Annick Van Driessche 
Lokeren, September 23rd
Four instructors ITF-Belgium were promoted to a higher degree. They did their grading under guidance of GrandMaster Frank Vanberghen.
Congratulations to all!
The second dan gradings 2023 – Lokeren, Sunday September 17th
III° degree:
II° degree:
I° degree:
Congratulations to all!
Tampere, Finland September 7th
Andreea Musca won bronze in the category female pattern 4th-6th degree. In the first bout she won against China, the second bout was won to New Zealand. In the third round she was up against Honey Ospina from Colombia, who won silver after a final against Silvia Farigu from Italy. The second bronze medal was won by Ariella Figueroa, former USA, now Finland. What a podium it is!
September 5th ITF had its Congress Meeting and General Assembly 2023 during the World Championships in Tampere, Finland.
Four years had passed since the previous elections for the Board, and so there were elections for the new ITF Board. After 4 years as a Board Member Master Annick Van Driessche was re-elected for a next term, but now as VicePresident, so member of the ITF Exective Committee.
GrandMaster Paul Weiler will have another term as President, With GrandMaster Clint Norman as Senior VicePresident and Master Leonardo Oros Duek as Treasurer. Master Tadeusz Loboda is appointed as Secretary-General. Elected as Members-at-Large: Master Philip Lear, Martina Lendarthova, Master Mark Banicevich, Cosmin Oprescu and Master Luis Gato-Gato.
At the Congress 57 countries were represented, with a total of 124 votes. ITF-Belgium was represented by Master Virginia Dionisi, while GrandMaster Frank Vanberghen was both representing the ARCC, as chair, and representing ITF Luxemburg with a proxy.
Report by Benito Martinez:
QIUC 2023
On the weekend of the 12nd and 13th of August, Boosabum Koen Hoerée and Sabum Benito Martinez participated in the Qualifiying International Umpire Course organized by the ITF’s Umpire Commitee. The course – which took place by Zoom- was given by GrandMasters Abelardo Benzaquem and Gordon Wallace, resp. President and member of the commitee.
On the first day the variations and details on individual patterns and sparring competitions rules were reviewed and discussed by the instructors and participants as well as ring settings and protocols. The instructors insisted on the necessity for the umpires to develop the physical and mental skills that are so important to do a good job, being sharp, fair and caring about competitors.
On the second day after a questions and answers session on the precedent issues, were analyzed the rules on power breaking, special techniques, team tul and -sparring, procedures, and ring settings in each case. During the whole seminar the tasks of the different umpire’s positions were well defined and analyzed, as Jury President, Jury Member, Center and Corner Umpire.
It was a very instructive and useful Umpire Course in which participated more than a hundred GM, Masters, Instructors and assistants, many of them selected to officiate in the next World Championships in Tampere, Finland.
