Newsletter Newsletter 1/2007 ITF-Belgium Report Activities 2006

Just as the previous years, 2006 was very busy for ITF-Belgium, a succesfull year too. Besides the monthly national courses/squadtrainings (tul-teamtul, sparring, powerbreaking-special techniques), conducted by the technical director/national coaches, there were a lot of other activities.

The year began with the annual meeting, the general assembly in January.

There were two dan gradings, in February and October. In May our chairman of the umpire committee conducted an umpire course. In 2006 ITF-Belgium had 4 hosinsul courses.

February 5th, the second championship for children (6-13) was held, with competition in tul, teamtul, sparring and specials. Ten days later we had the 16th Belgian Championships in Sint-Niklaas for coloured and black belts, youth, junior & senior, with the presence of the regional television.

Also in February, a WTF-school decided to practise ITF taekwon-do and joined ITF-Belgium. In March belgian competitors and referees participated at the Open German in Dortmund, the INTA Open Irish Championships in Dublin and the Open Zeeuwse Championships in The Netherlands, all with great succes and a lot of medals.

March 11th in Namur Master Vanberghen conducted a seminar for Télévie, an organisation to collect funds for the research against cancer, especially leucemia, organised by the school Choong-moo. The same evening, after some years (the previous match was in December 1999, although it's a tradition) we had an international match The Netherlands-Belgium, which Belgium lost (but revenge will follow!).

April 15th we invited Sabum Harry Vones to Belgium, to conduct a course in tul & fundamental exercises. All participants (red and black belts) loved it a lot, it was very interesting and motivating.

Also in April, a small group of competitors went to a championship in Holland. Patrick Crevecoeur went to Poland to spent some days in Lubartow, to join the classes of Sabum Jerzy Jedut, and afterwards he participated at the Viking Cup in Sweden.

The first teambuildingsweekend was organised in the military domain of Spa. Everbody enjoyed it a lot, the atmosphere was superb and it was really good for the relationship between the members of the belgian team.

ITF-Belgium participated at the European Championships in Constanta, Romania, with a rather big team; we won 6 medals (4 individual and 2 in team); one of the highlights for the male sparring team was the defeat of the german team.

On the IIC in Cologne, in June, 7 members of ITF-Belgium participated. In July we had a small seminar for the members of the national team, the coaches, instructors and board members about the strategy of ITF-Belgium for the upcoming years.

Also in summertime, 3 persons went to the summercamp in Poland, 2 participated in London.

In September the second teambuildingsweekend was organized.

October 1st some competitors went to The Netherlands for the Promat Open.

October 15th we had our third "Day of ITF taekwon-do", open to all members, all ages and grades. Participants were divided in groups per grade/age, there were demonstrations, classes in all disciplines of ITF taekwon-do, games...

At the end of this month, ITF-Belgium was present on the IInd World Cup (3 medals) and the ITF Congress Meeting in Benidorm.

By the end of the year (and in the beginning of 2007) some members ITF-Belgium received medals on awardings of their town/sport councils.

2007 promises to be a year full of activities too, with the organisation of the International Instructors Course near Brussels October 19th-21st as one of the highlights (invitations will be send soon).

Annick Van Driessche
President
ITF Belgium