Miscellaneous

Taekwon-Do Celebration Day

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Celebration Day: 24h online celebration of 70 years of Taekwon-Do, April 11, 2025, starting at 6am UTC.
It is free. It is online. And it is for everyone. Every session is opening with one of the 24 patterns.
We found 24 enthusiastic speakers. Everyone has something to say and we’re thrilled to broaden our horizon.
The schedule of the event is now finalised:
👊 April 11, 6am UTC – Master Virginia Dionisi – “Chon-Ji: From the First Movement to a Lasting Legacy”
👊 April 11, 7am UTC – Sbn Brendan Doogan – “Storytelling in Taekwon-Do”
👊 April 11, 8am UTC – Master Hong Looi together with Sbn Sabina Mason – “Championing Athletes Well-Being: A Collaborative Approach to Anti-Doping and Concussion Awareness”
👊 April 11, 9am UTC – Sbn Katya Solovey – “ITF Fight Evolution”
👊 April 11, 10am UTC – Sbn See Kean Piew
👊 April 11, 11am UTC – Sbn Ariella Figueora – “Conditioning for Elite Taekwon-Do Athletes”
👊 April 11, 12pm UTC – Master Nurisa Mambetalieva – “The Method of Teaching Special Techniques (Pattern) in Taekwon-Do ITF”
👊 April 11, 1pm UTC – Master Nick Symonds – “Developing power in Pattern techniques”
👊 April 11, 2pm UTC – Sbn Mihai Hondru – “Preparing Athletes for Special Technique Competition”
👊 April 11, 3pm UTC – Sbn Tamrat Feyessa together with Master Wogayehu Behailu – “ITF Development in Ethiopia/Africa”
👊 April 11, 4pm UTC – Master John McIlvaney – “Inclusive and adapted Taekwon-Do”
👊 April 11, 5pm UTC – Sbn Roy Rolstad – “ITF Radix, selected applications from ITF Patterns”
👊 April 11, 6pm UTC – Sbn Nicholas Dusard – “The Life Lessons of Eui-Am: Taekwondo Beyond the Dojang”
👊 April 11, 7pm UTC – Master Gastón Casero – “Taekwon-Do for everyone – it’s never too late to start”
👊 April 11, 8pm UTC – Master Adrian Byrne together with Sbn Richie Forde – “ITF Sparring Analysis – What numbers matter?”
👊 April 11, 9pm UTC – Sbn Fernando Arrua – “How regulations and policies make a strong sports association”
👊 April 11, 10pm UTC – Master Janel Gauthier, Prof. Dr. – “Moral training in Taekwon-Do training: Recalling the past, acknowledging the present, and looking to the future”
👊 April 11, 11pm UTC – Master Fabián Izquierdo – “Gen. Choi, Taekwon-Do, and children”
👊 April 12, 12am UTC – Master Joliette Trân – “Taekwon-Do as a sport, a martial art, way of life and a tool for social development”
👊 April 12, 1am UTC – Sbn Honey Ospina
👊 April 12, 2am UTC – Master Steven LeGrow – “Creating a Culture of Excellence: How to Engage and Retain Students Longer”
👊 April 12, 3am UTC – Master Thierry Meyour
👊 April 12, 4am UTC – GM Hector Marano – “The History of Patterns”
👊 April 12, 5am UTC – GM George Vitale – “The History of Taekwon-Do”

Report on the ITF Elite Stage and Competition 2025

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Report by Juan Martinez:

From January 9 to 12, 2025, I Juan Martinez had the honor of attending the ITF Elite Stage in La Nucía, Spain, as the sole representative from Belgium among over 350 practitioners from Europe, South America, and Asia. This prestigious event brought together top-tier Taekwon-Do practitioners, offering elite-level training and fostering global connections.

Kickoff Event

The stage officially began on January 9 with a special physical training session led by Master Tomaz Barada in the late afternoon. This high-energy session set the tone for the event, motivating participants and preparing them for the workshops ahead.

Workshops and Instructors

The program featured specialized sessions led by renowned instructors, including:

  • Grand Master Orello Ellis (UK): Advanced techniques and strategies.
  • Grand Master Per Andresen (Norway): Technical precision and philosophy.
  • Master Tomaz Barada: Engaging and dynamic sparring sessions.
  • Timothy Bos (Son of Grand Master Bos): Sparring techniques and strategies.
  • Yassine Talhaoui (Spain): High-energy sparring drills for speed and reaction.
  • Master Stephen Ryan (Ireland) & Sabum Silvia Farigu: instructors in the Patterns Workshop, offering expert guidance and in-depth insights, next to the Grand masters also leading some of the Patterns workshops.

Sabum Silvia Farigu’s Expertise

Sabum Silvia Farigu is renowned for her expertise in the patterns category, backed by her impressive European and World titles. She shared her extensive knowledge and experience with participants, bringing invaluable insights to the workshop. Her passion for teaching and dedication to the discipline were clear, and her ability to break down complex techniques made the learning experience highly enriching for all attendees.

Unique Approach to Learning

A standout feature of the ITF Elite Stage is its flexible format, which allows participants to tailor their experience by choosing workshops that align with their personal interests and development goals. This approach ensures maximum engagement and learning without imposing a fixed schedule on attendees.

Personal Participation

As a dedicated practitioner, I fully immersed myself in the following workshops:

  • Friday: A full day devoted to the Patterns Workshop, where I refined techniques and deepened my understanding of patterns under the expert guidance of the instructors.
  • Saturday Morning: Participated in the Inclusion Workshop, highlighting ways to make Taekwon-Do accessible and welcoming to all.
  • Saturday Morning: Attended the TKD Radix Workshop for Self-Defense, which provided practical techniques and a unique perspective on applying Taekwon-Do in real-life situations.

Highlights

  • Workshops covered areas such as sparring, patterns, self-defense, and technical training, ensuring a comprehensive development experience for all participants.
  • The Gala TOP event added excitement with monetary awards, trophies, and belts for pattern and sparring competitions.
  • The flexibility of the schedule allowed each participant to create a customized learning experience based on their individual needs and aspirations.

Reflection

Representing Belgium at this prestigious event was a source of great pride. The knowledge and skills I gained during the workshops, combined with the opportunity to train with global peers and legends in the art, reinforced my commitment to Taekwon-Do and its values of inclusivity and perseverance. The event’s flexibility in offering tailored learning experiences, alongside the energy of the kickoff session led by Master Barada and the expertise of instructors like Master Stephen Ryan, Sabum Silvia Farigu, and Timothy Bos (and of course all the others as well) made it a truly exceptional opportunity for growth and self-improvement.

Next to the workshops, it was quite good to connect with other participants during the breakfasts and dinners at evenings where most people were quite open to conversations, reinforcing the camaraderie of this event.

TKD for the Rights ITF-Belgium

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Report by Sb. Patrick Crevecoeur:

Master Virginia Dionisi is coordinating the “Taekwon-Do for the Rights” project (101133552) in Belgium, co-financed by the European Union.
This remarkable initiative involves ten clubs from various European countries, including Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovenia, Greece, Romania, Poland, Belgium, Latvia, Slovakia, and Serbia.
As part of the project, 15 young athletes and 5 adults (coaches and referees) from each country will travel to Sofia, Bulgaria, with all expenses covered, to participate in an international tournament and a series of social and sustainable activities. These activities will focus on crucial topics such as environmental care and reducing food waste. Additionally, the vital role of security forces in society, and their connection with Taekwon-Do, will be highlighted.
On September 15th, an event took place in collaboration with BX Brussels, a sports association founded by Vincent Kompany, former player of the Belgian national football team. During the event, young participants prepared a sustainable meal without generating food waste, followed by tul and sparring training sessions. The day concluded with the shared meal and social activities, promoting integration and key values.
This project, “Taekwon-Do for the Rights,” aims to empower the next generation through sports, fostering sustainability, social awareness, and respect for the environment.
In addition, several dedicated instructors are contributing to this project on a volunteer basis, including Sabums Andreea Musca and Patrick Crevecoeur, as well as Bo Sabums Juan Martínez and Omar El Ferkhani.
Their commitment is essential to making this initiative a success.

Dan gradings ITF-Belgium

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September 29th, Lokeren

Members that were promoted:

To IV° degree:

  • Dellaert Amber, Taekwon-Do Club Gent
  • Hoerée Koen, Taekwon-Do Club Gent
  • Vlaeminck Kevin, Bounce Back Martial Arts

To I° degree:

  • Doumou Ayoub, Jung Do
  • Doumou Hicham, Jung Do
  • Vertroost Yoenn, Hwarang