Newsletter Newsletter 1/2007 Irish TKD Association 2006 Report

Irish Taekwon-Do Association (ITA) is the ITF Allied National Association (ANA) in Ireland. The association, which was established under the name All Ireland Taekwon-Do Association (AITA) in 1984, is the longest established organization in Ireland affiliated to the ITF under the leadership of Master Trân Triêu Quân. ITA is the government recognised organisation responsible for the promotion and development of ITF Taekwon-Do in Ireland. ITA is a member of the Irish Martial Arts Commission (IMAC) and is therefore recognised by the Irish Sports Council (ISC) and the Irish Government.

   
   

The following is an overview of activities and events which occurred during 2006;

Training Camps:

ITA places great emphases on broadening the knowledge pool of experience which our members can draw upon. Fresh ideas and varied approaches to training are vitally important to ensure that ITA maintains a high technical standard. We therefore wish to thank the world renowned Masters and Coaches who have shared their experience with us during 2006, in particular; Master Wim Bos, Italy; Mr. Tadeusz Łoboda, Poland; Mr. Jerzy Jedut, Poland; Mr. Mark Hutton, Scotland; Mr. Tomasz Barada, Slovenia and ITF Technical and Instruction Committee.

ITA participated at the following training camps/seminars in 2006:

1. Polish Winter raining Camp – Wisla, Poland
2. Barada Sport Training Camp – Rogla, Slovenia
3. Umpire Course & Technical Seminar, Master Wim Bos VIII Dan – Dublin, Ireland
4. Polish Summer Training Camp – Nowa Ruda, Poland
5. Docklands Summer Training Camp – London, England
6. International Instructor Training Course – England

Corporate Affairs/Administration:

As the government recognised body ITF organisation in Ireland ITA made a number of key policy implementations during 2006.

• Implemented ITA Anti-Doping Policy, in line with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and Irish Sports Council (ISC) Anti-Doping Policy. This includes random testing, education, top athlete identification and whereabouts monitoring.
• Achieved Approved Sports Body Status - Irish Revenue Commissioners has granted Tax Exemption to ITA under Section 235 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997
• Successfully achieved democratic merger of both ITF recognised Allied National Associations (ANAs) in Ireland
• Implemented “ITA National Young Persons Protection Policy” in line with Irish Sports Council “Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children's Sport in Ireland”
• Implemented NCDC Coaching Qualification for all Instructors, internationally recognised coaching qualification
• Redesign and re-launch of Irish Taekwon-Do Association Website www.taekwondo.ie
• Formed ITA Business Development Committee to support ITA Instructors in attracting and retaining students through professional marketing initiatives
• Formed ITA National Young Person’s Advisory Committee

Technical & Instruction

During 2006 The ITA Technical & Instruction Committee (which includes all ITA Instructors IV Dan and above) held 4 workshops to standardise and confirm technical syllabus after the merging of the ANAs. A new ITA Training manual was collated by Mr. Adrian Byrne and Mr. Stephen Ryan, which will support the continuous improvement and refining of technical matters throughout all ITA clubs/schools.

   

Championships:

ITA considers participation at regional, national and international championships as an important factor in the annual calendar and participated successfully at the following championships. The most important and successful was the II World Cup ITF Taekwon-Do where ITA won; 8 Gold, 6 Silver and 18 Bronze and placed 4th out of 87 clubs/associations.

1. Viking Cup
2. European Junior Championships (ITA members did not participate in 2006 European Senior Championships)
3. INTA Open, Dublin
4. Open Challenge Cup, Belgium
5. ITF England Championships
6. ITF Scottish Championships
7. Promat Open, Netherlands
8. International Club Match Kogoryo Netherlands v ITA Eastern Region Team
9. II World Cup, Benidorm Spain
10. Irish Cup International

   

Other key achievements

1. Introduced ITF Taekwon-Do to the Curriculum in a number of Secondary Schools
2. Conducted an ITF Demonstration at the launch of Ratoath Community Centre attended by President of Ireland Mary McAleese, the president is the head of state of the Republic of Ireland
3. Clare Taekwon-Do Schools raised €5,000 for Children's Cancer Fund at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Dublin

Click Here to see Full Report (PDF file, 2,9 MB) or visit www.taekwondo.ie.