN NOËL, MAXINE 56 KG ITA OLIVA,SIMONE 63 KG POL DABROWSKA, ANNA 56 KG POL ZGORZELSKI,RAFAL 63 KG ARG CANUT, CAMILA 62 KG JAM DUSARD,NICHOLOS 70 KG NOR MILLER, HANNA VICTORIA 62 KG ENG BINT, JASON 70 KG DEU SINNER,ANDREA 68 KG UKR GRYSHCHUK,IVAN 78 KG PRY VAZQUEZ, EDITH 68 KG ARG VATRANO, ALEJO 78 KG DEU SCHEFFEL, VIVIANE 75 KG HUN HERBÁK, TAMÁS 85KG POL CONWAY, LYNDSEY 75 KG NOR SOLBERG,CHRISTOFFER 85KG ENG HEREDI, ANIKO over 75 kg ROU MADAIAN,MIHAI over 85 kg ARG RAPETTI, ERIKA over 75 kg UZB NURALIEV,TEMUR over 85 kg

SPE.T

SENIOR

POWER TEST

SENIOR

FEMALE POWER TEST

FEMALE SPECIAL TECHNICS

NZL TIMMER, KARA RUS KUZLACHKOVA, EKATERINA Gold Gold POL MISKIEWICZ, WIOLETA POL DABROWSKA, ANNA Silver Silver NZL WEIR, COURTNEY POL MYSUR, MARTA Bronze Bronze

MALE POWER TEST

MALE SPECIAL TECHNICS

NZL FILIKI,WESLEY NZL NEARY, SEAN Gold Gold POL BERNACIAK, KAROL POL MROZ, MATEUSZ Silver Silver POL SUDAK,LUKASZ DEU ADOLFS, COLIN Bronze Bronze POL KAMINSKI,MATEUSZ Bronze

36 • Intenational Taekwon-Do Federation • www.tkd-itf.org

PATTERN

JUNIOR

JUNIOR: GOLD MEDAL /MALE PATTERN

JUNIOR: GOLD MEDAL /FEMALE PATTERN

I DAN CAN FORSYTHE, LIAM COL HOSPINA, HONEY I DAN II DAN ITA BOS, TIMOTHY ENG BRIDER, ISABEL II DAN NZL EDWARDS, HUNTER III DAN NOR LORENTSEN, LINN BENJAMINSEN III DAN

JUNIOR: SILVER MEDAL /MALE PATTERN

JUNIOR: SILVER MEDAL /FEMALE PATTERN

ARG ROSALES, MARIANO I DAN DEU GLUCK, JENNY I DAN RUS KAMOLOV, RAUF II DAN HUN SEPP, YVETTE II DAN NOR KJOSNES, SIVERT III DAN NZL MCCREEDY, ANGEL III DAN

JUNIOR: BRONZE MEDAL /MALE PATTERN

JUNIOR: BRONZE MEDAL /FEMALE PATTERN

PRY ASTIGARRAGA, NICOLAS I DAN CAN BEAUDOIN. SAUNIER,MINIA I DAN PRY DUARTE, LUCAS I DAN PRI OPPENHEIMER, AYEISHA L. II DAN IRL MURPHY, DYLAN II DAN ITA BATTAN, ISABEL II DAN ENG BONWICK, ADAM II DAN ENG EVIO,CRISTINE III DAN NOR EIDE, SIVERT LEIN III DAN NZL CHURCH, COURTNEY III DAN PRY ALVARENGA, IGNACIO III DAN

International Taekwon-Do Federation • www.tkd-itf.org • 37

SPARRING

JUNIOR

JUNIOR: GOLD MEDAL /FEMALE SPARRING JUNIOR: GOLD MEDAL /MALE SPARRING

POL PODWYSOCKA, OLIWIA 45 KG UKR SOLOVEY, VITAIY 50 KG POL PIETAK, PATRYCJA 50 KG IRL MC GRATH, LUKE 56 KG IRL INCE ELLEN 55 KG IRL MURPHY, DYLAN 62 KG POL GADZALA, ZUZANNA 60 KG DEU RMADAN, AL AMIN 68 KG NZL BIDISCOMBE ROSE 65 KG UKR DEMCHYSHYN, DANYLO 75 KG USA RAYBOURN, JAMIE over 65 kg POL GADZALA, JAKUB over 75 kg

JUNIOR: SILVER MEDAL /FEMALE SPARRING JUNIOR: SILVER MEDAL /MALE SPARRING

IRL CURRAN, GRAINNE 45 KG SVN PRELOZNIK, ALEN 50 KG SCT CARR. KATRINA 50 KG IRL IVANCHUK, ROSTIK 56 KG DEU GLUCK, JENNY 55 KG ITA BOS,TIMOTHY 62 KG ENG MOTTERSHEAD, ROMY 60 KG ENG BONWICK, ADAM 68 KG NOR TRUJILO, VALERIE AYALA 65 KG ARG BENITEZ, SANTIAGO 75 KG NZL LLOYD, FRANCES

over 65 kg ROU NEAU, DORIAN over 75 kg

JUNIOR: BRONZE MEDAL /FEMALE SPARRING JUNIOR: BRONZE MEDAL /MALE SPARRING

IRL MOONEY, REBECCA 45 KG DEU TRIQUI. AMOS 50 KG ITA LOI,CHIARA 45 KG POL DOMURAD , MATEUSZ 50 KG ARG MERCADO, AILEN 50 KG ROU DANCU MARIS 56 KG KGZ SYRGAKOVA, AIPERI 50 KG RUS VISHENIN, PETR 56 KG ARG ACOSTA, MILAGROS 55 KG NZL WILLIAMS, DAMON 62 KG POL DZIENKOWSKA, PAULINA 55 KG POL SPYRA, PIOTR 62 KG ITA BATTAN, ISABEL 60 KG BLR KRAUCHANKA, ANDREI 68 KG SVN GAZVODA, URSKA 60 KG FIN POHJONEN, JERE 68 KG ENG WAWMAN, KATIE 65 KG NOR BJORNSTAD, OLIVER 75 KG POL KASPRZAK, KAMILA 65 KG POL LUIEWSKI, KAROL 75 KG NZL MOORE, GEORGIA over 65 kg POL GABRYLUK, DAWID over 75 kg POL NYRC, MONIKA over 65 kg ROU DANCU MARIUS over 75 kg

SPE.T

JUNIOR

POWER TEST

JUNIOR

FEMALE POWER TEST

FEMALE SPECIAL TECHNICS

ROU POPA, MARIA NZL LLOYD, FRANCES Gold Gold NZL WALTON, KYLA IRL MAGEE, MAEVE Silver Silver NZL LLOYD, FRANCES NZL BLACK, MADDISON Bronze Bronze NZL BIDDISCOMBE, ROSE Bronze

MALE POWER TEST

MALE SPECIAL TECHNICS

ROU NEAGU, DORIAN rou UNGUR, ALEXANDRU Gold Gold POL GADZALA , JAKUB NZL VIJAYAKUMARAN, VINUSVASTHIKAN Silver Silver NLD BUIKEMA, LUC POL GADZALA, JAKUB Bronze Bronze NZL CAMPBELL, AIDAN Bronze

38 • Intenational Taekwon-Do Federation • www.tkd-itf.org

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• www.tkd-itf.org • 39

itf CON

NGRESS

itf

congress

42 • Intenational Taekwon-Do Federation • www.tkd-itf.org

As usual, during the development of the World Championship in Jesolo, Italy, in the last May, was held the XXIII Congress of the ITF. We offer here a list of the most important issues that emerged from this event. · Election of new authorities of the Board of Directors for the period 2015 - 2019. It was conformed as follows:

Executive Committee:

· President: Grand Master Pablo Trajtenberg

· Senior Vice-President: Master Paul Weiler

· 2º Vice-President: Grand Master Feliciano Javier Dacak

· 3º Vice-President: Master Clinton Norman

· General Secretary: Master Juan Ferrando

· Treasurer: Master Tadeusz Loboda

· 1º Vocal (Director): Grand Master Willem Bos

Board Members:

· Grand Master Thomas MacCallum

· Master Michael Daher

· Master Per Andresen

· Master Lazaros Tsilfidis

Legal Advisor: Mr. Manuel Dopico Fradique

To learn more about the members of the Board, who are the Continental Representatives and how the various Committees are composed, please click the following link: http://www.tkd-itf.org/about-us/#board-of-directors

• For its part, Ireland was chosen to host the World Championship 2017.

• On the occasion was approved (via provisional admission for a

period of two years) the incorporation of the following National

Associations:

· Croatia, Croatian ITF Taekwon-Do Association;

· China, China Taekwon-Do Federation;

· Iran, Iran Taekwon-Do Union.

· Finally, the change of status of ITF Taiwan, from CR to

National Association, was also approved.

For further information or details, please contact the following email: hqitfoffice@gmail.com

International Taekwon-Do Federation • www.tkd-itf.org • 43

tafis

fisa

TAFISA is an international organization that aims to achieve an active world and bring joy, health, social interaction and development to the citizens of the world through the promotion of Sport for All and physical activity.

Formally established since 1991, TAFISA is officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

This organization has over 200 members from 130 countries and its structure is composed of both state and non-governmental organizations, including national sports federations, national Olympic committees, and ministries of health, culture, sports, educational institutions and individuals, among them is the ITF. During the World Championship held in Jesolo, Italy, a meeting took place between the President of this organization, Prof. Dr. Ju-Ho Chang, the Secretary General, Mr. Wolfgang Baumann and the President of the ITF, GM Pablo Trajtenberg.

This meeting reaffirmed the endorsement to the ITF by the international organization, which results into a relevant fact for some countries members, as this endorsement is important in order to be recognized by the national sports legislation and thus achieve an official status.

46 • Intenational Taekwon-Do Federation • www.tkd-itf.org

The visit allowed the invited authorities to verify the high quality of our tournaments as result of which, they expressed their satisfaction and requested the cooperation of the ITF to conform a new committee within their entity, containing the various Martial Arts members of TAFISA. We are sowing.

Now is time to continue working to come closer to more recognized international entities such as TAFISA, and wait for all this effort to provide us with the best fruits: that competition and sport are not something for some privileged but for everybody.

International Taekwon-Do Federation • www.tkd-itf.org • 47

competitor

rs for ever

julia cross

Tell us a little about yourself

When did you start training in TKD, who was your trainer?

I started training at age 11 when my Father took me along to our local club in Linlithgow, which is my hometown and was run by Master Sheena Sutherland 8th Degree.

Do you think your trainer saw something special in you early on and guided you in the direction of tournaments or was it just a natural transition to compete?

I don’t think so! I was never natural at TKD or vey talented. But I always had drive and determination from a very young age. Lots of

50 • Intenational Taekwon-Do Federation • www.tkd-itf.org

members from our club competed all over Britain and it was natural progression for me to follow them to competitions. My first was at green belt age 12 and I loved competing from that very first time.

How does it feel to be inducted into the hall of ITF Outstanding Personalities?

Wonderful. To be awarded this recognition alongside many amazing athletes, Masters and Coaches. I was very humbled and honoured to learn that I was to be presented with such an award in Italy.

I think it is judgement to my 6 world titles and 15 European tiles, also for my 29 years dedication to our wonderful art and trying to inspire others along the way. I was just very sad that I could not be there in person as I had hip surgery the day before the WC started.

here to win’ And I did. Also the first time I won double Gold at the WC in Poland 2003. This was always my ultimate goal. Getting my 5th Degree just 10 months after a full hip replacement was a huge achievement for me physically and mentally. I was very proud and happy to be promoted…. Now soon for my 6th Degree all being well.

What is your impression of how TKD and TKD competition has changed/evolved over the years?

I think competition has changed in many ways especially the new rules regarding straight minus points. This I strongly disagree with. Some referees are too fast, in my opinion, to give out minus points, which in turn can lead to disqualification for an athlete who has trained for years for a WC or EC. Ultimately the fight is in the referee’s hands. I think this needs to be reviewed. Many fighters are very cautious to let their true skills flow as to not get a minus point. This takes away the magnificent bouts we used to have. On the other hand I agree with it for misconduct or lack of respect. ITF TKD should be hard, beautiful and spectacular to watch. All athletes are or should be trained to be able to handle though fights.

Competition patterns are very different from traditional patterns now. I think the judging should be more on the traditional side with more hip twist and sign wave…

As General Choi taught us.

Since retiring from competition you’ve had more time to be able to dedicate to coaching others?

Yes I have and have been very fortunate to be invited to teach seminars in USA, Canada, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Ireland, which is such an amazing experience.

To be able to pass on my wealth of knowledge to others, not just in the physical but also mentally and my philosophies that helped me over the years. I love this part, traveling, meeting new and old friends.

How are your schools going?

My gym in South Queensferry is going very well thank you. I have wonderful and very loyal students and assistants.

It is extremely rewarding to watch my students and competitors grow, it is my job to do so.

Can seeing your students be successful be as rewarding an experience as winning your own titles?

Now, yes it is as rewarding as winning my own titles. At first when I retired it was difficult, I still desired that feeling. But now I have that feeling through my students.

Watching their faces when they win or lose, I know these emotions only too well, so for me I think I am equipped to help them deal with the pain, sadness or happiness and euphoria.

Gaining my first European Champion in 2012 with Gilles Brown -78kg was a very rewarding moment.

He was the first ever male European champion for Scotland as I was the first female.

I was also fortunate enough to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007 in Quebec.

What stands out for you as the highlights of our career in TKD? I think my first World Title in Argentina 1999 is still one of my best moments in TKD. I was the only person from Scotland competing and I remember some people from around the world saying to me ‘that’s so nice you came to compete and you are alone’ meaning they felt sorry for me and gave me no chance of winning. I just turned round and said ‘Thank you, but I am not here just to compete, I am

Give us an idea of your training regime while competing at the top level?

Lots! I would train up to 12 TKD sessions per week, along with weight/conditioning training and CV (Cardio Vascular) training 4-5 times per week.

As I competed in both patterns and sparring I would divide my TKD sessions in the morning equally between both, and also depending on what I needed to work on and who I was training with; lots of pad drills, movement, speed, focus, power, then with patterns technique, balance, precision.

I also included lots of mental preparation, especially on the lead up to major competitions.

I always felt the biggest fight was with yourself.

International Taekwon-Do Federation • www.tkd-itf.org • 51

What motivated you to go back year after year and win more titles?

The want and desire to be the best. To prove people wrong when they said I couldn’t do it again. To be remembered and inspire others to be the best they can possibly be. To show that nothing is impossible if you have the desire and are willing to sacrifice, work hard and listen to those who know better.

I never thought that I was unbeatable; I just wanted to be unbeatable. I was very conscious that there were many that wanted to beat me, so I just had to work harder and smarter.

Of course I have been beaten on many occasions, these made me stronger and even more determined.

I never thought for one moment that I was a good as I could be.

I would come away from a WC win thinking, ok I didn’t do that very well, so I would go away and work on it so I hopefully didn’t make the same mistake the next time

You have struggled with injury in recent years, how is your recovery going?

Yes I have, 8 surgeries; 3 knee, 4 hip and 1 nose. Hopefully that is it for just now.

The latest was a hip injury, which happened while teaching at the Norwegian summer camp last year.

Me being me, I carried on regardless, I left it too long before I emailed my hip surgeon. 2 MRI’s, fluid inside the femur, 6 weeks crutches, one operation, then another 8 weeks ago and then another 6 weeks on crutches. This one has been a difficult one if I am honest. I haven’t been able to walk well or any distance in 8 months. But now re-hab is going well and I am following orders.

I have been teaching throughout, with time off, but unfortunately unable to teach seminars, which has been difficult. But I’ll be back out there in no time that I am sure of.

This recovery is slow but sure.

I am so very thankful I have a wonderful surgeon who I trust 100% and truly amazing assistants and students who ran my gym while I was off.

I see my surgeon this week to see if the surgery has worked. If not it is another full hip replacement. I am positive that it has though.

Looking back do you think the intense training you did while competing contributed to the injuries?

Yes, for sure to an extent. Definitely all my knee surgeries are due to collisions and torn cartilage.

52 • Intenational Taekwon-Do Federation • www.tkd-itf.org

I don’t think any top athlete in their chosen field can avoid injury completely.

With my hips, the first one I had a slight growth plate turn by 2mm, which meant that my hip always sat off centre since I finished growing at 16. But with what I did to it, intense training etc my surgeon said I brought the replacement forward 30 years. So it would have happened.

I was unaware of this problem until 2008.

I have always been very stubborn and fought through pain, it became my friend, and if I wasn’t in pain I thought there was something wrong!

Crazy I know.

Have you changed you changed your training methods as a result?

Yes, very much. I now have to focus on strength training, swimming and non-impact sports. Which is difficult. After I have fully recovered from this surgery, my surgeon does not want me to kick again. It’s that serious.

So just now I am re thinking everything, my training, they way I instruct and a way forward. But I am always positive. I am 41 now, not 25 like I think I am sometimes, so I want to be functional for the rest of my life.

Who stand out as female athletes or role models in ITF today for you?

For me it is not always competitors who are role models, but also referees. I think Annick Van Driessche is a wonderful referee and shows women in a great light as strong in the TKD world.

Malgorzata Rogaczewska does a great job for the AEFT and I have a lot of respect for them both.

My instructor for 29 years Master Sheena Sutherland 8th Degree has been a massive inspiration throughout the years, always showing me that as a woman nothing was impossible and to always strive to be a better person and never give up on your dreams, to fight for what you believe in and never let others tell you otherwise. I have very much to thank her for. As one of the few 8th degrees in the World I have very much respect for her and her beliefs.

I believe there should be more females in higher positions on the ITF/ AEFT boards. There should be gender equality of experienced females in the field.

What do you think is the value of competing? Why would you advise people to compete?

Massive. It’s a chance to test yourself, your willpower, your determination, your strength of character and your skills.

It can make you a stronger person mentally.

Aside from competition, what is your favourite thing about TKD? Traveling, exploring our wonderful world and meeting up with old friends and making new ones. Learning from the more experienced.

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• www.tkd-itf.org • 53

Jaroslaw Suska Tell us a little about yourself

Give us an overview of your journey in Taekwon-Do? When and where did it start?

I started my adventure with Taekwon-do in 1985 in Lubartów. It was exactly 27th February 1985 and since that day till today I practice under Master Jerzy Jedut. My first Taekwon-do competition took place in 1987. I was third in the sparring category up to 54 kg. After that tournament my sport career started to roll quickly.

In 1988, for the first time I became the Polish Senior Champion in sparring category up to 54 kg for. In 1989 I won that category in Pyong Yang in North Korea. It was my first international competition. I won my first World Champion title in the 4th Degree pattern in 2001 in Italy.

Throughout many years of my participation in the championships I won many times in Poland, Europe and in the world. My sport carrier finished in 2013 where during the World Championships in Spain I won the World Champion title for the sixth time. My final balance: 6 times World Champion, 20 times European Champion, 25 times Polish Champion.

What stand out as the key changes or evolution of Taekwon-Do since you started competing to now?

Over the years the Taekwon-do technique evaluated significantly. I remember first training sessions, competitions or demonstrations.

At that time we looked rather more like Karate than Taekwon-do.

The development of technique and its interpretation started from the moment when Gen. Choi Hong Hi came to Poland. The seminars with the Founder of Taekwon-do opened our eyes how to practice.

It was also the time when I started to focus myself more on pattern.

The main difference in technique from when I first started and today was the sine wave, the way of creating the movement of hand techniques. I think about the swinging movements and backward motions. When it comes to competition, the first difference which comes forward is the speed of pattern performance. A long time ago they were preformed very fast. Currently the patterns are being made in a much calmer way and due to that you can perform it more precisely. However, after the last World Championships in Italy, there is one remark, which comes to my mind. The competitors focus themselves too much on the precision at the expense of energy and smoothness of movements made in patterns.

54 • Intenational Taekwon-Do Federation • www.tkd-itf.org

You are lucky enough to have Master Jedut as your coach for many years, how important is it to have a good coach to guide you? What role has he played in your development?

Since the beginning Master Jedut was my coach and so he is now.

Of course in a certain moment I started to work a lot by myself to improve the techniques and to prepare for the competition. However, Master Jedut always was and constantly is the best advisor in the question of techniques. And I thank him for that very much. He was able to ignite in me the practice of Taekwon-do. Thanks to his knowledge and ability to analyze techniques I could become better and achieve good results during the competition. It was significant particularly at the beginning of the way, when the attitudes were being formed.

Besides Master Jedut, who else has been a key influence on your development in Taekwon-Do? Next to Master Jedut a significant impact on my development has to be the seminars with Gen. Choi Hong Hi. The knowledge, I have got on those meetings, is giving the fruits till today. I go back very readily to my notes or video recordings from the seminars in order to remind myself of technical details. The meetings with Gen. Choi were always exceptional and gave me a lot of energy for practicing.

Of course I can not overlook here my wife Anita Pasek, also a member of the Polish National Team for many years, World Champion in 2003, who supported me in my sport way and always motivated me to hard work.

Do you think Master Jedut saw something special in you at a young age and maybe pushed you more than others because of this?

I guess this is a questions to Master Jedut, but I think he saw something in me. For sure, I singled out from the group when it comes to flexibility, because since the beginning I did not have any problems with splits. The coordination tasks, learning of pattern or techniques were not a problem. I remember, that already after half year of training in the beginning group I was moved to the advanced section. I am sure the coach’s decision allowed for me a better development. As it came out later it was very good decision.

You have been recently inducted into the ITF Hall of Outstanding Personalities for your accomplishments as a competitor, how does it feel to receive this recognition?

The Outstanding Personality Award is a great distinction for me. I am happy to be honored among other prominent athletes. It is the culmination of my long-standing achievements as a competitor. I also think it is very good that ITF awards with statuettes also outstanding representatives of Taekwon-do. It is a bow towards their contribution to development of Taekwon-do and towards the fact that they are showing others motivation to practicing. Outstanding Personalities Award is also ennoblement for better work as a coach. I would like to show, that Taekwon-do does not finish on sport. I would like to develop myself as a coach and as a teacher of young generations showing them a way of life compliant with the tenets of Taekwon-do.

the breath as well as repetition of sequences from the patterns.

The third stages’ subject was repeating of pattern with repetition of patterns’ sequences and specialist exercises preparing for the competition. The training sessions took between 45 minutes and 1,5 hour four times a week in the preparation period, and up to 2-3 sessions per day in the time directly before the championships.

To compete at the top level especially in patterns mental preparation is also very important, how big a role did this play for you?

A mental preparation in the category of pattern plays a remarkably important role. The time for training must be adequate for the preparation period. The closer to the performance at the event, the more the training must go out to the forefront.

In my work as a coach I try to convey that knowledge. Mental training allows a better performance and better presentation of your skills. Often enough I saw many excellent competitors at the training sessions, who showed only 20% of their skills at the competition. Their psyche did not allow them to use their capabilities and potentially weaker competitors defeated them. I think this is the most difficult and the most important training, demanding a hard and orderly work.

Looking back on a career, which spanned many years at the top, level and having achieved the title of world champion in individual pattern 4th-6th Dan a record 6 times, what memories stand out for you?

The whole period of participation in the competition was unforgettable time. Each start was an event full of emotions and affections.

There were many moments of joy but also of sadness. The most beautiful moment in my career was when I won the World Championships in 2001 in Rimini, Italy. This performance was accompanied by really huge emotions, and after I won the final against the competitor from North Korea, over an hour I could not stop dropping tears of joy. I felt similar in Spain in 2013 when I knew, that this was my last time. I wanted to win that competition, but I knew that my rivals do not sleep and also practice hard showing really good shape.

Knowing, that it will be my last competition I set off with preparations appropriately earlier and according to my own training plan. The effect was achieved. I felt that I was prepared very well and my biggest opponent was stress. I came out from the ring with a huge relief but also with the awareness that this is my last exit as a winner.

When you competed you were always in super shape? Give us an idea of your preparation for an event, how many hours training, did this involve only patterns, or did it also include aspects of conditioning, strength training?

My philosophy of training and participation in the competition was always based on perfection. Regardless of the rank of the tournament, was it World Championships or a national competition; I went to the event always prepared. The quality was important.

After each performance I used to be dissatisfied and I tried to find elements to be improved. Each performance was predated by appropriate preparations. The plan was modified depending of the significance and rank of the tournament. The first stage was the muscles reinforcement and proper exercises. The second phase was to work on the balance, timing (sync/h) of the movement and

International Taekwon-Do Federation • www.tkd-itf.org • 55

of patterns’ technical level but also to motivations’ improvement of competitors themselves. After each competition I analyze successes and failures and I try to modify the trainings plans individually for each competitor.

What is your impression of the level in patterns competition since you have retired?

The pattern category is very special for me and I always look at it with a great affection. In my opinion, the level is very high, particularly in the highest category of 4th-6th Degree pattern. I also saw many excellent junior competitors what bodes well for the future competition. I can only hope that the level will stay high or will be even better.

We saw some clips of you performing at a recent seminar in England, you actually look in better shape than ever...are you still training hard? Would you consider a come back competitively or is your focus now to train simply for the enjoyment of Taekwon-Do?

Was it difficult to make the transition from competitor to now coaching the national team?

To be a coach of the National Team was one of my dreams. The termination of my sports career permitted me to accomplish that dream.

The favor of the Polish Taekwon-Do Association authorities did allow me to do so and now I am able to continue my adventure with competition as a coach.

The change of the function from competitor to a coach was not too difficult for me due to the fact that for many years I prepared the male team as a team captain. Now I have more responsibilities, because I take care for preparation of all pattern teams as well as for all competitors who participate in the individual pattern events.

It is a great pleasure for me and I gladly while away days in the sport hall, in order to help others in the best possible preparation for the competition.

Can you tell us about the structure of the national team in Poland? The training methods, selections? Has there been any change in focus since you took on the role as coach? How do you use your experience to contribute to the development of the next crop of champions?

The structure of the National Team in Poland is built by the senior and junior competitors as well as coaches. The number of competitors going to the championships oscillates in the range of 60 people supervised by the teaching staff of five coaches. The competitors qualify to the National Team trough the performance at the national tournaments: Polish Cup, Grand Prix and Polish Championships. The medal places obtained at those tournaments are giving the athletes the chance to qualify for the wide national team. The international competition experience and fitness for the team categories play a significant role in appointing the competitors for the European or World Championships.

The competitors who prepare for the most important events meet during three training camps. The first one, a few days long camp, is usually held in winter. The next are being organized directly before competition. Usually it is between 7 to 10 days. It is the time for the final technical corrections, building of motivation and preparation for the team pattern. The sessions normally take 1,5 hour and are held twice a day.

My being in the teaching staff brings most of all the competition experience, the look at many items and aspects from competitor’s perspective. Long-standing experience certainly contributed to enhancement

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The end of the participation at the tournaments does not mean that I cease the training. I still practice, but of course my workout is already different. I do not have to think about the competition and I do not have to subordinate everything to the tournament performance.

Training is a great pleasure. I would like to be in a good shape as long as possible, especially because I present my skills during the seminars around the world. I would like to promote a good technique but in order to do so, you have to practice all the time. As I said, it is a great pleasure, which will accompany me for a long time.

Beside competition, for you what is the most important aspect of Taekwon-Do? When I started my adventure with Taekwon-Do I have never imagined that I will participate in competition and that I will achieve so much. Therefore I find in the Taekwon-do training much more than only a physical preparation to win the competition. Throughout the training I reach the inner balance, peace and composure. I would like that all others, who practice Taekwon-do, will find not only the values of the “gold medal” and winning a competition, but they would be also able to find the values of the Taekwon-do tenets. I try to cultivate those rules during the Taekwon-do classes as well as to show young people the right direction how to be a good person. The aim is not only a good technique or a high strength, which allows us to win the competition, but also building of the right interpersonal relations and mutual kindness.

International Taekwon-Do Federation • www.tkd-itf.org • 57

Outstanding Pe

Personalities

outstanding

personalities On May 29th 2015 during the official banquet of the XIX Senior and XIII ITF World Taekwon-Do Championships 2015 in the restaurant Casa Paloma at Piazza Venezia 16 in Jesolo, Italy took place a celebration of sport, athletes and activists at the inaugural edition of ITF Outstanding Personalities Award (in an old formula called Hall of Fame).

V. OUTSTANDING UMPIRE GM Willem Jacob Bos, Italia VI. OUTSTANDING COUNTRY GM Hector Marano – President of Federación de Taekwon-do de la República Argentina

Honouring the spirit of martial art, participation and competition, the following winners were awarded in each of the 7 categories on the night: I. OUTSTANDING COMPETITOR Ms. Julia Cross, Escocia Mr. Jarosław Suska, Polonia Mr. David Warwick Kerr, Brasil Ms. Soledad Serrano, Argentina Mr. Tomaz Barada, Eslovenia Mr. Dariusz Idzikowski, Polonia Ms. Joanna Paprocka, Polonia II. OUTSTANDING OFFICIAL Mr. Russel MacLellan, Canadá III. OUTSTANDING PIONEER/MASTER GM Nguyen Van Binh, EE.UU. GM Thomas MacCallum, Escocia

IV. OUTSTANDING INSTRUCTOR/COACHE Master Jerzy Jedut, Poland Master Wijnand Tapilatu, the Netherlands Master Edgardo Villanueva, Argentina

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VII. OUTSTANDING SPONSOR Mr. Peter Kruckenhauser – Owner of the TopTen

The achievements of this year winners are available on the ITF official website under the link: http://www.tkd-itf.org/about-us/hall-of-fame/outstanding-personalities/

A previous “Hall of Fame” ceremony took place during the XI Junior and XV Senior World Championships 2007 held on 31st May – 3rd June 2007 in Quebec, Canada. In 2007 the awards were handed out in four categories: Best competitors, Best Instructors/Masters, Best Coaches and Best Umpires.

However at that time the ITF did not have precise rules, which should specify the categories and requirements of candidates.

At its meeting in Spain during the World Championships 2013 in Benidorm, Spain, Grand Master Thomas MacCallum was entrusted to be a person responsible on behalf of the ITF Board to prepare the Outstanding Personalities Awards.

During the Meeting held on 25th and 26th August 2014 in Montego Bay, Jamaica ITF Board of Directors agreed that the ITF will cover the costs of accommodation of awarded people as well as that ITF will announce on Facebook and on the ITF official website that the competitors with three or more individual World Championship titles and coaches whose students won more the six individual World Championships titles should apply for the ITF Hall of Fame.

During the ITF Board Meeting held in March 2015 in Aberdeen, Scotland Master Tadeusz Loboda was appointed to prepare a final policy on ITF Outstanding Personalities Award as well as to prepare the statuettes which should awarded to the applicants.

The ITF Outstanding Personalities Awards ceremony in Jesolo was conducted by Master Tadeusz Loboda (ITF Treasurer), GM Pablo Trajtenberg (ITF President), GM Thomas McCallum (ITF Board member) and Master Juan Ferrando (ITF Secretary General) From the beginning the main concern of the ITF Board was in this matter to select outstanding personalities who will fit constantly in the development of International Taekwon-Do Federation and Taekwon-Do. The next awarding ceremony will take place during the World Championships 2017 in Dublin, Ireland.

The policy on ITF Outstanding Personalities Awards is available under the link: http://www.tkd-itf.org/about-us/hall-offame/outstanding-personalities/

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coach ex

xperience

maSTER Edgardo Villanueva Master Edgardo Villanueva, 7 degree, Master Coach Argentinean selection.

Emblem of Argentine and South American Taekwon-Do, as a competitor and later as a coach, this loquacious and passionate master who leaves nothing unsaid, was recently awarded as an ITF Outstanding Personality for his intense and remarkable work as coach.

We invite you to enjoy his concepts poured into a quiet coffee talk in Buenos Aires.

How do you become coach?

I became coach while still a competitor.

I started with the activity due to a large increase in the number of competitors and then, yes, I quitted the competition to dedicate myself to my students.

I competed a little, only ten years.

But after more than 100 competitors in a tournament, I could not continue competing and the truth is that I was passionate being a coach. And thanks to Mario Troiano I took the decision.

I think the success I had was because as a competitor, I was Argentine champion for 10 years and then the students I coached started to stand out first nationally and then, when they began to be part of the selection, internationally.

And I think that’s what happens even with football coaches.

They stand out as coaches for individual competitors and when their students begin to stand out, people start looking them as national coaches.

I made my debut as coach of individual competitors in Hungary, where I presented my first students; we got a 3rd place and Mario Shaur who was champion of the world.

Later I started as junior national coach in Russia, where several gold medals were obtained, including the first gold of

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Patricia Garelik and Hernan Cisterna, among others.

The next championship was in Malaysia 1994, where I made the first intervention as a national coach and after that world championship, I abandoned for several years due to a ruling which I considered unjust in the final against Germany and also by not feeling supported.

Despite this I continued the work with individual competitors and thus obtaining good results.

Then I met Marcelo Pedrini and after the Championship in Rimini, Italy, we receive the proposal to be coaches, we accepted and remained in the position for ten years more.

During that period we got most of the achievements.

Today we conformed a working team together with Master Fabian Pini, the three of us as Master Coaches while our students works as coaches.

Since your beginnings as a coach up to date you should treasure anecdotes, comments, stages, crisis, happy moments, disappointments...

As happy moment, this last championship in Jesolo, Italy, was amazing.

It was like a fairy tale for my group and for me. Within the national contingent, three were my direct students and two of them became world champions. In addition, another of my students, Soledad Serrano, was awarded as Outstanding Personality, while I received the same award as best coach.

So happy moment, I think was this last championship.

And maybe it has been the notification that is the time to stop...

Another happy moment was when we became world champions with the male team, which was a result that was escaping to us (we lost the final twice, in Malaysia and in Germany).

It is the prize everybody goes for, because is the most difficult, as in a world championship there are many teams competing.

And do not forget that in Malaysia, for example, was only one Taekwon-Do and when we finished fighting in the final, the Koreans, who had been watching, asked us to share a picture with them...

I think we manage to put Argentina in a place of respect. Before that no one wanted to exchanged jackets or t-shirts with us (laughs), and after these achievements everything changed.

Happy moments are also those when, if competitors consider so, I was able to help them to fulfil a dream. As a coach, you work for your people to become world champions.

And speaking of disappointment may have been Malaysia. I do not protest rulings and what happened in that final with Germany was that a new rule that was imposed was applied exactly backward.

Let’s go to something more specific, how an elite competitor is prepared?

An elite competitor from Argentine, who is also an amateur and has to pay the flight ticket, is complex to prepare (laughs) while also easy.

First you have to consider as someone really amateur. As a person who has to maintain the schooling, work and family life. Many coaches in Argentina have been wrong and in big by training competitors five hours a day.

Then those competitors arrive at a world championship in absolute conflict with all their life, since the study, work and family is being postponed.

When returning from the competition, they meet with a money debt and many other problems to solve.

I think something very good that we achieved with Master Marcelo Pedrini was that during our processes, no one had to leave anything aside. We carried on the training in another way and, of course in the month prior to an event, we worked more intensively as we started adjusting details.

We brought back world champion teams by maintaining the amateurism and understanding that even if not training five hours a day, the result was better. It was said by GM Quan once, that training is not a matter of quantity but quality.

It’s like eating, if I put you to eat and eat and eat, there comes a time when you don’t want to know anything else. I want that the next

International Taekwon-Do Federation • www.tkd-itf.org • 65

We do not have genetics. We are not a nation of big people. Everything is head, training and effort.

For me, the Argentine competitor is wonderful, unpredictable. And I think that’s what people like about us when we go out.

In all these years as coach, which competitors have dazzled you No! The word dazzle is very big. Because when someone dazzles you and you start to idolize, you put a yardstick that can never be overcome.

But there are many “monsters” and I don´t want to be unfair to mention only a few.

I admire and I learn, but never put them on an unattainable level. Otherwise, no achievements can be accomplished. For example, in the past when it was said “you can´t defeat The Koreans”; I said, you’re right, if you’re already saying so, you can´t.

I don´t have that mentality, neither the arrogance to think that we can win them all, but if I’m in a role of training and bring back a result, I can´t see my opponent as unreachable. If so, I am not the person to be in that place. day, or every other day, the competitors members of the national team, are completely wishing to train again. And we give time for them to continue training with their instructors, because thanks to the knowledge they give to their students, I choose them as competitors. This for me is where many coaches are wrong when they say to those selected “good, from now on, your instructor has nothing to do, I do train you.”

In summary, it needs to be done something very professional, yet very realistic considering the life of each of the competitors so they don´t lose anything, they are satisfied, wanting to train and with us taking care of them. And perhaps, by being unable to do so intense, it must to be done in longer periods.

And also, as a coach, you need to be very capable to understand what needs to be solved, what should be seen at the trainings. A coach needs to be very qualified.

What defines an Argentine competitor? How is an Argentine competitor?

Is a monster (Argentinean expression used to say incredible, fantastic), is a genius.

Is smart, is a “guapo” (argentinism that express bravery, courage), “pillo” (argentinism expressing for playfulness, wit, cunning) but at the same time is the most conflictive of all.

Although in fact, the conflictive are not as much the competitors but the instructors.

And another thing is that there are so many competitors here in Argentina that every year you have to choose ten new ones, while in other countries they are settled in and growing because for ten years they have the same competitors, so they reach a point where they become very competitive.

We are starting every day.

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I was honoured for being the coach with more than 20 world champions. Imagine if I miss to mention one...

I think that all those competitors who represented Argentina are worthy of admiration for the effort they put and for their results. And sometimes it does not match the one that brings a medal with the one that have made more things.

I emphasize in represented us.

everyone

who

have

In recent times many things have changed, the rules, scoring systems, protections. How do you see these changes? Which are the changes you consider needs to be done?

I don´t like how is being fought in these days.

There are countries that differ in their style.

Argentina, Canada and Brazil have a different style from the rest, while in Europe the style is basically the same except for Poland and Ukraine. So is just like that Europe sets tendency.

And I think, as many say, there are many gray areas in the rules. For example, in one ring the KO is allowed and in another is not. In one, just by getting closer to the opponent is one minus point by grabbing, but not in another ring.

Obviously, all these things are left to the referee interpretation criteria, but I believe that the feet fighting system of the ITF Taekwon-Do is one of the most beautiful and I think that today rules does not favour.

time where I had to form competitors again. It is something that happened in general in Argentina.

But, in short, I repeat that the championship in Jesolo was the one dreamed of, and is an award for Argentina.

There is a great deal of speculation.

Which are the expectations for the future?

The electronic system screen brought good things but also makes emotion being lost, as when a competitor knows is winning, avoids combat, although in Jesolo rules were applied to counter that.

The biggest expectation I have is that the work we are doing can be understood. Which I think, does not happen.

So there in Jesolo the level was very good.

What does being the first coach honoured as Outstanding Personality by the ITF, by having 20 direct students being world champions?

Actually it was totally unexpected for me, because it is an award that started now and to be the first to get it is an honour, it is an incredible recognition.

It was not intended, it was not something you would go seeking for, as we assisted to the World Championship to become world champs.

It was totally surprising and I found out just the day before I was on my way to Italy. I did not even know that the prize existed and that I was candidate to receive it.

And it happened that, after having sent the list of champions, by reviewing it, I realized that I had forgotten to mention many students who had also been world champions. It is that when I found out, I had to write it in English and in the rush and with the nerves, I forgot some other champions.

It’s really an honour and generates incredible things like in the last days my son said to me, “Daddy, I’m going to be also the best TaekwonDo coach in the world.”

And it’s much nicer still, because in Jesolo I was going to receive the award for my past.

Everybody congratulated me for my students and past achievements, but at the same time I was receiving the award, two of my students had just becoming world champions.

A work really carried out by Argentines and not by schools.

Wearing the Argentina t-shirt, transferring the knowledge and doing something really federal by leaving aside the personalities.

If we succeed, I believe that our country can become a real “potency”.

I would like that Argentina can achieve consolidate national teams as those of Poland and Norway, for example. And for that, a restructuring has to be made in which the position of the Master Coach will be really valued, and be occupied by people who want to transmit knowledge, experience, passion and dedication to everybody, without any other kind of interest.

I think that’s my place from now on. Fighting for national unity to be back in the places we deserve to be.

Is there Edgardo Villanueva as coach for a while?

No, no, no.

I have some pending subjects with some competitors. Now, in the next Central and South American Championship I will work as a coach for them but no more as team Coach.

I’m no longer young and as I said at the beginning, when I stopped competing was 32 years old and maybe I could have gone a bit longer and have tried to be world champion, but I realized that I should not be selfish, and now I think the same. We must begin occupying other leadership positions to be able to pave these things we talked about before.

I think I could be benefited from the achievements, but I consider one must not be selfish or try to be eternalized.

In addition, there are people like Marcelo Bordiez and Jonathan Batista, just to mention two coaches that are making an excellent job by putting a lot of energy and passion.

Yes I would be in the place of “counsellor” because I think the experience is valid and because I have many friends in the championships, from those who organize and conduct tournaments, to the Grand Masters and I think this benefits the country by having someone with weight and international recognition.

I think that’s my place from now on. Strive for national unity to be back in the places we deserve to be.

So it was at the same time a reward for the past and for the present.

Also at the ceremony they awarded one of my students, Soledad Serrano, for the many world championships titles she has obtained.

So it was very good to receive it, as I came out from a “generational bump” when those sacred “monsters” were retired from the championships competition and it was a

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histor

rical

Sergeant First Class

Han Cha Kyo In this edition of the magazine we continue to tell the story of the original masters of Taekwon-Do. Along with General Choi and Col. Nam Tae Hi, Sgt. Han Cha-Kyo can be described as one of the first 3 original masters of Taekwon-Do; here we give a short biography of his contribution to the development of our martial art.

Born in Seoul, Korea on July 20, 1934 Sergeant First Class Han Cha-Kyo was a student at the Chung Do Kwan. This Kwan was an early influential civilian school of a Korean Martial Art called Tang Soo Do, a Korean form of Karate. The Chung Do Kwan was founded by the legendary Grandmaster Lee Won-Kuk, who learned Karate under Sensei Funakoshi, the Shotokan founder in Japan. It has been reported that Grandmaster Lee may have first used the Tang Soo Do name.

As a young man Han studied there under very prominent Korean Martial Art leaders such as Grandmasters Son Duk-Sung, Uhm Woon-Gyu and in particular, Nam Tae-Hi. In 1953 Gen. Choi recruited Lt. Nam Tae Hi and Sgt. Han Cha-Kyo when he was dispatched to Je-Ju Island to form the famed 29th Infantry “Fist” Division. To commemorate the 29th Infantry’s 1-year anniversary and celebrate the birthday of the ROK’s first President, Dr. Seung-Man Rhee, Gen. Choi arranged for a Martial Arts demonstration in 1954. Sgt. Han brilliantly assisted the star of the show, Capt. Nam. The successful performance so impressed President Rhee that he wanted the training expanded to all of the personnel. To help accomplish this they founded the Military Gym with Capt. Nam, which they called the Oh Do Kwan. Sgt. Han served as the Assistant Instructor, with Capt. Nam as the Instructor and Gen. Choi the Director. At the Oh Do Kwan the three would collaborate circa 1955, to design the first Korean Pattern (Tul), Hwa Rang Hyung, as it was called then.

Sgt. Han was credited with being the primary assistant in helping to create Ul Ji Tul, Taekwon-Do’s 3rd Pattern, circa 1956.

The Oh Do Kwan became the vehicle where they trained countless numbers of soldiers as both students and instructors for their new Martial Art. In February and March of 1959 he was part of a 20-person team that Gen. Choi led to Vietnam and Taiwan. Sgt. Han was one of the main performers. In 1962 he helped to create the Army Taekwon-Do Team. Sergeant Han was especially known for his flying kicks. It was said that his nickname was flying man. He is seen performing many flying kicks in the early books on Taekwon-Do. Grandmaster Han would eventually receive his degree in physical education from Kyung Hee University.

Sgt. Han assisted Gen. Choi with formulating the training system circa 1965. Towards the end of 1965 he served as Director of the ROK Government sponsored Kukki Taekwon-Do Goodwill tour around the world that Ambassador Choi led. This tour introduced Taekwon-Do to numerous in Southeast Asia, Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East. At that time he was a VI Dan (6th Degree) black belt.

As a civilian the retired Sergeant was a founding member of the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) and served as their first Chairman of their Planning Committee when it was created in 1966.

This pioneering instructor taught Taekwon-Do in Southeast Asia in such countries as Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. When assigned by the ITF to Hong Kong he taught the Hong Kong police. He served as the Secretary General of the Asian Taekwon-Do Federation and he hosted the first Asian Taekwon-Do Championships held in September of 1969 in Hong Kong. As an interesting side note then master Han used his Taekwon-Do skills to capture an agent from North Korea in the Hong Kong Airport. Grandmaster Han would later move to the United States in 1971 and settled in Chicago Illinois. In 1973 he was Chairman of the ITF Tournament Committee.

In 1994 Grandmaster Han returned to Malaysia and attended as a special guest the 9th ITF World Championships. The tournament was held in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia from July 25 to August 1, 1994. It was wonderful to see Grandmaster Han publicly reunite with the ITF, an organization he set up, as well as his General that he followed during the all important early years of forming Taekwon-Do and sharing it with the world. Sadly this Pioneer passed away in 1996, long before his time. While he is missed, his vast contributions will never be forgotten, as it is recorded in history. Grandmaster Han Cha-Kyo, K-8-6, 1973, truly a legendary figure in the history of the Original Taekwon-Do!

mY do

dojang

grand master

Armando Grispino:

My life in phrases Present ITF IX Degree, and director of the Asociación Argentina de Taekwon-Do.

“In Argentina Taekwon-do was introduced in 1967, at the hand of three Korean teachers. Two years later, I began to practice what at that time was known as Korean karate. The truth is that was a sudden change in my life, and an injection of vitality. In my teens I practiced every day of the week helping my Master Han Chang Kim who is today an Argentine leader of the WTF. In 1979, was already rumored the arrival of the Korean institution to Argentina. Due to purely political questions, the masters had to move to the named entity, us, their oldest students, opted to remain in the ITF style, being encouraged by them to communicate directly with General Choi Hong Hi. That speaks of the generosity of the masters, who understood our love for where we were working, above the politics of the moment”.

“So it was in November 1979 that I was examined to IV Degree, along with the presents Grand Masters, Pablo Trajtenberg, Javier Dacak, Mito Ramisch, and Hector Marano, being the firsts to achieve that degree in South America. It is from this time that we, the oldest exponents, started to build the first institutions that gave support to the national growth of Taekwon-do.”

“My own school, the Asociación Argentina de Taekwon-do, at that time, an entire golden age of our discipline in the country, began with a method of graduations which implemented the stripes between the different belts, as well as an elaborate system of teaching, giving students a greater continuity, as they saw their progress faster. It was quite a local and international revolution. In the early nineties, my firsts IV Degrees were graduated. Thus, they dispersed through the different cities of Argentina, managing to have the association over six thousand active practitioners” “From the mid-seventies, I took part of the first national tournaments. The AAT has an extensive sportive career, from there many of its members were awarded as national, Pan American, and world champions in subsequent years.

They always stood out in the field of patterns, as well as in arbitration, as my preference goes through these two facets of Taekwon-do. Even I myself was awarded as the best referee in the world.”

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my dojang argentina

ACADEMIA ARGENTINA DE TAEKWON-DO

“As for my teaching, was not limited to the dojang, I also contributed for nearly three decades to train the presidential custody and elite groups within the Argentina federal police, similar to the American SWAT.” “At present, as could not be otherwise, I continue along the path of this wonderful martial art, together with a group of VIII Degrees as Carlos Lorefice VIII (Escuela Técnica), Armando and Jorge Carbajal (Escuela Fraternidad); three VII Degrees: Marcelo Divano (TANRA), Eduardo Diaz (DokSuri Do Kwan), and Eduardo Trio (Escuela Fraternidad), and more than five hundred black belts divided between first to fourth degrees, always with the humility that characterizes us, and supporting the national taekwon-do of FETRA , and therefore, of ITF, directed by Grand Master Pablo Trajtenberg, who with his dedication and the dedication of those who make up the Board of Directors, are carrying forward the legacy of General Choi Hong Hi”.

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my dojang uruguay

SOORYON JI Dojang location Our Dojang is enclosed in the heart of the largest complex of housing, of cooperative by mutual aid, in all America, with 839 homes and has a structure comprising a gym with a basketball court and several lounges. This resort is located in the city of Montevideo, Uruguay.

School Name Sooryon Ji

Association and / or Federation to which it belongs Centro de Instructores de TaeKwon-Do I.T.F. – C.I.T.I.

Uruguay has 3,000,000 inhabitants and won two World Championships, 15 Americas Cups and 6 Intercontinental Clubs Cups, 3 for each of its main teams.

In Uruguay the first world football championship ever was held, this being the most popular sport and that moves the passion of the people.

Therefore Taekwon-Do as other martial arts is a minor sport.

However, the ITF Taekwon-Do has grown and evolved.

The Central Dojang of the Sooryon Ji School was born in 2003.

Until then, the instructor in charge had taught classes at state institutions dedicated to children and youth.

At first, the Dojang had the aim to lead a healthy social activity

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to the neighborhood, soon and because of the sport tilt of its instructor, there began to emerge in the dojang a group of young people which from 2004 to date, have achieved, year after year the highest average in medals per competitor of Uruguay; then they began to travel to our neighboring country, Argentina, a power of world Taekwon-Do. For this reason, the Dojang of Sooryon Ji became known in the region as a referenced icon of Uruguayan Taekwon-Do, meanwhile we were visited by many world-class competitors with whom we were able to share classes and continue to evolve. Namely: Federico Figari, Denis Turnes, Ivan Protti, Noelia Ferraro, Eugenio and Marcos Favalli, Ana Coronel, Javier Varela, Tania Lesty Gisela No, German Von Foerster, Ladislao Csosbanka among others.

Then and as the school was growing and expanding its horizons and other dojangs were opened, even in private schools, we started to receive visits from other referents, such as the International Umpires and Masters Horacio Fasan and Carlos Aprigliano.

Moreover, as organizers in 2014 of the International Kids Course (IKC) which convened 60 participants from various countries in South America, we had the great honor of receiving GM Hector

Marano and GM Pablo Trajtenberg.

month has already had four presentations.

On that occasion, GM Hector Marano visited our Dojang, which represented a great privilege for us.

At present, the Central Dojang of Sooryon Ji School is a formative training centre for instructors who spread Taekwon-Do in various areas of the city of Montevideo, capital of Uruguay, and in educational institutions. We have an instructor’s training school and a school of sportive training that brings together competitors with experience in World Championships 2009 in Argentina and 2015 in Jesolo and medalists awarded in Pan Americans and Central South American tournaments.

In the same week, Sabun Nim Fabian Izquierdo, who conducted the IKC also visited our dojang where we had workshops with children, and a shared class between instructors, parents and children.

Currently, our dojang continues to receive colleagues and friend’s competitors, German Von Foerster is the most assiduous and with him we have a roundtrip relationship.

But the “regional” look of our activities transformed it in an ideal space to promote different kinds of ITF Taekwon-Do activities, one was the launch of the book “One day in eternity, the history of the patterns from Sabun Nim Luciano Iriarte”, launch that helped promote the book into the region.

And at time of writing this article, we are awaiting the arrival of the three times world champion, Alejandro Banega, who will dictate his course “The Performance of a Champion” in the central dojang of Sooryon Ji; successful course in Argentina where so far this

His instructor, Sabun Nim Gabriel Colina V Dan, President of the Allied Association C.I.T.I., which brings together other schools, is still teaching children, juniors and adults in the same Central Dojang.

This Central gym from Sooryon Ji has been renovated by the participatory budget, a project of the Municipality of Montevideo to finance those places that meet an important social role. In that sense, Taekwon-Do has shown with its five principles and the student oath - which we remember before starting each class - that is an excellent educational tool to educate socially healthy and successful people in life, main objective of our activity.

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my dojang ARGENTINA

asociación buenos aires de taekwon-do itf sabum nim

eduardo barile

Location of Dojang · Continent: South America · Country: Argentina · City: Buenos Aires- Vicente Lopez- Florida

School Name ABATI - Asociación Buenos Aires de Taekwon-do ITF

Association and / or Federation to which it belongs Taekwon-Do is the preponderant martial art in the region. While other martial arts are under training, ITF Taekwon-Do counts with more than fifty percent of the martial arts practitioners in Argentina. We are convinced that the professionalism of our art and the instructors training makes the difference with other martial arts. Separate paragraph is to count on with the support of our National Federation (FETRA), one of the largest federations of martial arts in the world. Besides, my Master Jorge Rogers is Vice-President of FETRA and direct student of GM Pablo Trajtenberg.

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The beginnings After fifteen years of teaching TKD in different social clubs and gyms, I was given the opportunity to have my own place for practice. In April 2002 I was able to arrange and manage my own Dojang in the neighborhood of Munro where besides teaching TKD, I also included fitness classes. After four years, we moved to West Florida neighborhood, to the Club UVAFO headquarters, where we have one hundred and ten square meters to the TKD practice and a venue of a hundred square meters for bodybuilding, which is equipped with weight machines, treadmills and bikes.

Looking back in time, I see the road traveled and I remember when we opened the dojang, we only had bags and rubber floor, which by the way, took us a lot of effort to buy. And today, a few years later, I am satisfied with the work done and I can say, without a doubt, that is one of the best equipped dojang in Argentina.

The TKD hall is shared with fitness and boxing activities, and has full equipment for the practice of ITF TKD, rubber floor, hanging bags, floor bags, focus targets, kick shields and all the necessary elements for physical fitness.

We dictate four daily classes of Taekwon-Do, three times a week. In the morning we offer adult class and in the afternoon, at 5:15 PM begin the first class and my favorite: TKD KIDS. We continue with the children’s class from 7 to 12 years and finally at 8-30 PM we start with the adults and juniors class.

In addition to the four daily classes, Saturday is the day for competition training and high performance for adults.

And twice a month, on Saturdays, we organize a Children and Juniors meeting, which is attended by all the infant competitors from the different branches of the ABATI to train and improve.

We regularly have Master Classes dictated by Master Rogers, not only for ABATI students but also for his own school and

other allied schools. So, every two months, we meet with all the schools that form UETMDK. I want to highlight that both Sabum Nim Matias Quevedo and Rodrigo Gozzano have been by my side for over 25 and 19 years, respectively, as well as Boo Sabum Nim Nicolas Hutflus and Ignacio Caraci.

Another great happiness I owe to this Dojang is to count in classes with the participation of my children, Guido Barile 2nd Dan and Candela Barile 7th Gup. Countless students have attended and have left their distinctive mark on the gym of ABATI. So much so, that it is common to hear or read comments from former students that after seeing the pictures of our Dojang on social networks say “I always remember how strong were their classes, how much we trained and sweated in that place”.

And this, together with its history of sacrifice, is a registered trademark of our school.

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my dojang paraguay

academia internacional de taekwon-do iara and alana dacak Dojang Location. · Continent: America. · Country: Paraguay. · City: Asunción. · Address: Luís de Granada y Zurbarán- Barrio Jara.

School Name Academia Internacional de Taekwon-Do (AIT).

Association and / or Federation to which it belongs Federación de Taekwon-Do Estilo ITF de la República del Paraguay (FETREP).

Situation of Taekwon-Do in the region very booming and growing. This growth is not accidental; the work is based in capacitating the instructors, the students training and participation in competitive events of relevance.

Regarding competitions, Paraguay won a significant number of medals at the last World Championships and World Cup. While in Paraguay the population practices different sports activities and other martial disciplines, ITF Taekwon-Do is the martial art best recognized at the present time.

The beginnings The Academia Internacional de Taekwon-Do (AIT) began in 1999 in the city of Asuncion, capital city, but was created in 1971 in the city of Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina.

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From that place, Grand Master Javier Dacak, who by that time was already world champion in the breaking specialty, moved to the city of Asuncion and completed the opening of the new AIT gym, thus giving a boost that strengthened and enhanced the ITF Taekwon-Do from Paraguay.

The fitness centre features a size of 20 m x 40 m., covered with reversible jig saw – rubber padding floor and, has all the necessary elements to achieve high performance in what refers to ITF Taekwon-Do and, since a couple of years, after a course organized by the FETREP, we started the teaching through the Taekwon-Do Kids Development Program.

Thus, through practice and a constant improvement of training, we have a significant number of black belts, which improved the competitive aspect and the performance of our athletes at national and international level.

This fact allowed us to put again the ITF Taekwon-Do in a superlative level within the national spectrum.

But not everything is competition, and if we talk about values education, the work with the smallers is already bearing fruits, we daily receive special kids with behavioural problems, distraction in school, shy children or with lack of confidence, etc.; and we can see the changes taking place in them, they learn what are the principles of Taekwon-Do, especially self-control, also they learn how to coordinate their bodies, to be organized, to develop their memory, to do things on their own without the help from their parents such as dressing, and all this can be done through games thanks to the Taekwon-Do Kids Program, which draws more attention from children who learn with pleasure and easily.

Parents are very happy and make us know every day the results they are seeing in their children. We have “fanatic” parents in the academy, who comment that, the only thing that have had a positive effect on their children after attending a large number of psychologists, specialist, etc.; was Taekwon-Do! Children can be seen really motivated, don´t want to skip classes and fully enjoy Taekwon-Do, from games to the Martial part.

Parents tell us that kids ask every day, “At what time do we have Taekwon-Do?” Or “Is there Taekwon-Do today?” and that in their homes are constantly practicing their patterns, the bowing and other things they learn in class.

Us, are also happy, is a special way of teaching Taekwon-Do to children without changing the essence of this martial art, yet is performed through a new teaching and pedagogy which respects the children´s characteristics by age; we can teach several things and due to the program, is easier as the children capture everything with more enthusiasm and nothing seems boring to them.

To teach fills us with joy, the sharing with children is beautiful, they learn from us and we from them, we had so much fun and besides is very nice to see how they change and form a base filled of values for the rest of their lives.

We are testing new games, new activities, mixing things from the program with our own ideas, we always try to do classes diverse, we do not like to be repetitive and we see that children are fascinated by the different activities we are bringing to them.

We try not to put aside the martial part, as for us, is the most important; we divide games from the martial part to let the child know to distinguish the moments.

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my dojang new york

ORIGINAL TAEKWON-DO BROOKLYN, NY MMA & FITNESS EE.UU

MEMBER OF ORIGINAL TAEKWON-DO FEDERATION OF AMERICA

The story of Original Taekwon-Do begins with a narrative that was all too common in many places around the world. The tale involved of course the dreaded Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA), which operated in many places in the West, at times with near impunity. The KCIA served a dual function, ordinary intelligence services as well as operating to keep the military dictatorship in power. General Choi Hong-Hi, a high level political dissident was an outspoken critic of the regimes.

As a result the dictators, through their KCIA, exerted pressure through various means to force South Korean masters loyal to General Choi to leave him and quit the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF).

Coinciding with this was the growing popularity of the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) and South Korea’s desire to eliminate any opposition to their Olympic bid. One way General Choi tried to combat that initiative was to gain support from North Korea.

However, as the collaboration with North Korea seemed to increase, it made the relationship with most of the South Korean masters untenable. This

maSTER V. A. AFFATIGATO

OWNER & HEAD INSTRUCTOR

was the case with my instructor, Master Kim Kwang Sung, who had much of his family living back in South Korea.

In 1966 Master Kim moved from South Korea to West Germany and obtained employment in the medical field as an X-ray technician. While in HagenWuppertal, Germany he also introduced Taekwon-Do to the region. In 1971 he had made his way to the United States and New York City. Settling in Brooklyn, the most populated borough in New York, he opened the second TaekwonDo dojang in Brooklyn and named it Kim’s Taekwon-do School. This was ITF Gym #21. The first Taekwon-do dojang in Brooklyn, NY was opened in 1969 by Grand Master Kang Suh Chong, the Vice President of the ITF from the 1970s into the early 80s.

When the pressure on the Kim family

mounted, Master Kim did what many other Korean ITF Masters did, he quietly went independent. When that happened several of his black belt students and instructors looked to make their own connection to the ITF. One of Master Kim’s senior black belts, George Vitale, had already been a member of the United States TaekwonDo Federation (USTF) since 1982. At that time the USTF, led by Grand Master Charles C.E. Sereff, was the sole National Governing Body for the ITF in the United States. That membership helped pave the way for another of Master Kim’s senior black belts, Roberto Del Cid, to lead 16 black belts, including myself, to form the Original Taekwon-Do Club in 1986. The Club was registered as ITF Gym #311 and USTF Branch #16.

By 1990 the group outgrew its status as a Club, as it had become the leading training center for the ITF/USTF in the very large and diverse New York Metropolitan region. John Christakos joined Roberto Del Cid and George Vitale and they re-established the Club as the Original Taekwon-Do School in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn. John Christakos became the New York State Director for the ITF/USTF.

During this time, I, Vincent A. Affatigato joined the leadership along with Christopher Knappenberger and the Original Taekwon-do School opened a second location in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn. Roberto Del Cid would eventually become the Regional Director for the ITF/USTF while both schools flourished. Roberto Del Cid and John Christakos eventually left the 5-man team and that is when both schools were consolidated into one

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Taekwon-do Federation of America [OTFA] an Allied Association of the ITF, founded by myself, Master Cody Springsguth and Mr. Lee Benson in 2010.

Original Taekwon-do, MMA & Fitness has promoted over 200 Black Belts through the years and produced numerous National competitors, as well as past and present World competitors and medal winners. The emphasis at the center has always been to develop strong technical skills and good moral character. We strived to build a Taekwon-do family. This is evident by the students that are still training with us since our inception and the students who started as children now bringing their children to classes.

larger location in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn in 1992 where it still resides. The School was now headed by myself with the help of George Vitale and Christopher Knappenberger and renamed Original Taekwon-do & Fitness Center. As the Center grew under this leadership, I would take over as Regional Director for the ITF/USTF. From 1992 until the present Original Taekwon-do & Fitness Center remained as one of the leading ITF training centers in the New York City area, welcoming many Taekwon-do visitors from all over the world, as well as hosting many seminars, examinations and monthly black belt classes for all the Taekwon dojangs in the Tri-state area.

It was around 1993-94 that I developed the popular Cardio-Kickboxing & Boot Camp Fitness classes that brought

hundreds of fitness minded individuals through our doors over the years.

Original Taekwon-do & Fitness Center was one of the first in the New York City area to offer these types of fitness classes and they are still a part of Original Taekwon-do’s curriculum to this day.

Mixed Martial Arts [MMA] classes were added to our curriculum around 2008 and Original Taekwon-do & Fitness Center became Original Taekwon-do, MMA & Fitness. This type of training has been part of our curriculum since the early 90s. Back then we called it ‘Taekwon-do Free Sparring’ and the concept was the same as what we know as modern MMA today.

In 2011, after parting with the USTF, Original Taekwon-do, MMA & Fitness became a member school of the Original

The founding members of Original Taekwon-do, Master George Vitale [VIII], Master Roberto Del Cid [VIII], Mr. Christopher Knappenberger [V], Mr. John Christakos [IV] and myself, Master V. A. Affatigato [VIII] have all written the story of Original Taekwon-do, MMA & Fitness. It is a story that I hope will continue, even after we are all gone from this Earth.

International Taekwon-Do Federation • www.tkd-itf.org • 83

High Perfo

formance

THE

High Performance Program

New Zealand’s pathway to International Championship New Zealand, despite its diminutive size, has done pretty well at World Championships over the past few years: 3rd in 2013, 1st in 2011, and 2nd in 2009. These results were due in no small part to the dedication of competitors, coaches, team managers, and the families of all these folk. More recently, ITKD New Zealand has developed a High Performance Program that provides an exciting boost to the training of students who aspire to international competition.

Athletes are the most visible of all the people attending any competition – National or International. But for any team, especially a team travelling internationally, there is also a “behind the scenes” cadre of support – coaches, organizers and managers, physiotherapists, and competition officials. The New Zealand High Performance Program has been designed to incorporate all these components, and in the words of the program document (http://www.itkd.co.nz/reference/documents/hp/index), it “provides the pathway for athletes, coaches and officials, and enables them to learn and develop to be the best in the world”.

The High Performance Program (summarized in the diagram below) is based on three main levels of development that deliberately includes both competitors and coaches; in this article a fourth level is added to emphasize the importance the grassroots of the organisation.

The program encourages students to compete at several different levels over a twoyear period that culminates with the World Championship; both the World Cup and Oceania events are run in alternate years, whereas local and regional New Zealand events occur throughout the year.

Like any good sports program, the foundation begins at the grass-roots level – the local clubs; any student (blue belt and above) who aims to join the National Development Squad, and ultimately the National Team, must have progressed through the local and regional competitions. Winning medals at the grass-roots levels is not always a prerequisite to joining the National Squad (although it helps); any student that

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shows significant potential at the local and regional levels is also identified and encouraged to pursue further development of their Taekwon-Do skills. The program is therefore inclusive, and recognises that students develop their skills at different rates. There is also a deliberate attempt to avoid specialisation during the early stages of a student’s development.

Our coaches are no less important. The coaching strategy, overseen by a national Advisory Group, has three main objectives: to provide enough quality time to actually coach competitors as well as develop coaching skills; increased recognition of a coach’s status and role, where coaches are not left on the sidelines when competitors

receive their accolades; and where coaching education is continually examined with a view to improvement. Coaches themselves need to show commitment, knowledge of Taekwon-Do and competition, and be able to develop the rapport with students (and fellow coaches) that enables each to maximise their potential. A coach must be able to identify particular skills that a student may need to concentrate on, recognising that each student’s skill-set is different.

Younger students in particular may also need guidance in structuring their own training program. Coaches must also be prepared to discipline any wayward student behaviour – fortunately this rarely happens.

Results do matter. But in the end, it is also the pathway to competitive Taekwon-Do that is equally important. The New Zealand High Performance Program attempts to do this; and like any living document the program itself will continue to evolve. Any competition is about individuals and the teams to which they belong, striving to be the best they can. The program focuses on camaraderie and team spirit as much as it does on the individual. The pathway to success, in whatever form this success might take, must never lose sight of the fact that Taekwon-Do students are part of an international community and need to contribute to that community – as we recite in our Student Oath, strive towards a more peaceful world.

To join the National Development Squad (Level 2 of the program) a student needs to show commitment, a high level of fitness and of course Taekwon-Do skills – this is where things get tough. Weekly High Performance training sessions with National Coaches are available in several centres around New Zealand; any student can attend these sessions. For the committed student there are also 2 or 3 weekend camps. The program outlines 6 criteria that students must comply with: • Fitness, including strength and conditioning – this is just plain hard work • Attitude towards training • Attitude and behaviour on and off the dojang, towards officials and other athletes – there is a strong emphasis on the ‘Team’ at this level • Expressed desire to become a high level athlete • Support from a student’s own club and region (coach, parents, education); this is where the grassroots support from club instructors and fellow club members really sets the scene for a prospective competitor’s basic training, their attitude and perseverance. The support-base of younger students is particularly important because of the time commitments and the fact that they may still be in school or in tertiary education.

• Results at local, Regional and National tournaments

Past (Master Steve Pellow - centre) and present (Mr Gray Patterson - right) head coaches. The current coaching team consists of Mr Patterson, Mr Chris Broughton, Mr Brendan Doogan and Mr Richard Burr. Photo by Master Paul McPhail, 2013

Squad managers and coaches need to apply some fairly hardnosed decisions when faced with students who don’t keep up with these expectations (although most students probably recognise their own short-comings), but any dismissal from the Squad is done carefully, taking an individual’s circumstances into account.

Selection of students for the National Team that will compete in the World Championships is undertaken about 6 months prior to each event. Regular training is compulsory in centres around the country, in addition to several National camps. For many students, inclusion in the National Team is the culmination of their competitive career – it is hard work - the ‘blood, sweat and tears’ of Taekwon-Do; it involves a huge amount of time for students and their supporters and for many, significant travel and expense. The cost of training and international travel is significant – much of this is borne by the students themselves; again the grassroots support is critical. And for those who don’t make the National Team, there is huge encouragement to continue their Taekwon-Do development with a mind towards future competition.

1st Dan sparring, 2014 Nationals – photo by Ms. Katrina Grubner

International Taekwon-Do Federation • www.tkd-itf.org • 87

Harmony

Program

The creation of the HARMONY Program After launching the “Kids” program to the world, I began to wonder which other group of our universe of practitioners was being unattended and right away I knew it was the segment of older adults.

This age range has an enormous potential, anyhow I felt that we were not paying real attention to them by the belief that they can integrate the mainstream classes.

Today I can tell from my own experience.

After a certain age (I have 65 years) I began to feel the need to practice Taekwon-Do differently, taking more care of my body.

And for that, I found myself in the need to develop its perception and change some habits, such as how to perform the blows and thus prevent resenting my joints.

Trân Fusion Photo

In addition, I can assure you that thousands of students have passed through my academy that started at a very young age and then for some reason have to disrupted the practice for several years.

When they retook the training, I mistakenly tried to reintegrate them into the mainstream classes and, while trying to kick and punch with energy and power, for one or another reason they ended up injured or in pain, and sometimes - without a word - being hit by the younger ones. So, inevitably and with resignation, they finally abandoned the Art that gave them so much happiness, saying, “This is not for my age”.

Trân Fusion Photo

Now that time has passed, I recognize that doing things that way was a serious mistake. So I thought it would be a great step for our organization the creation of an ITF Taekwon-Do adapted to certain needs and conditions.

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That was the moment when I contacted my very dear Instructor Gaston Casero, to whom I entrusted the development of the program we called Harmony.

In this Program, we have tried to overcome all the limitations of older adults, giving priority to protect the body from possible injuries and damages by incorporating a wide range of exercises that adulthood requires as well as giving an orientation aloof from the competition and focused on “harmony between body and mind”.

At the present, the life of a man or woman lasts much longer than a few years ago, mainly because of the exercise and the progress of medicine.

Despite this, many of these older adults do not find any attractive exercise and at the same time they feel marginalized and

Trân Fusion Photo

Geneviève Boivin Photo

not considered. But they are wrong; here comes a wonderful tool to enjoy TaekwonDo, especially if you are an older adult.

It simply remains to me to urge instructors to implement it and to let them know that this century will belong to specialists.

For that reason and from now on, within the ITF Taekwon-Do teaching, the older adults represent a “specialty” (we are the first martial art with a specific program for older adults).

The program will be released as an advance for all South America during the next IIC to be held in Buenos Aires in October of this year. Later, in January 2016, will be presented in Israel and finally, during the Convention to be held in Benidorm in April 2016, the proposal will be put forward to start giving seminars to interested countries as a way to achieve its dissemination and international implementation. by: GM Pabl o Tr ajtenberg

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kids

ids

ITF Kids Program Is it a key to success for our children? simultaneously. In the ITF Kids Program the instructors are encouraged to use games and activities which stimulate creativity. Creativity is more than just being imaginative. It is the ability to ‘think outside the box’ and create new ideas which have usefulness. The ITF Kids Program also stimulates cognitive flexibility using the principle of “food for thought”. The instructor is encouraged to create paradigm shifts by questioning the child’s belief system and offering alternative perspectives for them to consider. For example, when discussing ‘bullying’ the instructor can create a paradigm shift by asking “How can we help the bully?” This changes the perspective and encourages the child to think of the bully as a possible victim.

Cognitive flexibility, self-control, discipline as well as working memory are components of executive functions in which the prefrontal cortex of the brain play a very important part. The prefrontal cortex is the last part of our brains to develop and is responsible for our ability to exchange information across the high-level areas of the brain so that our behaviour can be guided by our accumulated knowledge.

What does it take for our children to grow up to be successful? In other words to live harmoniously, be happy and live fulfilling and meaningful lives. What should we be teaching our children? What are the best activities to help children become successful? Is Taekwon-Do one of them?

According to Adele Diamond, Professor of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of British Columbia: “To be successful takes creativity, flexibility, self-control, and discipline. Children will need to think creatively to devise solutions never considered before. They’ll need working memory to mentally work with masses of data, seeing new connections among elements. They’ll need flexibility to appreciate different perspectives and take advantage of serendipity. They’ll need self-control to resist temptations, and avoid doing something they’d regret.

Tomorrow’s leaders will need to have the discipline to stay focused, seeing tasks through to completion.”

(Diamond & Lee, 2011)1 Creativity and flexibility depend on cognitive flexibility, described as the mental ability to switch between thinking about two different concepts, and to think about multiple concepts

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Executive functions enable us to control ourselves, to consider things from multiple points of view, to solve problems and plan. As such, they involve paying attention, remembering what we need to remember to pursue our goals, thinking flexibly and exercising inhibition rather than acting on impulse.

Many studies show that developing executive function and self-regulation skills create lifelong benefits. They promote positive behaviour and allow us to make healthy choices. In a study (Terrie E. Moffitt)2 involving a group of 1,000 children from birth to the age of 32 years, the results showed that self-control shown at ages 3-5 years was a good

predictor for increased health, wealth and reduced criminal offending when they reached 32 years. This is probably because many life tasks depend on mastery of self-control such as the need to delay gratification, control impulses, and modulate emotional expression.

Although self-control is under both genetic and environmental influences, we can only control the environmental influence. The ITF Kids Program recommends starting Taekwon-Do training at the 3-5 years age range because we can expose them to development of selfcontrol at such an early and important age. The Program has many activities and games specifically design to develop self-control. Also the discipline and tenets of Taekwon-Do contributes to developing inhibitory control and appropriate behaviour.

In a study (Duckworth & Seligman 2005)3, self-discipline accounted for more than twice as much as IQ in final grades, high school selection, school attendance, hours spent doing homework, spending less hours watching television, and the time of day students began their homework. These findings suggest a major reason for students falling short of their intellectual potential is their failure to exercise self-discipline.

Adele Diamond is at the forefront of research on the executive functions. She says: “If you look at what predicts how well children will do later in school, more and more evidence is showing that executive functions -- working memory and inhibition -- actually predict success better than IQ tests.

Typical traditional IQ tests measure what’s called crystallized intelligence, which is mostly your recall of what you’ve already learned -- like what’s the meaning of this word, or what’s the capital of that country? What executive functions tap is your ability to use what you already know -- to be creative with

it, to problem- solve with it -- so it’s very related to fluid intelligence, because that requires reasoning and using information.”

There are scientific studies that indicate that traditional martial arts is one of the best activities to develop the executive functions. In a study by K.D. Lakes & W.T. Hoyt (2004)4, a group being taught Taekwon-Do was compared to another group being taught physical education.

The Taekwon-Do group showed more gains in all aspects of executive function development. The self-control, discipline and character development in the Taekwon-Do training made a difference to their executive function. But not all martial arts are the same.

Another study on martial arts training compares the difference in effect between traditional Taekwon-Do and modern (competitive) martial arts. (Trulson, M. E. 1986)5. A group of adolescents who were identified as juvenile delinquents were divided into three groups (traditional Tae Kwon-Do, modern martial arts, and a control group). Taught by the same instructor the traditional Taekwon-Do group were taught the character training and the philosophical aspects of Taekwon-Do whereas the other group were taught martial arts as a competitive sport. The traditional

Tae Kwon Do group showed an increase in social ability, self-esteem, and a decrease in aggressiveness and anxiety.

The modern martial arts group showed a greater tendency toward juvenile delinquency, increased aggressiveness, decreased self-esteem, and decreased social ability.

In conclusion, children will benefit greatly and are likely to be successful if they develop the executive functions. One of the best ways to do that is by participating in a traditional martial arts program that teaches character development, self-control and discipline.

The ITF Kids Program is rich in aspects of character development. The children

are taught how to observe the tenets of Taekwon-Do from a very early age using unique games and activities. The core principles of the Program are not only consistent with the principles of Taekwon-Do but also with the principles of developing the executive functions.

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Executive functions are susceptible to mood and physical condition. They are the first to suffer when person becomes lonely, sad, stressed, sleep deprived, or not physically fit. To allow executive functions to work at their full potential, children need to be: • Joyful and relaxed.

• Be in a supportive environment.

• Be fit and healthy.

All the above is what we strive for in the ITF Kids Program. The Kids Program ensures that the learning environment is fun and relaxed. Most of the learning is done through play. Competitiveness is reduced to a minimum to relieve any unnecessary pressure. It focus less on achievement but more on the developmental process so each child can work at their own pace rather than being compared to others and pressured into performing beyond their capabilities. Children are taught to accept mistakes as learning opportunities rather than becoming fearful of them. Instructors are encouraged to adopt an attitude of unconditional positive regard for all children. Which means that all the children receive the care and attention they need regardless of their ability, behaviour or their achievements. The classes are intensely packed with games and activities which promote a good level of fitness.

Is the ITF Kids Program a key to success? The scientific evidence suggests that it is but instructors with experience of teaching young children do not need this evidence. They know from experience how Taekwon-Do changes lives for the better, especially for the very young.

Master Donato Nardizzi 8th Degree Chairman of the ITF Children’s Development Committee.

1 2 3 4 5

Diamond & Lee, Science. 2011 Aug 19; 333(6045): 959–964. doi: 10.1126/science.1204529 Terrie E. Moffitt, National Academy of Sciences, vol. 108 no. 7, 2693–2698, doi: 10.1073/pnas.1010076108 Duckworth & Seligman, Psychological Science 2005 Dec;16 (12):939-44 K.D. Lakes & W.T. Hoyt (Applied Developmental Psychology 25 (2004) 283–302) Trulson, M. E. (1986). Martial arts training: A novel ‘‘cure’’ for juvenile delinquency. Human Relations, 39, 1131–1140

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umpire ex

xperience

master Gordon Wallace umpire experience

I would like to thank the ITF Communications Committee for this opportunity to give my views and thoughts about my experiences as an International Umpire and my role as Aide to the Umpire Committee at the World Championships in Jesolo.

History Like most blackbelts I had been introduced to umpiring at National and Regional events and whilst the participation levels and ages may differ from what we are accustomed at international level, I always had the same mindset towards my duties.

Whilst our Regional and National events might not be a World or European Championship, to most of the competitors young and old it is just as important to them as these competitions are major events to them in their eyes and that is why it is our duty as a Umpires to take the role seriously in order to make their competition day special.

My introduction to Umpiring at International level came long after being part of the coaching staff of the UK and Scotland Teams of the nineties and at the turn of the new millennia. The early part of the new millennia was a difficult time for me at work as that threw up a lot of personal issues and I had to make some serious lifestyle changes over a period of years in order to move forward. Thankfully Taekwon-Do was there for me and, after meeting a very piv-

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otal person, who later became my wife, allowed me to change direction and become a professional instructor with a fulltime academy in Aberdeen.

Why Umpire?

Taekwon-Do keeps you young and your mind active. We all started Taekwon-Do because, in my era, we wanted to kick butt like Bruce Lee. This is what got you excited. This excitement never leaves you but as you get older you cannot always keep up and if you don’t teach then sometimes the journey stops.

Umpiring is a great way to keep active and involved and to make a valuable contribution to your own school and wider associations and maybe even further. By being an Umpire you get front row seats watching the young athletes perform and this gets the hairs on the back of your neck bristling again.

The focus required to watch and analyse the performances keeps your mind active.

I encourage all my blackbelts to umpire as it is a great way for the older ones to extend their TaekwonDo lives as so many do not go and teach run their own schools.

Umpiring also allows my older blackbelts to be part of the success of competitions that is normally reflected towards the competitors and allows them to feel a valued contribution to our academy’s profile.

I have used this same philosophy towards international umpiring. I have always advocated that to develop as a person and of course a blackbelt you must put yourself in situations outside your own comfort zone. Nothing does this more than the responsibility of an international umpire and the higher up in the ring council you go the more you feel this responsibility. It was important to me that I made this commitment and rise to the challenge.

The Next Level My first experience of being an international umpire was the camaraderie and bon homie between all the umpires. It was obvious that this closeness was built up with many long hours and days of working and problem solving together and I found myself quite humbled by this level of knowledge and experience whilst thinking to myself that it would take a lot to gain the respect of this group of consummate professionals.

My strategies was simple, and I would start with the peripheral and wider positions first and learn what is involved in delivering those tasks then find out how they integrate into the bigger picture. This then established a clear picture of what problems you faced in executing your duties and the impact these wider roles had on keeping the ring moving forward. What I did not expect was the intensity in keeping a ring moving for eight to ten hours a day. Every position, from card collector to Centre Referee and Jury President has a vital role to play and if any one part fails then the machine breaks down. I found out at a very early stage that you need to know each ring council role to be an effective Umpire. One thing is for sure, you certainly have no trouble sleeping at night after a full day of umpiring.

By entering this new “band of brothers” it opened my eyes into the training aspect of the job and how much has been done to raise the level of umpiring through training course and seminars. The training is now being driven by the continuing

higher standards shown by the competitors and so it is only natural and necessary that the ruling and the application of the rules are executed by a high standard of umpiring.

I started life in the Royal Navy at 16 years old and from there went into the oil industry whereby I have always been associated with procedures and rules, competence assurance, continuous improvement and assessment and that is why I really enjoy the Umpire side of competition within the ITF. In industry everything had to be quantified and I like this way of operating as we have that with our very composite Tournament and Umpire Rules.

My biggest test was when I had the privilege of being a Jury President and with working with some great umpires from around the world. The role was very demanding and the responsibility high, but I was lucky that I always had experienced individuals who made up the ring councils, thus making my life so much easier. There is a great buzz when you are Umpiring a World Final and you get immense pride when you and your ring council come away after doing a great job.

The plus side is that I have made so many friends from around the world.

That is why I recommend this path for those who may have trouble thinking what or how they can add to their TaekwonDo life. It is a great and rewarding use of your time and one that I was and still am very happy and excited to do.

On a personal level I have a favourable solution of combining my Umpiring Commitments and personal life. My wife Jacqui also has a passion for Umpiring and like many Umpires we have commitments and at home as well as limited annual vacation time. So we try and add the international events with some personal time as most are now in beautiful places around the world. Common interests are always healthy in a relationship and we really enjoy our end of day discussions about how our respective days went during the competition.

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New Horizons During the Christmas of 2014, I received an email from the Umpire Committee asking if I would accept a position as an Aide to the Umpire Committee for the 2015 World Championships.

From the same email I understood that Master Abelardo Benzaquen from Argentina also got a similar invitation. I was very surprised and of course humbled by this request given the experience and knowledge that exists within the umpire community. I accepted of course as it was a great privilege to be asked to assist with the Umpire Committee and work alongside my colleagues watching the greatest competitors in our world.

It goes without saying that I was a little apprehensive about what to expect in this new role. Knowing the rules inside out was just a minimum requirement. Up until then, when you were Jury President you only had to worry about the performance of a single ring and dealing with any issues that arose. You also had the benefit of the Umpire Committee to assist you. Being the aide placed you in a position of oversight to multiple rings and answerable for the rings performance and efficiency. Being able to hit the ground running to was an understatement. Being part an aide to the committee placed you in a situation whereby in certain situations we had to find immediate solutions or answer questions that arose from multiple rings in operation.

The World Championships in Jesolo also opened up a new side to the rules whereby it extended beyond the simple application of the rules but it was additionally necessary to understand the rules from all directions and see if they stood up to scrutiny, especially during official protests. At this time both sides of a situation were reviewed and decision made to decide if a rule or rules, ethics or procedures had been breached or circumvented and who, or a circumstance, was accountable.

Whilst you always want things to go smoothly, you learn the most when they do not. This aspect of the job was the most demanding as whilst you always wanted an outcome to be favourable for all parties concerned, protocol determined that one side would always come away disappointed. The human aspect of this type of conflict I found the most difficult to absorb.

To finalise my narrative, I like our ITF as it is always looking at ways to improve and evolve. We have had many successful championships and we think “how will we top this event?”, then following one does exactly that. The ITF achieve this by not resting on their laurels and look for a continuous review and subsequent improvement.

From a personal level I like the fact that after 38 years in Taekwon-Do I always come away from an event having learned something that I did not know prior to attending. The World Championships In Jesolo most certainly taught me that and I thank the Umpire Committee for giving me the opportunity to experience it.

Yours in Taekwon-Do,

Master Gordon Wallace VIII ITF Scotland Aide to Umpire Committee World Championships 2015

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over 100 iic

iic courses

over 100

iIc courses Dear ITF members, I appreciate that you have requested me to write a review concerning the IIC. As you all Know we started in the beginning of 2003 with the N° 1 IIC in Cologne, Germany and we arrived to the number 100 this 2015 in Scotland (personally I had the honor and privilege to be present in all those courses) The ITF (to whom I’m very grateful) summon me to standardize the Technique and eliminate all the different editions and contradictions in the books written by the founder, as well as his different points of view in the IICs dictated by him.

At the beginning the task was not easy, many masters already had in their counties several IIC with Gen Choi with pictures and videos of his teaching.

We knew, like in his books, that Gen Choi modified his teaching and concepts and incorporated new ones, but everyone believed that what he said in their countries was the absolute truth, and it took a while to make people understand that the standardization was more important end that they should give us the opportunity to those who had witness all the little differences and that we could capture the best for everybody’s benefit.

Today we believe that thanks to all the support and good will of the masters the process of standardization it’s concluded, and now we have to maintain the wonderful legacy of our founders’ techniques for the future generations.

This motivated me to incorporate new members so the experience could pass on and all the work done wouldn’t be interrupted if in any case a member had to leave the committee.

I honestly appreciate all that made this possible, members that are no longer in the committee (GM Trajtenberg, GM Bos) and active members as GM Lan, Master Weiler, Master Clint Norman, Master Pierre Laquerre, Master Paul MacPahil, all of them have done and are actually doing his best effort to carry on the legacy of our founder.

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I also have to thank about 13.000 instructors that with his participation helped us to expand the standardization to the 5 continents.

I sincerely believe that our roots, principles and techniques (mainly dedicated to the patterns) should be our first and biggest priority, and that the next generation should receive it, understand it and incorporate it with the compromise to transmit the essence and legacy of Taekwon-Do as a martial art, so through the practice and principles they can contribute with the social development and education of all the people in the world.

I leave you some picture of wonderful moments lived with you all, moments that made us grow in Taekwon-Do and as a family.

A sincere embrace to all those who share the passion and the responsibility to spread our beautiful art, and to those who gave us the opportunity and space to make it possible.

GM Hector Marano Chief of the Comité Técnico

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WORLD C

CUP 2016

world cup

budapest 2016

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Introduction As hosts of the ITF Taekwon-do World Cup in 2016, Hungary extends to teams from around the world a very warm welcome. The friendly people of its beautiful capital city, Budapest invites and challenges teams to participate in this great competition and to meet the Hungarian culture. The Hungarian Taekwon-do Association has great experience organizing Taekwon-do events. Hungary had already organized worldwide ITF Taekwon-do events in 1984 (European Championship) and 1988 (World Championship). These successful events were organized by Master László Harmat VIII.

dan with the participation of General Choi Hong Hi IX. dan.

Following these traditions we strive to set up a high-quality, well-organized competition in 2016 set in a pleasant and comfortable atmosphere. Each participating country will have a dedicated local guide, who will assist the team in Budapest from the moment they will arrive at the airport until their departure. We will provide management with support, venues and accommodation throughout the competition. The 2016 World Cup will be held at the modern Papp László Budapest Sport Arena that has been completely rebuilt in 2002. Located in the centre of Budapest it houses numerous world-class sporting events each year. The Arena lies conveniently close to several hotels that serve as accommodation for competitors, public transportation hubs and restaurants, cafes and shops. The Arena’s up-to-date technical equipment, projectors and sound systems ensure that participants don’t miss a single second of the competition. Our media team follows the competition with professional photographers ensuring that all exciting moments are captured. We will provide transfer between the hotels and the Arena for the competitors and officials, making daily travel more comfortable. Our medals and trophies will be decorated with unique elements of the Hungarian culture making the event in Budapest memorable for the participants. We strive to make this World Cup unforgettable to aid preparation or regeneration during the time of the competition by offering colourful cultural programs and introducing the Hungarian cuisine to participants. We also encourage them to further explore the wonders of Hungary during or after the World Cup; for this we can provide unique offers in Budapest and other areas of the country. Our Purpose We would like to make the 2016 World Cup memorable for competitors, officials and spectators. Thorough preparation and the support of Hungarian organizations ensure the smooth running of the competition. We strive to make the stay in Budapest pleasant with a friendly welcome and a wide array of events in which hopefully everyone will find an opportunity to relax or have some fun. Our goal is to ensure that all competitors enjoy themselves during the World Cup and to satisfy their needs during the preparation for and the regeneration after the competition. We believe that the tough competition will bring to life new friendships and international relationships that will grow beyond the event but will hold dear memories of Hungary. We think it is important to introduce the culture of our small, yet diverse country and also to introduce this wonderful sport to as many Hungarian and foreign people as possible.

Hungary

The Hungarian state was founded in 896, after the conquest of the Carpathian Basin by the Magyar (Hungarian) tribes. The people were converted to Christianity by King St. Stephen I, who was crowned by the Pope in 1000 AD. The Basilica of Budapest is dedicated to this great king, and his crown and the royal insignia are on display in the Hungarian Parliament. After the assault by the Mongolian Tartars, the country revived in the second half of the 15th century, when the Renaissance King Matthias spread the fame of Hungary. Ruins of his royal residence at Visegrád in the Danube Bend are still fascinating.

Ups and downs in the forthcoming epochs, the Turkish occupation for 150 years, the Habsburg domination, the Reform Age, the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, World War I and II, the Soviet military supremacy – left Hungarians still holding their heads up. Remnants of these eventful centuries can be seen everywhere: Turkish baths, royal palaces, churches, castles,

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and mansion houses are all fine examples of the various architectural styles. In addition to the charm of the landscape are the historic Danube Bend, Lake Balaton, the romantic national parks of the Puszta with the horse ranches, and the famous wine regions like Eger, Tokaj, Villány, Badacsony, Neszmély etc. Hungary is becoming a firm favourite in the meetings industry, a vibrant destination with warm and friendly people, varied and distinct cuisine choices among beautiful buildings and streets. It is conveniently located in the very heart of Europe, and is well served by affordable transport links. It offers a plethora of attractions – bold and intricate architecture, beautiful and varied scenery, and a colourful cultural heritage of music, dance and art. There is a rich culinary tradition too and excellent wines produced in 22 regions.

All major hotel brands can be found in Budapest and beyond to cater for conferences and incentive trips.

Why Hungary?

Hungary has always been a hub and a meeting point in the very heart of Europe and could prove to be the perfect destination for

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your next event. You can find here the footprints of the Barbarians, the Roman and Ottoman Empires. You can trace the early Catholicism as well as visit the largest operating synagogue in Europe. Full-fledged market economy and a unique blend of cultural, architectural, culinary and everyday lifestyles mark the whole country, particularly the beautiful capital city of Budapest. Here are just some of the reasons why to choose our country for you event • Easy access. Short flights from all European capitals: flight time less than 2 hours, multiple connections. Hungary is a member of the European Union, and part of the Schengen Agreement. • Value for money. Based on the price-value conditions Hungary is still one of the most reasonable destinations in Europe. • Budapest − Spa Capital of Europe. There are few more suitable places worldwide where the uplifting cultural experience could better be combined with the rejuvenating experience of a health spa treatment than Budapest. • Well-developed infrastructure for conferences and incentives. Deluxe and five star hotels, well skilled and knowledgeable guides, legendary art of cuisine, widely varied, extraordinary venues. • Cultural wealth, integral part of European culture. Contemporary and classical music, opera and ballet performed by internationally renowned stars, fiery local gypsy music, top class jazz, the ever popular operetta and folk music are waiting for you in Budapest. There are a variety of museums, art galleries and exhibition halls to explore. • Gastronomy. Michelin star winner restaurants are waiting for you to enjoy.

Dine in luxurious but still affordable restaurants offering the best of world famous Hungarian cuisine and wines. • Shopping. You can find all major fashion brands right in the heart if the city centre. Ceramics, embroideries, hand painted Herend and Zsolnai porcelain, antiques, Halas-lace, delicacies like red paprika, salami, excellent brandies and world famous wines e.g. the Aszú of Tokaj, the Egri Bikavér etc.

• Scenic beauties. The protected Puszta-regions, the Great Plain, the romantic Danube Bend with historic sites, pretty baroque towns like Eger. Lake Balaton the largest fresh water lake of Central Europe, a perfect holiday resort. • Friendly

people, genuine hospitality, public safety. You will simply feel comfortable here.

Budapest With its population of over 2 million, Budapest is the capital of Hungary. It was not until 1873 that the twin cities BUDA and PEST united with a third, Óbuda to finally be named Budapest.

However its history goes back to the Roman times when in the 1st century AD, the land was a province of the powerful Roman Empire, and Aquincum (on the site of present-day Óbuda) was its capital. The Danube River formed an important natural boundary for the empire. With the Hungarian conquest before 1000 AD and the founding of the state, Buda Castle soon became the residence of the Hungarian kings. The city survived the attacks and invasions of the Mongols in the 12th century, the occupation by the Turks and the bombings during World War II. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries the growing metropolis gained its present image. The charming hills of Buda with their old and elegant residential districts, the beautiful waterfronts of the majestic Danube together with the flat side, Pest, the dynamic administrative and business centre lend an unsurpassable location to the ”Pearl of the Danube”. Located at the cross-roads of East and West, the city has gained in importance with the collapse of the communist regime. Cultural events (Spring Festival, the opera and concert season) compete with attractive shopping (china, crystal, embroideries, art objects, refined food and spirits). The city has retained the inimitable folksy flavour of old Budapest. Beside the central market halls each district has similar farmers’ markets, street markets on the weekends. The extensive flea market of Budapest at the edge of the city is a real treasure throve for ‘scavengers’ and for antiquity collectors. The twin cities of Buda and Pest, divided by the Danube, contain homogenous parts of different building periods such as vestiges of the Roman oc-

cupation, the prestigious Castle District preserved in Romanesque and Gothic style, the rigour of the Habsburg Citadel, the eclecticism of the turnof-the-century buildings boasting the richness of the new citizens. From the Romanesque lookout tower, the Fishermen’s Bastion there is a superb view over the city and the Danube. The 13th century coronation church, Matthias Church stands nearby. From here stroll towards the buildings of the ancient Royal Palace, now home of various museums and libraries. From the Castle Hill, ride up to Gellért Hill which also offers a marvellous view of the whole capital.

On top, walk around the Habsburg Citadel before continuing to Pest, the bustling downtown with its imposing hotels along the banks of the Danube. This area was rebuilt after the B u da p e s t BudaPest World War II bombardments. Banquet ships, “water buses” make the riverside more colourful. Drive past St. Stephen’s Basilica, Budapest’s largest church, dating back to 1845 and decorated by the most famous artists of the century, the Parliament building with a strong resemblance to the British Parliament; Heroes’ Square, the finest open space of the capital, with monuments that commemorate the millennium of the conquest of Hungary. The country’s history is presented here. A little further on, on the side of the City Park Lake you glimpse the romantic Vajdahunyad Castle complex.

Budapest’s up there among the world’s most romantic, entertaining capitals. Not nicknamed the “Paris of the East” for nothing, it boasts broad boulevards and green parks, grand Art-Nouveau mansions and vibrantly painted churches, lively cafés and world-class music venues. The city is divided into two parts by the meandering Danube, iconically spanned by several stunning bridges. Hilly Buda falls on the western side of the river. Wander among the sights of its cobbled Castle District B u da p e s t BudaPest, a truLY caPItaL cItY perched atop Castle Hill, after a ride on the funicular railway or a winding hillside walk, and have your breath taken away by views at the top.

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Flatter Pest is the country’s political and business hub, livelier than its twin across the water. It houses the bulk of the city’s restaurants, bars and cafés, alongside classy boutiques and striking 19th-century mansions. Stroll tree-lined Andrássy Avenue. Explore the huge Parliament building, home of the Holy Crown, Hungary’s national symbol and the Basilica, with its exterior dome gallery boasting stunning city views, as well as the endless stalls of the multi-colored Central Market Hall.

Hungary boasts 60,000 thermal-water wells – does any other country sit on such reservoir? The Romans took advantage, of them and so did the Turks. The Széchenyi Bath ranks among the largest spas in Europe, with the open-air pools, thermal baths and brand-new whirlpool. Built in 1876, this striking Neo-Baroque edifice stands in the leafy surroundings of City Park. Budapest offers beautiful green areas, romantic streets and World famous sites to visit. A huge part of Budapest is part of the Unesco’s World Cultural Heritage list: the Buda Castle area, the Banks of the River Danube, the Gellért Bath, the Parliament, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and so many more! Budapest is famous for its nightlife. The city centre is always buzzing from new bars, cafes and restaurants. You can find 2 Michelin star awarded restaurants in the centre.

We have 2 of the best bars of the World in our capital: A38 ship was named as the best and Szimpla Kert received the 3rd place in a prestigious competition. Many bars have interesting locations in Budapest: formal residential houses give place to the well known party places named now days as “ruin bars”.

During the summer many open-air discos and terraces are available for the public till the morning light.

Hungary lies in the Carpathian Basin of Central Europe. The greatest distance from North to South is 268 km, and from East to West, 528 km. Climate Hungary has a temperate climate, similar to the rest of the continental zone – hot in summer, cold in winter. The temperature is highest in July / August (21,3 ºC average) and lowest in winter, January is the coldest month, when it often falls below freezing (-1º C average). About ten hours of sunshine can be expected daily between April and September. The number of sunny hours a year: 2038 Currency The official national currency is the Forint (HUF). You can take unlimited foreign currency in and out of Hungary. Exchange facilities are offered to participants at the airport, in hotels and at the banks. Prices are often set in Euros (EUR) or US dollars (USD). Banking hours generally are: from Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Currency exchange machines and ATMs operate after hours in Budapest and other major cities. Credit cards are widely accepted. Electricity 220 Volts – standard Continental type plugs. Visitors from the UK and North America will need an adaptor, available at most airports. Getting in Citizens of EU- and EEA-member states may travel to Hungary without a visa. Family members of citizens of EEA Member States may also travel to Hungary without a visa if they received a residence card issued for family members of EEA citizens or a residence permit issued by any Schengen Member State. Fac t s Facts and FIgures Area: 93.030 km2 Population: 9.937.628 (Hungary) 1.733.685 (Budapest) Capital: Budapest (territory: 525 km2) Time zone: GMT + 1 hour Official language: Hungarian (English and German widely spoken) For detailed information in English, please visit www.mfa.gov.hu With personal ID card Citizens of the following countries may enter the territory of Hungary with a personal identification card for a stay of maximum 90 days, provided the purpose of their visit is not to take up work or to conduct business-related activities: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein,

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Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

With passport Citizens of the following states may also travel to Hungary without a visa: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Denmark, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (applies only to holders of a passport of the special administrative territory of Hong Kong),Iceland,Israel, Japan, Korea, Macao (applies only to holders of a passport of the special administrative territory of Macao), Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Salvador, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela. For detailed information in English, please visit www.mfa.gov.hu Travel in Budapest Public transport in Budapest is one of the most modern and efficient system in the world. The network of the Centre for Budapest Transport (BKK) consists of: • 3 underground lines (the 4th line is expected to operate from spring 2014) • 5 suburban railway lines • 15 trolley bus lines • 31 tram lines • 178 bus routes Compared to Budapest’s population of 1.73 million, the utilization rate of the public transport network is fairly high, with 4.8 million passengers using the services every day. The public transport capacity of Budapest is sufficient for carrying 1.9 million passengers per day by bus, 1.4 million passengers by tram, 1 million passengers by underground, and 260,000 passengers by trolley bus. Waiting time are acceptable. At peak times underground trains run every 3 minutes, trolley buses, trams and buses run every 3-5 minute

Activities and Holiday Options Before, during or after the competition try one of the following events: • Hungary is the land of thermal waters. Relax and regenerate in one of Budapest’s famous thermal baths. •

Nighttime Budapest is spectacular! Journey round the capital on a comfortable bus, while the driver introduces to you the history, sights and interesting facts of the capital. • An extensive cave complex runs under Budapest. If you are interested in underground rock formations, go for a walk in one of these impressive caves. • Take a romantic cruise to the picturesque Danube Bend, and visit the pretty towns of Visegrád and Esztergom. Pop off to play a round of golf at one of the excellent nearby courses. Go back in time and witness medieval tournaments in historic castles. • Explore the great outdoors with a cross-country horse ride or a peaceful sightseeing trip in a hot-air balloon. • Spend an afternoon wine tasting under the guidance of qualified experts. • Get a taste of the AustroHungary Monarchy kitchen on our nostalgic train. Enjoy the romantic journey into the past with delicious food, musical delights and period costume. • If you are looking for some excitement, visit one of our Adventure parks where you can test how brave you are. • Visit Hungary’s largest lake: relax at the nice Lake Balaton. • Autumn is the time of grape harvest. Take part in one of our harvest festivals; try the must and the Hungarian wines. • Slaying and preparing a pig is a great Hungarian tradition. If you are looking for gastronomical pleasures, a taste of pálinka and pleasant countryside atmosphere, participate on a pig slaying. • On the great fishing event of the Old Lake of Tata you can see traditional fishing and also taste the famous Hungarian fish soup

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